Borders and Bindings

Mitered Borders

1. Measure across the middle of the quilt, the width and lengthwise area of the quilt (figure A) to square your quilt. The featured quilt measured 47 inches from raw edge to raw edge, minus the seam allowance. The finished measurement is 46-1/2 inches. Tip: For accurate measurements, do not measure the edge to create a border. It is common for one end of the quilt to be a different measurement than the other end.

2. To measure the fabric length for a mitered border, take the total width of the border times two, plus the total width of the quilt plus one inch. Fold the border fabric in half, measure 23-1/4 inches (this is one-half of 46-1/2-inch quilt measurement) and mark a white dot 1/4 inch from the top edge (figure B). If more than one border color is to be added, stitch all border colors together for one cut.

3. Position ruler at a 45-degree line on the edge of border and place the 1/4 inch line through the middle of the marked dot from step 2 (figure C), using a rotary cutter, cut the edge of the border (figure D).

4. Stitch the border onto the quilt, begin stitching 1/4 inch from quilt edge (figure E). Backstitch the ends. Sew all four borders onto the quilt and press. Press the top and bottom seams toward the quilt and the sides away from the quilt.

5. Once the four borders are stitched on, sew each corner to the quilt top, stopping 1/4 inch from the inside edge of the quilt for a perfect mitered corner.

Binding

1. To determine the binding width, measure four times of what is needed for the final binding width, allowing for a 1/2-inch to 5/8-inch seam allowance. Tip: Determine if you should cut binding fabric on the bias or on grain. For curves, binding is cut on the bias. For a straight-edged quilt, binding is cut on straight grain.

2. Fold the binding in half, then press and stitch 1/4 inch from the edge of the quilt (figure F). Stitch to the next corner 1/4 inch from edge of quilt.

3. Position an envelope on the edge of the sewing line and make a pencil mark (figure G) at the edge of the binding. Mark the same measurement along the edge extension with a white dot on the fabric (figure H).

4. Fold the binding back on itself to a 45-degree angle. Fold to position the white dot (figure I)--1/4 inch from top edge of quilt and sew to the next corner. Tip: Measure each corner separately for the first three corners.

5. Trim the batting and fold the binding to the back of the quilt (figure J ). Stitch in place.

6. To complete the last corner of the binding, match the two binding extensions using a binding miter tool, then position onto fabric to mark stitching line (figure K). Stitch. Tip: To create a sharp corner when stitching, do not use a pivot stitch. Sew up one side, then one stitch across the top and stitch back down. Backstitch for stability.