No More Binding!

That’s Right - You Can Make A Quilt Without Binding!

Do you hate to make binding? Do binding corners never come out right? Skip the binding? Yes, you really can make a quilt without binding!

Quilts that don't require binding:

1. Wall hangings are perfect candidates for no binding. They have minimal wear and tear, they are usually not as large as a bed quilt, and they can be hand or machine quilted without the use of a long arm machine.
2. Decorative quilts. Do you make some quilts that are "just to look at"? You drape them over a chair of sofa to add a pop of color, or across the foot of your bed, but they aren’t truly used to wrap up in and keep warm on a daily basis. These quilts also don't require a binding. Only quilts that will receive hard wear or quilts that will be long arm quilted really need the extra reinforcement that binding affords.

Let’s Go Binding FREE!

Complete your quilt top as usual and press to make sure all seams are fully flat. Cut your batting and backing at least 1-2 inches larger on each side than the quilt top. So for a 10" by 12" quilt top you would cut a batting and backing that is 12" by 14".

Place the batting on a flat surface that is not slick. A carpet works like a charm, but on top of a firm ironing surface also works well. You just need a fairly hard, flat surface that is larger than the quilt you will be working with. Next smooth out the batting to stretch out any folds or wrinkles that have been created in storage.

Press your backing fabric and place it right side up on top of your batting and then place your well-pressed quilt top face down on the backing fabric centered as well as possible.

Pin all around the edge of your quilt top leaving an opening of 5-7 inches that will be used to "birth" your quilt.

Using a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch all around the edge of the quilt top remembering to leave the opening to "birth" the quilt. Note: A walking foot on your sewing machine is a big help in keeping the layers of your "quilt sandwich" moving at the same rate, but you can certainly stitch this without one.

Check to make sure that you are happy that all of the layers of the quilt have remained flat and square and then proceed to trim off the excess fabric using a ruler and rotary cutter. When you reach a corner, slightly round the corner to remove the point so that your quilt will remain flat at the corners and bulk will be reduced.

Turn the quilt inside out through the opening you left earlier. Make sure to poke the corners out carefully. A chop stick, "purple thang", or other smooth rounded poker will help.

Press your quilt top making sure to keep the seams nice and straight, and baste the quilt layers together using your favorite technique (I like large running stitches, but safety pins or other methods will also work).

Close up the opening that you turned your quilt through using a ladder stitch.

Enjoy quilting and remove your basting. Your quilt is now complete!