Quilt Binding Tutorial - Thread to Thread Quilting

I’ve put together a step-by-step quilt binding tutorial that shows you how to bind a quilt using your sewing machine for the whole process. There is no hand stitching in this tutorial. This process is meant for a quick and sturdy finish on your quilt. There are a lot of pictures included in this post to help you every step of the way.

So, if you need a quick finish, this machine method is definitely for you!

Supplies Needed:

Sewing machine (I use a Bernina 570QEE)
Thread to match front of quilt
Thread to match binding
Frixion pen, chalk or disappearing marker
Quilting pins or clips
Rulers
Basic sewing tools. Find my favorites here.

Step 1: Prepare the binding strip

With a rotary cutter and mat, cut the WOF (width of fabric) binding strips according to the number specified on your pattern. I prefer 2 1/4 inch strips. If you’re not sure how many strips to cut, you can find binding calculators online.

Stitch these strips together to make one long strip, sewing the ends together diagonally. Trim and press seams open. Press the long strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together.

Step 2: Stitch the binding to the FRONT of the quilt

Make sure your quilt is prepared by trimming off the excess batting and backing.

Put a 1/4 inch foot on your machine if you have one or mark your 1/4″ guide line. Remember, in the supply list above I said you’d need two thread colors but that comes later. The different thread colors don’t really matter in this step. Leaving a 10 to 12 inch tail and using a 1/4 inch seam, stitch the binding to the FRONT of your quilt with the raw edges lined up. I usually start in the middle to bottom third on the right side of the quilt. Photo below.

***leave a tail and start sewing the binding onto the quilt top***

Miter the corners. When you reach a corner, stop 1/4 inch from the edge. With your needle down and presser foot up, rotate the quilt 45 degrees and backstitch directly off the quilt and cut your threads. See photo below.

After you have backstitched off the corner, rotate your quilt so that you’ll be in a position to stitch along the next long edge. To miter the corner, flip the whole binding strip straight UP away from you and finger press it. Then fold the whole binding strip DOWN towards you, matching the raw edges and finger press it. See photos below.

Stitch all the way around your quilt and stop about 10 inches from where you started. You will have two long tails as shown in the photo below.

Step 3: Connecting the Tails

Smooth out the two tails and pin or clip them down leaving about a 1/8 inch space between the two strips, fold back the tails and finger press. Using a disappearing fabric pen, make a little mark at the intersection of the folds. See the little dots I made in the photo below.

Now unfold the two tails. This is the trickiest step. Bring the tails RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER and pin, matching the little intersection marks you made in the previous step. The tails will be to your right and form an X like shown in the next photo. Stitch the strips together and trim off the excess, making sure it lays rights before trimming. I don’t usually draw a stitching line but I wanted to provide a visual in the photo below. I also clip my quilt up to give myself a little slack so it’s easier to work with.

Trim off the excess close to the seam that connects the two tails. Your binding will now lay flat. Continue stitching down the binding and backstitch at the end to secure.

Step 4: Stitch the binding to the BACK of the quilt

In this step you can use a walking foot if you have one but it is not necessary. The walking foot makes it a little easier to stitch through the bulk. You will use a 3/8 inch seam in this step. You can also adjust your needle slightly to get the perfect position.

Now you need your two thread colors. Use a bobbin with a color that matches the FRONT of your quilt and thread your machine with a color that matches the binding. I’m using white for both in this tutorial, but if my binding strip and quilt were very different colors I would have thread to match each.

Flip the binding around to the back and place the quilt face down at the machine. Start stitching the binding down slowly and use your 3/8 inch guide. After a few inches, peek underneath to see how everything is lining up. The stitch on the bottom should just barely be to the side of your binding. You may need to adjust your needle position slightly.

To create a mitered corner, fold the binding up from the edge as you approach it and then fold it in from the side. See photo below. Continue to stitch until your needle goes thru all the corner pieces. Leave the needle in the down position, pivot and stitch along the next side. Repeat until you reach where you started, backstitch and trim your threads and you’re all done!