Pat Sloan Machine Binding tutorial

I love to do my binding on the machine. It's fast, it's sturdy and I save my handwork for other tasks!

If you are not familiar with making the binding refer to the back of any of my books.  I am cutting my binding 1 1/2" wide, then ironing over 1/4" on one long side. You can use double binding for this technique.

In this video I show you how I prepare single binding.

it starts at that part

You sew the binding to the quilt JUST like you normally do.

But you are starting on the BACK as you will pull it forward to the front to finish

I use a 1/4" or a BIT wider Seam allowance.

• use a blanket stitch for the stitching on the front.
• make the stitch about 3.5 x 3.5 (do a test on your machine for the size stitch that works)
• use your walking foot
• REVERSE your blanket stitch. Most need reversed so that the quilt is on the LEFT and NOT inside the throat of the machine.

Once the binding is sewn on turn the quilt over.

Now you are going to be pulling the binding to the front and using a Blanket stitch to secure it.

The goal is to stitch ON or NEXT TO the stitch line of the binding.

That way your back looks nice. The stitch line will be UNDER the binding.

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Start on the side and sew sew sew...

(I'm using a stilleto to hold and point. You can also use a seam ripper)... back to sew sew sew until....

you get to the corner. Fold the binding once......

And then again. I stitch UP TO the corner and try and catch the fold right where the pointer is.

Turn and continue down the next side.

**WATCH THE VIDEO!**

When you are done. hand stitch the 4 corners closed. Stitch both the front and the back, just like you do for hand binding, but faster!

Feb 2021

a video on sewing the corner, I'm using a straight stitch in the videos

Feb 2021

Gluing the corners

This is what the back of your blanket stitching looks like when you stay ON the stitch line

If you pull the binding on the front too far away from the stitch line, then the back has a gap.

This is NOT the end of the world, but some people prefer a tighter finished look.

BIG TIP - I recommend you do a test strip with your binding size, size of binding and seam allowance. This way you can adjust the cut size of your binding to fit your stitching style.

I did this video September 2020

Talking about the difference between Double layer Binding and Single layer binding.

Here is a photo of what I show in the video

The binding ends up looking almost the same.

I do think that single width is easier to do by machine. 

I hope you try this method of binding. If you do, write me an email and send me a photo!

Sometimes when you are done your binding might have a bit of a wave to it. The solution is to wash the quilt and that relaxes the stitches. If you can't wash it, then steam the binding edge and it will flatten out.

Now go bind some quilts!

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CLICK HERE TO Download Pat Sloan's Machine binding Tutorial PDF

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Comments

[Pat Sloan]

i'm so happy it works for you!

[Lysa Martinelli]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I am a fairly new quilter and absolutely hate binding. This technique is amazing, and I already did one quilt using it. I no longer hate binding.

[Maggie]

I have just tried this method on a table runner and can't wait to take a whack at it again. It's great that you can use less width in the binding. It felt odd at first, but I got it done. I also like the look of the blanket stitch. Genius! Method

[Tamara]

If you fold your mitered corner in the opposite direction (bottom up first, side over) it is easier to sew than going against the edge.

[Carol Haire]

Thanks Pat! I love the look of the blanket stitch!

[Sheila A Ciechoski]

I LOVE the blanket stitch for binding! Thank you Pat! I have done 2 shamrock wall hangings and the binding was so much easier doing it your way!

[Markey Dwyer]

thanks!

[Felicita "Lici" Rivera]

Hi pat
I like to do it by hand. Thank you very much for your tutorials.
I wish a speedy recovery.
Thank you

[JoAnn Ewing]

Thank you Pat, I am just getting my hand to where I wear a brace I think I can machine sew with. So anything I can do to avoid hand sewing is great.

[Roxann in Texas]

I am definitely trying this, thanks for the details and the lovely pictures providing great visualization.

[pat sloan]

Hi Ettakay, thank you for writing.
Are you looking in my book 'Pat Sloan's Teach me to Make my First Quilt'?

Starting on page 35 to page 37 are two methods of binding. One by hand, one by machine.

Take a look in the book & let me know you found it.

[Ettakay]

Did you realize your Teach Me to Quilt book has nothing about sewing the bind. I read to cut binding 2 1/4 inches and that is all I found. Did I miss something?

[Carolyn Thomas Grayson]

I think I like your version better than what I learned in my Beginning Quilting class; it seems much less complicated, especially the corners. I will try it when it's time to bind Winter Solstice! Thanks Pat :)

[Sally]

Thank You Pat. You're my Favorite Quilter,I always go to you if I have any problems. You are Wonderful with Quilting.

[Mary Andra]

I just used this method two weeks ago for the first time. I loved it. The quilt is for a child with lots of washing expected. Fabulous tutorial. Wish I had it two weeks ago. Thank you Pat. 🌟❤️