Okay, you've sewn the block, you've quilted it with a backing and batting...and now it's time for the final step, adding a binding!
I personally find this to be one of the most challenging parts of a quilt, not because the technique is particularly challenging, but by the time I get to binding, I just want to be DONE with it! One of my favorite things about sewing mini quilts is that since they are so small, the binding doesn't take very long. So I am that much closer to being done!
So, how do you bind a mini quilt? It's pretty similar to binding a larger quilt. However, there are two things I do differently for a mini quilt. The first is that I never hand sew the binding to the back, I always machine sew it. This is a matter of personal preference, hand sewing looks a lot neater (in my opinion), but on the mini quilts, I find it's just not worth it.
The other thing I do differently is how I finish the raw edges of the binding itself. For larger quilt, I join the raw edges with a diagonal seam. But the mini quilts are so small, there's not enough room to do that. So instead, I fold and press one end under and tuck the other end into that. It's not something I'd want to do on a larger quilt (although people do, and it works fine!). But it works great for the mini quilts.
Want more details about how to bind your mini quilts? Keep reading, I've got lots of pictures and the step by step of how to do it!
First thing is to prepare the binding itself! After you've cut it to the appropriate size (for my 4.5 inch blocks, I use 20 inches by 2.5 inches), fold and press one of the short ends over, only by about 1/2 inch, or maybe as much as 1 inch. Don't worry too much about getting the measurement perfect, the point is just to press a little bit in. Make sure it's wrong sides together (right sides of the fabric out).
Next is to fold a crease in the middle of the long side of the binding. Put the wrong sides of the fabric together again, and match up the raw edges of the long ends. Keep the short end that you folded over in the previous step folded over (you don't want to unfold it at any step).
Next step is to attach it to the front of the quilt block. Your block should be trimmed to whatever size it should be. I like to trim the batting and backing to match the block before attaching the binding, but other people prefer to do it after attaching the binding. Either way, make sure the raw edges of the long side of the binding are lined up with the raw edges of block. Put the folded short edge towards the middle and give yourself an inch or two before you start sewing. Backstitch where you start. Sew with a quarter inch seam allowance. When you get to about a quarter inch of the edge you are sewing towards, put your needle in the down position. Lift the presser foot and turn the block about 45 degrees. Put the presser foot back down and sew off the corner. Backstitch here too.
Cut the threads and take your block out from the sewing machine. Fold the long end of the binding to 45 degrees (matching the angle you sewed off the block with).
Fold the binding back. The top folded edge should be lined up with the edge of the block that you just sewed off.
Now you will start sewing again. Start about a quarter inch from the edge you just sewed off (be sure to back stitch) and keep going until you reach the end of the new edge. And the repeat turning the block, sewing off the end, and starting on the new edge.
Repeat for all three sides that you did not start on. When you get back to the edge you started on, you are going to repeat folding the binding as you did at every corner, but it's time to finish, so it will look a little different.
After you finish folding, you should only have a couple inches of binding left. Tuck the raw edge inside the folded edge. Don't tuck it under, because you are going to fold it around to the back, and the raw edge will show on the front if you don't tuck it inside.
Finish sewing the edge you started on. Start about a quarter inch from the corner, like with all the other sides. Sew right over that folded edge. Don't forget to backstitch where you start and stop. Trim any excess threads. If you haven't trimmed backing and batting, now is the time to do so.
Now it's time to fold it around to the back. I start by folding each corner in. Choose a side and fold it to the back. At the corner, the binding should go down at about a 45 degree angle, like in the picture. I highly recommend using clips to hold the binding in place, but if all you have is pins, use those.
Fold the other side in. The 45 degree angle should stay in place, which will help that corner look nice and crisp when it's done, and also give it the look of a mitered corner from both the front and the back. Use another clip to hold that side in place. Repeat for all the corners.
Once all the corners are clipped in place, check to make sure that the binding covers the stitching line made when you sewed the binding to the front. You want it to stay there, so you may want to add more clips. I use three on each side of the 4.5 inch square block, so a clip every inch or so is a pretty good estimate.
I use a "stitch in the ditch" method to attach the binding to the back, which means that I sew from the front, right in the seam between the binding and the block. I go very slow to make sure I can stay there, and by making sure the binding in the back covers the line of stitching, it secures the binding to the back very nicely. There's also a lot of really pretty decorative stitches out there, and if you have one you like, you can also use that. Just be aware that it will show from the front and make sure it catches the binding in the back all the way around.
What do you think? Do you have any questions about binding mini quilts? Do you prefer a different method? Share it in the comments below!
And if you'd like to check out some of the mini quilt block patterns I have for sale, head over to my Etsy shop by clicking here!
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