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How to Close Quilts

Closing a quilt is also frequently referred to as binding, and is done by concealing the raw fringe of the quilt's top, its batting and its backing using a thin piece of fabric. Typically, multiple raw ends must be concealed to completely close the quilt. Closing a quilt is not challenging for a quilter, as long as she can do a ladder stitch.

Things You'll Need

Quilt
Binding fabric
Quilter's ruler
Rotary cutter
Cutting mat
Sewing machine
1 spool sewing thread matching quilt color
Pins
Iron
Ironing board
Sewing needle

Instructions

- 1
  Measure each side of your quilt. Add up the lengths and then add 1 inch to this total. Cut a strip of binding fabric using this measurement. It should be 1-3/4 inches in width.
- 2
  Fold one end of your rectangular strip over 1/2 inch with the wrong sides facing each other. Press this fold using your iron.
- 3
  Place your binding strip on your quilt with the correct side of the binding strip facing down. Align the edges of the binding strip with your quilt. Place both ends of the binding strip at the bottom of your quilt. Place the folded and ironed end down first, then overlap the raw end on top of the folded end. Turn your binding strip 90 degrees at each quilt corner. Pin the binding strip to the quilt.
- 4
  Sew 1/2 inch from the edge of the quilt and binding on each side. Use a straight stitch.
- 5
  Remove all pins.
- 6
  Press the binding seams with your iron.
- 7
  Fold over the raw edge of the strip about 1/4 inch and pin it to the quilt's back side, 1/2 inch from the quilt's edges.
- 8
  Fold each corner of your binding 45 degrees. This way it will fit around the quilt's corners.
- 9
  Thread a needle and hand stitch the binding's edge to the back of your quilt using a ladder stitch.
- 10
  Repeat Step 11 for the folded end of your binding at the bottom of your quilt.

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