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How to Measure Binding for a Quilt

Measure your quilt to ensure you have enough binding materials before you sew to avoid running to the store to purchase more fabric. Binding a quilt protects the edges and finishes the look after all your hard work on crafting the design is completed. Taking the measurements is a cinch and involves only basic math skills.

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length and width of your quilt. Write down the numbers and indicate which is the length and which is the width.
- 2
  Add the measurements together and multiply by two. The formula so far will be length + width x 2.
- 3
  Now add 12 inches to the total. The formula for the full measurement will be length + width x 2 + 12. The result is the total length of binding that you need. The 12 inches is necessary to accommodate for the mitered corners and overlapping the edges to finish the quilt.
- 4
  Use a ruler, or a scrap piece of fabric, to determine how wide of a border you think looks the best with the design of the quilt. Measure the width you have selected.
- 5
  Multiply that width by four then add in twice the width of your seam allowance. For example if you are using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, add 1 inch to the width. When making a thick quilt, add an additional 1/4 inch to accommodate for the bulk of the quilt.

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