Once you have attached a desired border and quilted the three layers of your project together the next step is to
neaten the raw edges. Trim the excess batting and backing before adding the binding (bearing in mind how wide you
want the binding). Lynette Jensen in her book 'The Thimbleberries Book of Quilts' also suggests hand basting all three
layers ¼ inch from the raw edges which 'keeps the layers from shifting and prevents puckers from forming'.
Self-binding
Self-binding is where the back fabric is used to bind the quilt. Here the backing fabric should be cut so that it is
one inch or 2.5 centimetres wider all around the quilt top and wadding. The fabric back is brought forward to the quilt
top, turned under and hemmed into place. Using this method the corners of the quilt binding should be mitred.
The edges of the quilt can be neatened by turning the top and back edges in on themselves. Here any excess wadding and
backing fabric are cut so that they are even with the quilt top. Turn the edges of the back fabric and quilt top inwards
towards the wadding hiding all raw edges and slipstitch to secure.
Alternatively, you could use a separate piece of fabric for the binding, either bought or made. When making binding you
can choose to make it by using the straight grain of the fabric or cutting the binding on the bias. Making binding from
the straight grain of the fabric is more economical and is perfectly good for bed quilts.
Double-fold binding
Lynette Jensen uses French-fold binding, also called double fold binding. This is where the binding strip is folded in
half and the raw edges stitched to the edge of the quilt on the right side and the folded edge is then hand stitched to
the back of the quilt. She also has a helpful tip for working out how wide you need to cut the binding. 'Multiply the
desired width of binding by 6. For example, if you want a ½ inch finished binding, multiply ½ by 6, which means you need
to cut a 3 inch wide strip'.
Bias binding
Cutting the binding on the bias will use up more fabric. However, this type of binding is useful if the edge of the
quilt is made up of curves or when the quilt is intended for a wall hanging as the bias cut fabric will help pull in the
edges of the quilt to make it lie flat against the wall.
Apply the binding to your quilt by starting in the centre of one of the sides of the quilt. With pins and/or tacking
stitches cover the raw edges of the quilt with the binding. Turn each side of the raw edges of the binding under on
either side of the quilt. Then either by machine or hand stitch all the layers together.