Our patchwork expert Pat demonstrates how to bias join a quilt binding
To create the Woman’s Weekly strip patchwork quilt, you will need to bind the edges and open seams with strips of binding.
Bias binding can be shop bought in varying lengths but if you want to make your own you’ll need to join your strips of fabric together to get the right length.
It’s easy once you know how with our step-by-step bias join quilt binding tutorial that’s practically invisible compared to a straight join.
You will need
- Fabric strips
- Pins
- Small sharp scissors
- Iron and ironing board
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- Dressmaker’s chalk
To bias join the quilt binding
1. When you’ve constructed the blocks of your quilt and sewn them together, it’s time to hide all your handywork under strips of binding. Work out the length of seam binding and edge binding you will need to go around the four edges and to cover the open seams of your quilt using a tape measure.
2. Using your rotary cutter, cut out the required strip width until you have enough strips to make up the required length.
3. To join the strips together, trim the short ends so they are all squared off. Take two strips and with right sides facing, pin where the short ends overlap at a 90-degree angle.
4. Use some dressmaker’s chalk to mark a 45 degree angle across the overlapping fabric and machine straight stitch along this line.
To work out the 45 degree angle, fold the corner of the fabric back on itself and press in place.
Unfold the fabric and the crease will be your pin and stitch guide.
5. Trim the excess fabric from the seam allowance and press the seam open with an iron.
6. Repeat with all the strips until you have enough long pieces to bind all the layers of your quilt at the edges and to conceal the open seam on the back blocks.
Once you’ve made our Woman’s Weekly strip patchwork quilt, try using the technique to make other projects like tote bags, cushions and more.
Follow our tablemat video tutorial too to find out just how easy it is!