How To Bind A Quilt By Hand

Learn how to hand bind a quilt from start to finish—including cutting binding strips, attaching to the front of the quilt, stitching it to the back by hand, and mastering those crisp mitered corners.

Whether you’re binding your first quilt or looking for an easier way to get that smooth, professional finish, this post walks you through every step of the quilt binding process.

We’ll cover the tools you’ll need, how to prep your binding fabric, tips for clean corners, and my go-to hand stitching techniques (yes, we’ll talk blind stitch, too!).

Plus, there’s a full video tutorial included so you can follow along step-by-step.

Let’s turn that finished quilt top into a wrapped-up, cozy masterpiece—grab your needle and thread, and let’s get started!

~ Cutting & Pressing Your Binding Strips ~

Alright, let’s kick things off with the prep work! Cutting and pressing your binding fabric might not seem super exciting, but it totally sets the tone for your whole quilt binding process. Think of it like preheating the oven before baking cookies—worth it!

Here’s What I Do & Why It Works:

• Cut straight or bias binding with care: If your quilt has curves, go with bias binding—cut it on a 45-degree angle for that stretchy flexibility. For everything else, straight grain works just fine.
• Mind your width of the fabric: Wide strips? Skinny ones? Make sure they’re all the same width or your quilt edge will feel bumpy.
• Use your rotary cutter and cutting mat: A fresh blade = crisp lines. Dull blades = fray city.
• Press in half with wrong sides together: This makes a nice fold of the binding that behaves when you go to sew it on.
• Finger press first, then follow with the iron: It helps keep things lined up without flattening the life out of the fabric.
• Bias binding bonus: If you’re using bias strips, a bias tape maker can help fold and press evenly.

A Few Real Talk Tips:

• Don’t skip pressing—it’s not just fluff. Pressing the binding fold now makes hand binding way smoother later.
• Short strips are NOT your friend. Long strip = fewer joins = less bulk.
• Always cut a little extra. Because mid-quilt panic about running out of binding fabric is the worst.

Binding Tutorials That Can Help Walk You Through Some Of These Steps

• Sewing your binding strips together – from many strips to one long one that’s ready to be attached to your quilt.
• Maybe you don’t even want to do a binding! There are other non-binding options available, just in case this is your thought.
• Add something extra to your binding- a flange. This is a fun little bonus part to the edge of the quilt. It’s not as hard as you think to do either.

– Attaching Binding To The Front Of The Quilt –

This is where it starts coming together! You’ve got your quilt sandwich, and now it’s time to give it that finishing hug with the binding.

Here’s How I Tackle It:

• Start about 6–10 inches away from a corner: You’ll need that space to join your ends later.
• Raw edge of your binding meets the raw edge of the quilt: Right sides together, please!
• Use a 1/4″ seam allowance: Consistency is key here.
• Leave a tail of binding strip at the beginning: This gives you room for that diagonal seam later.
• Wonder clips > pins: They hold everything in place without stabbing you or warping the binding fold.

Little Changes That Help A Lot:

• Use a walking foot on your sewing machine to keep those layers moving evenly.
• Don’t start at a corner. Seriously. It’s way easier to join ends if you start along a straight line.
• When you get to the end of the binding strip, you’ll need to join them. This quick go-to method is really not hard and finishes that edge really quite nicely.

Hand Binding The Back Of The Quilt

This is the calm after the storm—the part where you curl up and hand bind the back of the quilt while watching your favorite show. Or maybe that’s just me?

Let’s Get Into The Hand Stitching Tips:

• Fold the binding over to the back of the quilt and clip it down: Make sure it covers the stitch line from the front.
• Use a single strand of thread (18–24″) with a quilter’s knot at the end: Trust me, longer thread gets tangled.
• Start with a blind stitch or slip stitch: You’re sewing through the folded edge of the binding and the backing fabric, not through the front of your quilt.
• Keep those stitches small and even: About 1/8″ apart.
• Match your thread color to your binding fabric: Or go wild—scrappy binding, scrappy thread? Why not!
• Hand quilting needles work best: They’re tiny, sharp, and sneak right through all those layers.

If You’re Struggling With Hand Binding:

• Use a thimble (or a silicone one!) to protect your fingers.
• Try decorative stitches if you want a different look—like a blind hem stitch or even some fun, visible hand stitches.
• Keep your presser foot away—this part’s all about hand sewing.

Watch the video to learn hand binding! You’ll even pick up some hints on getting that corner to miter. Perfect every time.

Mitered Corners Without The Drama

Ah, the corners of the quilt. Where things go either wonderfully or wildly wonky. Here’s how I keep my mitered corners sharp and stress-free.

• Stop sewing 1/4″ before the corner: This is your first step in getting that mitered corner right.
• Fold up on a diagonal line: This gives you that crisp edge.
• Fold back down the next side: It’ll form a neat miter without too much excess fabric.
• Use binder clips to hold it in place before hand stitching: Keeps the corner folded just right.

Bonus Tricks:

• Press that corner fold before stitching—it makes a big difference.
• Practice on scraps before your first quilt. Your future self will thank you.

~ Final Step: Securing The Binding On The Back ~

This is your big finale! Once you’re around the quilt and back to where you started, it’s time to close it all up.

• Tuck the ends together with a diagonal seam for a smooth join.
• Hand stitch the last few inches like the rest: Small, tight stitches here matter.
• Don’t forget the corners: A few extra stitches here reinforce the whole quilt edge.
• Check your binding edge: If there’s a raw edge showing, scooch that fold over a bit more and fix it.

This is the part where your binding process turns into a finished quilt. Soak it in!

Today for the video I thought I would share with you how to hand bind your quilt.

It’s not the fastest binding on the planet….but it sure does make your quilt binding look nice.

What you don’t see in the video— how to make your binding. If you are stuck at that point or interested in how that is done- visit the make your binding tutorial.

I tried to have the video show up super close to the binding, which is a little tricky when you are straddling the camera, so it jumps off at a few points…but there is enough that you can see the process.

You’ll even get a close up of what happens when you get to the corner. It makes a perfect miter too!

Materials Needed:

• Binding & quilt
• Needle and thread
• Wonder clips – these are the best and oh so handy! They don’t get in the way and hold your binding while you sew in the perfect spot.
• Tools: Rotary cutter, cutting mat, ruler, sewing machine
• Thread: Matching or contrasting
• Extras: Pins, iron, marking tools (optional)

How To Hand Bind A Quilt

1. Make your binding (tutorial here!)

2. Sew your binding to the front of the quilt using your sewing machine

3. Fold the binding over to the wrong side and hand stitch down

That’s a wrap—literally! From cutting your binding strips to stitching that final thread, you’ve now got everything you need to finish your quilt with confidence (and a few handy tricks up your sleeve).

Hand binding might take a little more time, but it’s such a rewarding way to give your quilt that cozy, personal touch.

So go ahead—snuggle up with your finished quilt, admire those crisp corners and tiny stitches, and give yourself a high five. You did it!

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Additional Binding Resources

• Self Binding Quilt Tutorial
• Self Binding Napkin Tutorial
• Hand Binding Video Tutorial
• How to Make a Quilt – Binding
• Wonder Clips For Binding Quilts
• Single Fold Hem Or Binding Tutorial
• Double Fold Hem or Binding – Video
• How to Finish a Quilt with No Binding
• How to Make a Flange Quilt Binding
• Binding a Quilt with the Backing Fabric – Video
• Binding a Quilt With Selvage in the Binding Strip
• Free Printable Yardage for making Binding Strips
• How to Join the Ends of Binding – quick and easy!
• How To Sew Your Bias Strips Together – Quilt Binding
• How to Use the Compensating Foot on a Juki for Binding
• Quilting & Binding – Summer Solar Eclipse – Useful Tutorial

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Frequently Asked Questions

+ What materials do I need to bind a quilt by hand?
You’ll need binding strips (cut on the straight or bias grain), a hand-sewing needle, thread that matches your binding fabric, scissors, pins or clips to hold the binding in place, and an iron for pressing.

+ How do I prepare my binding strips?
Cut your binding strips to the desired width, typically 2½ inches for standard binding. Join the strips end-to-end to create one long strip, then press them in half lengthwise with wrong sides together.

+ Should I use straight-grain or bias-cut binding?
Straight-grain binding works well for quilts with straight edges, while bias-cut binding is more flexible and suitable for quilts with curved edges.

+ What stitch should I use for hand-binding?
A slip stitch is commonly used for hand-binding quilts. This stitch is nearly invisible and secures the binding neatly to the back of the quilt.

+ How do I achieve neat mitered corners?
When you reach a corner, fold the binding up to create a 45-degree angle, then fold it down so the raw edge aligns with the next side of the quilt. This creates a neat mitered corner. Secure it with a pin or clip and continue stitching.

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