Tips for Joining Quilt Binding Strips at the End

Techniques for Joining Binding Strips at the Ends

When I first started quilting, joining binding strips was one of those skills that totally mystified me. I would end up with uneven corners or annoying little bulges. But with a bit of practice and patience, I got the hang of a few easy methods for seamlessly connecting my binding pieces. Whether you’re new to quilting or have been stitching for years, here are my tried and true techniques for joining binding strips at the ends.

Basic Method with Straight Seams

The most basic way to connect binding strips is simply sewing them together end-to-end. Here’s the process I follow:

1. Cut your fabric into strips the desired width for your binding. The most common is 2 1⁄4” or 2 1⁄2” strips.
2. Take two strips and line them up perpendicular to each other with right sides facing. Pin the ends together.
3. Sew across the ends using a 1⁄4” seam allowance. Backstitch at both ends for extra reinforcement.
4. Trim off excess beyond the seam and press the seam allowance open. This helps reduce bulk.
5. Repeat with all your strips until you have one long piece for binding.

The advantage of straight seams is simplicity. However, some quilters feel the seams may be visible or lumpy on the finished edge. So let’s look at ways to conceal those connections.

Diagonal Seams

One popular approach is using diagonal seams when joining binding strips:

1. Align two strips perpendicular, right sides together. Mark a diagonal line across the corner and sew on that line.
2. Trim off the excess fabric, leaving 1⁄4” seam allowance. This prevents bulk.
3. Press the seam allowances open.
4. Repeat with remaining strips to assemble the full binding piece.

The diagonal seam makes an angled connection that’s less likely to form a ridge on the binding edge once sewn to the quilt. I had issues with uneven corners until I started trimming closely to the seam – that was a game changer!

Mitered Corners

For binding strips with perfect right angle corners, try the mitered seam approach:

1. Cut strips the width you want and align two ends perpendicular, right sides together.
2. Mark a 45 degree diagonal line across the exact corner point and stitch along that line.
3. Trim fabric 1⁄4” out from the stitching line.
4. Press the seam allowances open to reduce bulk.

It takes a bit of concentration to get accurately lined up, but mitered corners make for smooth professional results once the binding is attached to your quilt!

No matter which method you choose, be sure to leave at least 6-12 inches extra binding after joining the ends. This will allow a nice overlap for seamless finishing. I know joining lengths of fabric isn’t the most glamorous part of quilting, but with a little forethought it definitely doesn’t have to be scary! Just take it slow and don’t be afraid to tweak the process until you get connections exactly how you like them. Happy stitching!

FAQ

How do I join binding strips at the end?

1. Basically, you want to miter the corners when joining binding strips. This gives a nice, clean finish.
2. Sort of overlap the ends by about 1/2 inch and then fold them back on themselves, creasing along the diagonal. This creates the miter.
3. Iron the miters flat to set the fold. Some folks like to use a bit of fabric glue stick here too for extra stability.
4. Then, align the strips and sew the miters closed with maybe a 1/4 inch seam. Backstitch at the beginning and end for stability.
5. Trim off excess fabric leaving a small seam allowance. Be careful not to clip the stitches!
6. Press miters open. Admire your nice, sharp seams. Awesome!
7. Finally, as you attach the finished binding to the quilt, treat the seams just like any other seam and sew through all layers.

What’s the best way to cut accurate miters?