Hidden Quilt Binding Tutorial–Ideal for Art Quilts
Last week someone asked me, “Do you sew for fun?” The answer: Absolutely! I love to sew landscape quilts. Here’s my latest quilt, Sunset. When it came time to bind the quilt, I choose the leftover brown fabric from the background. After laying the binding strips around the quilt, the quilt looked constrained, closed-in. My solution? Add the binding, but make it hidden.
Hidden Quilt Binding Tutorial
Hidden Quilt Binding TutorialWe chose to make step-by-step samples of this binding technique from contrasting fabrics, using a small square of quilted fabric to represent the quilt. I must admit, the red/black/cream combo is in high contrast to the Sunset color scheme! Oops.
- Measure the length of the quilt sides.
- Cut binding strips 2-1/2″ wide.
- Cut two binding strips the measurement of the quilt sides. (Piece the strips together, if needed, to create additional length.)
- Fold the binding in half, meeting long edges and wrong sides; press.
- Pin the binding to the quilt, right sides together, aligning the side edges.
- Stitch with 1/4″ seam allowances.
- Press the seam allowances toward the binding from the wrong side.
- Fold the binding to the wrong side; pin the binding to the quilt.
Note from Nancy
Rather than placing the seam along the edge of the quilt, bring the seam ever so slightly toward the back of the quilt. (Notice the red edge along the left side, representing the quilt top.) The fabric naturally folds this way, while ensuring that the binding stays hidden from the right side.
- Hand stitch the folded edge of the binding to the wrong side, only catching the backing of the quilt in the stitching.
- Measure the top and lower edges of the quilt.
- Cut two binding strips the measurement of the top and lower edges plus 2″.
- Pin the binding to the top and lower edges with 1″ of the binding extending at both ends.
- Stitch the binding to the quilt with 1/4″ seam allowances.
- Fold in the 1″ extensions and pin.
- Fold the binding toward the back of the quilt, again allowing the seam to extend slightly to the back of the quilt.
- Hand stitch.
- Repeat the technique, adding the binding to the lower edge.
- The binding is hidden!
Intrigued by Landscape Quilting?
Natalie Sewell and I wrote the book, The Art of Landscape Quilting. I think you’ll enjoy the easy, creative process of landscape quilting.
More Binding Options
This is just one of several ways to bind a quilt. For additional techniques, see my book, Fearless Quilting Finishes. Or, check out this blog! Fearless Quilting Finishes—Binding. (Note: The Hidden Quilt Binding is not included in the above book.)
Bye for now,
Nancy Zieman—author, pattern designer, businesswoman, producer, and national sewing authority—is the host of the popular show Sewing With Nancy®, which appears exclusively on public television stations across the United States and Canada. Follow Nancy’s Blog at NancyZieman.com/Blog and sign up to receive Nancy’s E-News for the latest news in Sewing, Quilting, & Creating.
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Peggy Underhill
lovely quilt, Nancy. I am going to try this binding technique on my almost finished quilt. What about a hanging sleeve? Just hand sew tp the back?
Nancy Zieman
Peggy, yes, add the sleeve as you stated. You’ll enjoy this technique!
Kim M. Harrington
I love the end result on this quilt!
Karole Walla
I am so grateful for your emails and blogs. After spending a lifetime sewing for necessity and being a “wanna-be” quilter, my husbands cousin walked me through my first quilting project a year ago. We lived in ND and I became addicted to all of the quilting and sewing shows on Prairie Public TV. Now I’m back in southern NM near the southern border and my beloved quilting and sewing shows are limited to the point of near non-existence. The blogs and emails are now my tutorials and I look forward to each new entry with great anticipation. I’m learning so much!!
Torry Sullivan
This is great! Thanks…
Tim Latimer
brilliant binding technique! thanks for the tutorial
Claudia Wade
Nancy – Thanks for providing a concise tutorial on this useful technique. I use this for table runners and place mats where sometimes a regular binding can seem oversized in comparison to the size of the “quilt.” Another technique for the corners is to use squares of quilt fabric folded diagonally and stitched to the corners of the piece on the right side before adding the side and top and bottom bindings. Then, after all stitching is complete, the corners turn over to form a nice squarely stitched corner, covering the ends of the binding/facing. Regards, Claudia W
Emilia Heffren
I have to say, Nancy, that you make the most gorgeous landscape quilts! They look like photographs. I love doing landscapes as my favorite but yours are SO much more beautiful! I used your tutorial many times (I have the book and the disc). Thanks for your many lessons in sewing and life.
Johanne Beerbaum
I love this innovative use of the outer binding. I never thought of doing it this way and thank you kindly, the quilt is spectacular.
Linda Mattson
That is a great way to do this. I never would have thought of it. I do not do landscape quilts, but sometimes you don’t want to see the binding.
Starla
Another milestone in my quest to conquer Fear of Binding. Thank you!
Danielle
I keep coming back to this page. I use it every time I’m turning an art quilt edge. Thank you for a great lesson!