How to Make Flange Quilt Binding

How to Make Flange Quilt Binding


I love flange quilt binding. It gives quilts an elegant and finished look. I don't use it on all my projects, but sometimes a quilt needs that extra pop. Flange binding takes a little extra work, but it's well worth the effort when you see the finished result. I made the following tutorial as comprehensive as possible and hope it will help you give flange binding a try.


INSTRUCTIONS


1) CALCULATE THE LENGTH OF BINDING YOU WILL NEED FOR YOUR QUILT


EXAMPLE:
Finished quilt size = 54" × 60"

  • (54" × 2) + (60" × 2) + 10" = 238" (10" extra is added for finishing the binding). 
  • (238" ÷ 36") = 6.6 yards
  • You will need 6.6 ≈ 7 yards of binding for a 54" × 60" finished quilt. 

2) WIDTHS TO CUT FOR FLANGE AND MAIN COLOUR STRIPS

  1. Decide on a binding width you need.
  2. Use the chart below to get the widths to cut the strips for main colour and the flange.




3) ASSEMBLING & ATTACHING BINDING


  1. Sew both strips together lengthwise with a 1/4" seam allowance.
    Press the seam towards the main colour strip.


  2. Fold the strips over lengthwise (wrong sides facing), line up the top edges and press.


  3. With right side of quilt down, stitch binding around the edge of the quilt
    with a ¼ seam allowance.


  4. Fold binding to the front of the quilt and stitch-in-the-ditch between the
    flange and the main colour.


DETERMINE YARDAGE NEEDED FOR BINDING STRIPS


1.  CALCULATE NUMER OF STRIPS TO CUT BASED ON YOUR FABRIC WIDTH

EXAMPLE 238" (length of binding in inches) ÷ 42" (fabric cross grain width) = 5.6 ≈ 6 strips


2.  CALCULATE THE YARDAGE NEEDED FOR YOUR STRIPS


MAIN STRIPS
EXAMPLE 
  • 1.25" x 6 (number of strips needed) = 7.5" + 2" = 9.5" (2" added for uneven edges).
  • Yardage needed for main colour strips: 9.5" x 42"
FLANGE STRIPS
EXAMPLE  
  • 1.5" x 6 (number of strips needed) = 9" + 2" = 11" (2" added for uneven edges).
  • Yardage needed for flange strips: 11" x 42"