How to Make Flange Quilt Binding




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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

Decide on a binding width and refer to the chart below to get the correct overall strip width for that binding. Important Note: When choosing a binding width, keep in mind your batting loft thickness.
Using the overall strip width, use the chart below to get widths to cut for the main colour strips and the flange strips.
  • Calculations for main and flange strip widths
  • Main: Half the overall strip width.
  • Flange: Half the overall strip width plus 1/4" (This gives you a 1/8" flange).



3)   CALCULATE HOW MANY STRIPS TO CUT BASED ON YOUR FABRIC WIDTH

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

4)   CALCULATE THE YARDAGE NEEDED FOR YOUR STRIPS

MAIN STRIPS

EXAMPLE 
  • 1.25" x 6 (number of strips needed) = 7.5" + 2" = 9.5" (Add 2" 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" (Add 2" for uneven edges).
  • Yardage needed for flange strips: 11" x 42"

5)   HOW TO MAKE THE BINDING


6)   HOW TO ATTACH THE BINDING


Comments

  1. FauntieJune 19, 2019

    Wow, you really made me get out the calculator when I saw that you said you need 7 yards for the binding. Not so. When you measure your quilt sides, double that length and add 10" you get 228". But then you divide by 40" as these strips will be cut across the grain of the fabric. You will need 6 strips for each of the two strips. If you multiply 2.5" X 6 for the larger strip you will need 15" (I would get 1/2 yard). Do the same calculations for the smaller strip. I've made many quilts using this formula and it has never failed!

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    Replies
    1. MONICA CURRYJune 19, 2019

      Thanks for your comment. To clarify, (54 + 60) x 2 = 228" + 10" = 238". My cross grain width is 42", so I used that width to calculate the number of strips I'll need (238" divided by 42" = 5.6 or 6 strips). If you look at the chart, you'll see that if you want an overall strip width of 2.5", the flange (larger strip) is 1.5" and the main colour strip is 1.25". You would divide these widths by 6 to get the yardage needed for these strips. We are both doing the same thing, just using different numbers. It's very important to get the binding length correct at the beginning or it will through everything off.

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  2. Deb-Ellen_AustraliaNovember 30, 2021

    To be clear - Monica's calculation is for the yards of binding required for that particular sized quilt ie 7 yards. Fauntie's calculation is for the amount of fabric required to make that amount of binding ie 1/2 yard.

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