Choosing a Quilt Binding for a Baby Quilt

Choosing a quilt binding for your  handmade baby quilt should be done once the baby quilt is assembled.  It is difficult to make a decision on what type of fabric should be used for the binding and how it will look on the quilt. 

Place your finished quilt top on either your design wall or lay it out on a bed or clean floor space.  Step back.  Exchange fabrics and repeat. 

The quilt binding width needs also to be considered.  If your choice of a handmade baby quilt design is without borders, a ¼ inch  wide binding is not only the easiest to sew but that width will match up with the ¼ inch seam allowance.  This is standard in most baby quilts.   

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Single-fold binding is a type of quilt binding that should be considered if you want to reduce corner bulk in baby quilts with butted, rather than mitered corners.  This is a good choice for quilts have scalloped edges or curved edges, since the single-fold binding is easily manipulated around curves.   

To construct this type of binding, a long strip made from a single layer of fabric is sewn to the baby quilt; the unsewn edge is folded under, wrapped to the back of the quilt, and bind stitched to the backing.  The closer together you make the blind stitches, the more durable your binding will be. 

Since baby quilts get plenty of love and will have plenty of trips to the washing machine and dryer, durable stitching is needed. 

 Another option for a hand made baby quilt binding is a double-fold binding, or sometimes referred to as French-fold binding.  As the names implies, the fabric is folded in a strip lengthwise with wrong sides together and machine stitched to the front of the quilt.  After turning to the back of the quilt, the binding is held securely in place with invisible hand stitches. 

Make a fantastic finish for your homemade baby quilt.  Take time and choose the best fabric and quilt binding that compliments your handmade baby quilt.