Binding

Binding is the final fabric step in finishing a quilt. Strips of fabric are joined, folded in half lengthwise, machine-stitched to the front of the quilt through all layers, then wrapped around to the back and hand- or machine-stitched down, enclosing all raw edges. Double-fold (French) binding — made from 2.5-inch strips folded in half — is the most durable. Single-fold binding is thinner but less durable. Binding can be cut on the straight of grain (easiest, preferred for straight-edged quilts) or on the bias (better for scalloped edges and corners).