Have you ever had trouble attaching satin blanket binding? Here are some tips for mitering corners, joining strips and finishing a blanket in under an hour.
I was at the fabric store this weekend buying fleece for my little boy’s Halloween costume (more on that later). I couldn’t pass up this fun monster print and had to make a blanket to celebrate the end-of-summer, beginning-of-fall, pre-Halloween excitement that I felt as I wandered through the store.
Satin Blanket Binding
I decided to keep it simple and stick to one layer of fleece and bind the whole thing with premade satin blanket binding. Could it get any easier than that? This way, I was sure I could actually finish the thing before Halloween, since I really came into the store to purchase costume-making supplies…guess I needed an excuse to put off that sewing until next weekend.
Here’s how I did it:
Supplies:
- 1 1/2 yards of fleece, selvages trimmed
- 2 packages of premade satin blanket binding, pressed flat
- all-purpose thread that matches the binding (I used Coats & Clark Dual Duty XP)
- sewing machine (I used a Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby)
Instructions
Find one end of one binding strip. (Notice that one long edge is shorter than the other. This is the edge you want to face you as you sew.)
Position the binding end along the enter of one fleece edge, sandwiching the fleece between the binding and abutting the fleece edge with the binding fold; pin. Make sure the shorter binding long edge is facing up, along with the fabric right side.
Set the machine for a 5mm-wide zigzag stitch, and make sure the machine is set for heavyweight fabric (or adjusting the presser foot pressure to accommodate the thick layers).
Zigzag stitch the binding to the fleece, making sure to catch both binding long edges with the stitches. Position the left needle swing just off of the binding on the left side.
Left Needle Swing
Right Needle Swing
At the corner, stop sewing 3 1/2″ from the edge. Leave the needle in the fabric. Pin the fleece/binding at the corner.
Pin Binding at Corner
Fold the binding toward the adjacent edge, aligning the fleece edge with the binding fold; pin.
Fold Adjacent Edge
Push the excess binding into the corner, aligning the excess fold with the binding fold. Remove the first pin. Make sure the back is doing the same thing as the front. Pin the mitered corner.
Pin Mitered Corner
Continue sewing to the corner and around to the next edge, pivoting at the corner and leaving the pin in the miter fold.
Pivot at Corner
Continue stitching the binding, mitering the corners as you reach them. Stitch all the way to the binding end. Using the second package of binding, locate the end so the narrow long edge is facing up. Unfold the end and refold the corner points into a triangle; press.
Fold End into Triangle
Wrap the triangle around the stitched end, aligning the binding long edges; pin.
Pin Triangle
Make sure the back looks like the front.
Back of Joining
Continue stitching the remaining binding.
Trim the excess binding 3 1/2″ beyond the beginning.
Trim Excess Binding
Fold the end into a triangle as per the previous instructions, pin, and then stitch to conceal the beginning raw end.
Stitch over each joining seam, backstitching at the beginning and end.
Stitch Joining Seam
Clean Finish on Back
Stitch the mitered corners as per the joining seams.
Just like that you have your finished blanket!
Finished Blanket
I’ve tried to hand sew the joining seams and mitered folds, but the satin binding has a tendency to fray when the hand sewing needle passes through it too many times. Machine sewing is the best solution.
I hope you use this tutorial to make plenty of blankets using all the cute fabrics that are hitting the shelves for the holidays. Send us images of your blankets to info@sewitalltv.com or post to our Sewing District gallery!
Nicely done, easily explained, and it does in deed work just as you said!
Thank you for sharing your technique! I always have trouble with the corners, so I will have to give this a try!
This is how I’ve done my blanket binding for years. The only thing you differently than I, is you start your second pkg of binding in your corner? That is a great idea.
I’ve thought of this often, but never did do it. But that is a great idea! Also love how
you finish your binding with a mitered end, and sew it up with double stitching.
One thing I have noticed with this satin blanket binding, that you didn’t mention,
is that when you open your pkg of binding, you’ll notice that they have the binding
factory pressed. One side is longer than the other, and you want to first stitch down
the longer edge. The shorter side should be the second side you stitch down. That
way they’ll look more uniform.
Thank you, at least I’m not the only one who does it this way
now I can finish that baby blanket I started and hit a point of I forgot how to do this !!! Hope this works so she can have it before she’s21 !! You sure can find any thing on the net now a day ! had to look up how to hoop a oneses!now I need great peter pan collars for baby, anyone?!
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Very nicely done! Had wondered how that works, now I know! Thanks!
nice photos, easy to see and distinguish exactly what is being done!
I’ve done blankets and quilts and have never used zig-zag. I think the end product is more professional looking with a straight stitch. I also do th corner that way
Good tutorial.
I’ve done straight stitching, zig-zag and blanket stitch. I like the way zig-zag turns out best.
I have also joined my two packages of binding like you would quilt binding and have mitered my corners by folding the binding upward and stitching on the inside and then folding it back.
I keep experimenting with what I like best. I’ll try this method, too.
My best advice is to use a good, sharp needle because the binding is closely woven and the needle can snag threads a cause an ugly pull.
Thanks for this tutorial-it was a life saver for sure. I had just struggled putting satin ribbon on a sm blankie for a new grandson due to arrive in June and then decided to go on pinterest and there was your tutorial!! Easy to follow and so I made another sm blankie for another grandson with your much better method!!