The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew Binding

How to add binding

The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew Binding

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By Emily Jansson, Nancy’s Notions guest blogger

Occasionally you find a new tool or notion that changes your life. The day I started at my first sample room job, I was introduced to the Binder Foot… and my life has never been the same.

How to add binding

For years I used double fold binding, and stitched it up the old-fashioned way—not the easy way like Nancy shows us. Well, the humble Binder Foot is even better. It just about takes all the work out of stitching binding!

If you’re a crafty quilter, you know how often binding is used in all kinds of projects, from bags and wallets, to larger items like home décor and quilts.

If you’re an apparel sewer like me, you may decide that this is a fantastic way to finish seams in your unlined clothing. The Hong Kong finish is smart-looking, and one more opportunity for creative self-expression—just use a contrasting print that complements your garment for a little surprise on the inside.

Supplies and Notions:

How to add binding

Some will say the Binder Foot is finicky. Although this can be true, I’ve found that all you need are a little patience and preparation. Use the following steps for great results:

  • Start by preparing your bias tape. I prefer to cut my own from fabric that coordinates with my project.
  • Cut the strips slightly wider, because bias stretches (and consequently gets thinner). If the directions ask that the cut piece be 1-1/2″ wide, add an extra 1/16″ to that measurement, and cut at 1-9/16″ wide.

THE GOLDEN BINDING RULE: The final width of your binding as you feed it through the foot will make or break your sewing.

  • Starch fabric before cutting if you’re using slippery or loosely woven fabrics, like satin or polyester crepe, etc.
  • Use a Bias Tape Maker.
  • Press your binding slowly and carefully, stretching the fabric as little as possible. Starch again as you press the double folds in your strip—you’ll be grateful for the added stability later.

How to sew binding

  • Wind the binding up slowly once it’s all pressed. You will be tempted to pull and wind it tight to make a neat little roll, but this is detrimental to your binding width, as it will stretch. Try to roll it up more like a lasso, without any tension. It takes some finesse, but it will make all the difference.

How to sew binding

  • Start the binding through the machine before you feed your fabric through—just to make sure you’ve got everything lined up, and that it’s feeding through properly. You can always trim the excess when you’re finished.

How to sew binding

  • Suspend the binding gently in your right hand as you feed the binding through the foot, and ultimately through your machine. This does two things: one, it helps you control how the bias is being fed into the foot, and two, it helps you keep control of the binding tension (too much tension=stretching and misery).

Notice below how I’m helping hold the bias around the fabric? This makes it easier, too.

How to sew binding

  • Use a stiletto to help keep your fabric fed through the foot and in its place between your binding.
  • Check out Fancy Footworks 2, by Nancy Zieman, for a fully illustrated, step-by-step process for using this handy little foot. Nancy explains how to adjust your Binder Foot and use a Bias Tape Maker, plus in-depth how-tos are included for 11 other specialty feet. Keep this workbook close to your machine for easy reference.

Thanks to Emily Jansson.

—The Nancy’s Notions Team

Go slowly. Be patient. Always cut extra bias strips. Good things come with practice. You’ll be a binding ace in no time!

Bye for now,

Nancy Zieman The Blog

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23 Comments

  • Robbin Donahue
    September 1, 2015

    Show me this on a curve and then I will believe you. I almost never put binding on a straight edge, or at least not one that doesn’t also include curves. Please, I don’t mean to be terse, but I have this foot and have yet to figure out how to neatly enclose curves with a bias binding foot. The only way I can do this is to sew one edge, right sides together to the fabric, then flip it over the raw edge and topstitch in the ditch. That’s a pain!

    • Emily
      September 2, 2015

      Hi Robbin,

      Agreed–curves are always the hardest part. The absence of a walking foot with this kind of attachment leaves the feeding of the top of the bias up to us stitchers, and that’s where time, practice and finesse come in.

      Be aware that the feed dogs beneath are pulling the bias through much more readily on the bottom—you have to compensate for the drag on the foot by guiding the top part of the binding through with a pin or stiletto tool, if you have one.

      I’m not saying you’ll get perfection on your first go–I certainly didn’t. But with time and practice, I’ve found this foot to be an absolute life-saver. 🙂

      Let me know how it goes!
      -Emily

  • Margaret C.
    September 1, 2015

    I concur with the above comment. Once it gets messed up on the curve it is doomed. Never again.

  • Joanne P.
    September 1, 2015

    You have a very nice close up picture of the binding foot itself. Would be nice to have a close up picture of the binding foot showing how the binding is fed through the foot. The pictures you have showing sewing the binding on are hard to see. The fabric is grey, the binding is grey, foot is grey, etc. Can’t really see how the binding feeds through.
    Have never used this type foot, so showing the feed would be helpful.

  • Jan
    September 1, 2015

    I’m with the previous comments. I have the foot, and have tried it. How do you get it started. How do you keep it all together. How do you feed it. Good contrasting solid color fabrics, close up videos and ‘feeding it through’ videos would be appreciated.

  • Brenda Ackerman
    September 1, 2015

    Thank you for sharing this tutorial! I would love to have one of these items and also a set of the bias tape makers. Hopefully, my family will take my list and get it for me. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful creative day!

  • Barb F
    September 1, 2015

    Thanks, I’ll have to try this. I’ll have to see if I have this foot yet. Not always sure.

  • Kaaren Lynch
    September 1, 2015

    I’m always so happy to learn more about using notions from Nancy. I’ll keep this on my to do list.

  • Cathy J
    September 1, 2015

    Thank you for a great tutorial. Binding seems to be getting easier all of the time with all of the nice tools that are available. I would like share a new binding tool I just learned about. It is the Easy Binding Winder. (no I have no affiliation). For those of us who quilt this is a great tool, because there are no more miles of wild binding to chase. Here is a link to the website.
    http://www.easybindingwinder.com/home22.html

    Cathy ♥

  • Bonnie Cotton
    September 1, 2015

    To me it sounds like more trouble than it’s worth. I know, “don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it”. I have the bias makers and use them quite a bit. I have not watched the video, but corners and curves ??? Just don’t think I’m gonna buy this one.

  • Jean Inda
    September 1, 2015

    Do you do the corners the same way that you do without the foot? Stop a quarter inch before end…you know the drill : )

    • Emily
      September 2, 2015

      Hi Jean,

      Binding on a machine with a binder foot isn’t really designed for making perfectly mitered corners–it’s used more for gently-curved corners.

      With time, you’ll learn that you really can get in there and make a very tight corner, but it will never be mitered.

      If you keep your eyes out at stores, you’ll notice there are ways that companies get around this, by either finishing a right-angled edge with bias that ends at the corner and is flipped back up on itself and anchored, or by simply having a curved corner.

      This is how I learned to finish my binding treatments on bags and accessories–I’m that weirdo who can’t help but peek inside an interesting bag to see how they made it. The ingenious techniques used in production translate well to home sewing–it pays to see how the factories are doing it.

      Hope that helps! 🙂
      -Emily

  • Gail
    September 1, 2015

    I have this foot and have used it on straight seams. Loved it for straight sewing Have not tried it on curves.

  • Lebec Egirl Sews
    September 1, 2015

    Would love to see this as a video.

  • J. Jansson
    September 2, 2015

    Are those your hands in the pictures, Emily? They look too youthful!
    I loved the info in the blog. Thank you!

  • Melanie
    September 3, 2015

    Wear the binding as a bracelet , it is easier to feed the binding thru.

  • Wendy
    September 5, 2015

    I wish there was a video . I have searched online but have found none with this type of binder foot.

  • Claire Palmer
    September 10, 2015

    I just received a note saying I had already sent this comment . The only time that I have e-mailed Nancy is to ask for a catalogue.
    Regarding the best binding method: I believe the binding is stronger if double fold binding is used instead of using a binding maker to fold it in to the center.

  • kayla
    June 3, 2016

    I make diaper covers. Have you tried the binder foot on bulky projects?Just wondering if it’s possible. I have a hard time with my bias tape staying straight while sewing.

  • Anita
    January 11, 2018

    I ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT THE BIAS BINDING PRESSER FOOT. MY PLAN WAS TO FAST-TRACK BY HONG KONG SEAM FINISHES, HOWEVER, WHEN TRYING TO USE THE ¼ INCH DOUBLE FOLD BIAS TAPE ON A WOOL/RAYON BLEND, I AM HAVING A DEVIL OF A TIME GETTING THE FABRIC TO STAY W/IN THE TAPE, IT JUST SHEARS OFF. I THINK IT WILL WORK OK WITH A WIDER TAPE (ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT TRIED) BUT WANTED TO USE THE NARROW TAPE. HAS ANYONE HAD SUCCESS USING THIS FOOT WITH THE ¼ INCH DOUBLE FOLD BIAS TAPE? WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR GETTING THIS TO WORK? THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR RESPONSES.

  • Barbara
    February 14, 2019

    Which binding foot sews both sides of the binding one time only? I saw a program here in CA February 11, 2019 on Sewing with Nancy however it is not accessible to watch again..

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