Baby Quilt Part 2: Backing & Binding

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Welcome back for part two of your baby quilt! This post will cover adding your flannel backing to your baby quilt, quilting it and binding the edges. For details on how to sew a baby quilt top refer to my previous post.

Materials for your baby quilt:

1-2 yds cotton flannel, depending on size

your completed quilt top

pins, sewing machine, coordinating or contrasting thread, scissors, iron & ironing board

Iron:

Iron your cotton flannel backing fabric.

Pin:

Lay out your yard of cotton flannel, face down. Tape it to the table to help keep it from shifting.

On top lay out your completed quilt top, face up.

Pin the two pieces together. Again, I left out the batting to keep this project light and easy.

Your backing fabric needs to be several inches larger all the way around.

Iron & Pin:

Once I pinned my two pieces together I moved it to the ironing board. Here I smoothed and ironed and pinned more. The more pins, the less likelihood of material shifting. Take your time ironing and pinning then sewing it will be a breeze.

Once you’ve pinned your two pieces as much as possible, it’s time to sew! My sewing machine is a Singer Stylist which has a ton of decorative stitches so I’m always looking for ways to use them!

Sew:

Time to sew your quilt together. Set your stitch.  Be sure to backtack at your start and stop to secure your stitches. Stop sewing at the end of your quilt top. You do not want excess stitches in your flannel backing over hang.

I stitched my quilt (using my decorative wavy stitch #63) straight down all my vertical seams and then across all my horizontal seams. The stitch I chose made a large wavy line which crossed back and forth over my seams.

If you sew your quilt together with a straight stitch set the length to about 3.5, like you might for topstitching. Then use your seam as a guide and stitch 1/8″ from it. Sew down all your vertical seams and then back upon the other side of the same seam. You’ll create rows of stitches on either side of the seam. Repeat with the horizontal seams. This will outline each of your squares in topstitching.

On to Binding!

Measure & Cut:

With your quilt top facing up, trim your backing down to your desired size. I wanted a 1/2″ finished binding so I trimmed my backing to 1″ to include seam allowance, all the way around.

Iron:

Move your quilt to the ironing board. Fold the edges of your backing to meet the edges of the quilt top and iron in place. My fold was 1/2″

Pin:

Now fold the ironed edges over, on to the quilt top and pin into place.

The only fussy bit to this are the corners. I tucked the corner of the backing fabric under the corner of the quilt top.

Then when folding the straight edges, bring them together over the quilt top corner, encasing the corner of the quilt top.

I found it helps to start with the corner, bringing the two edges together with both hands to meet.

Sew:

Using a 1/8″ seam allowance and stitch length of 3.5, sew your binding into place. Be sure to back tack to start and stop, securing your stitches.

When you get to the corners, sew just passed the fold (this sews it closed), about 1/8″ or your seam allowance; stop, lift your presser foot, turn your quilt and continue sewing down the length of your binding. Be sure to backtack when you finish.

Trim your loose threads and admire your handiwork!

You made a baby quilt! Gift it to someone you love or keep it for yourself!

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