Not every quilt is destined to become an heirloom. Some quilts are thrown together quickly and lead short, hardworking lives—as nap quilts at a preschool, for example, or as picnic quilts stored in the trunk of your car. The pillowcase binding method, sometimes also called "birthing" a quilt, is an easy way to bind this kind of everyday, working quilt. See other options for binding your quilt.
The pillowcase method treats your quilt as if it were a large pillowcase, leaving an opening on one side that's big enough to turn the “pillowcase” inside out. Then the quilt is turned right side out and blind stitched or top-stitched to close the opening.
The pillowcase method can be a good way to assemble a quilt when you’re in a hurry or if you know the quilt is destined not to become an heirloom. It’s easiest to use on smaller quilts; for example the technique works well with 18” x 18” doll quilts.. Some quilters have had trouble turning larger quilts right side out.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Square up the quilt top.
- Layer the quilt top and backing fabric on your work surface with right sides facing each other, then lay the batting on top, as shown in the photograph below. (If you want to quilt the top before you assemble the quilt, lay the quilt top on top of the batting, right side up. Baste and quilt just those two layers. Once you’ve finished quilting the top, layer the quilted top and the backing fabric with right sides together.)
- Pin every few inches around the edge of the quilt.
- Sew all the way around the quilt with a ½” or ¾” seam allowance, leaving an opening on one side that is big enough to put your hand inside to turn the “pillowcase” right side out. If your quilt is large, allow a bigger opening of 10”-15” to make it easier to push the bulk of the quilt through.
- Turn the pillowcase right side out and press.
- Blind stitch the opening closed by hand, or fold under the raw edges of the open area and top stitch around the whole quilt.
- Secure the quilt layers together. You can do this in several ways:
- Baste and quilt the layers with hand or machine quilting. Be aware that dense quilting at this stage could cause the quilt to shrink and lose its squareness. Save your fancy quilting for quilts that you bind after you finish the quilting.
- Tie the layers together with yarn.
- Tack the layers together with buttons or decorative stitching. This is a good time to try out some of your sewing machine’s decorative stitches.
Choosing a size for your quilt. Size recommendations and factors to consider when making wall quilts, lap quilts, table toppers, and bed quilts. Includes standard U.S. mattress and bed quilt sizes
How to label your handmade quilts. Quilts get lost, stolen, sometimes even forgotten. A good quilt label will identify your quilt and help tell its unique story to generation after generation.
Christine Mann - Christine Mann writes about quilting, home decor sewing, and creativity in daily life.
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