Sewing binding onto a skirt typically involves attaching a strip of fabric to the edge of the skirt to create a clean, finished look. Here's a step-by-step guide using a two-step binding method:
Two-Step Binding Method
This method involves sewing the binding to the wrong side first and then flipping it to the right side for a clean finish.
Materials You'll Need:
- Skirt
- Binding fabric (pre-made or cut your own)
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Iron
- Scissors
Steps:
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Prepare the Binding: If you are using pre-made binding, skip this step. If you're cutting your own, cut strips of fabric (usually on the bias for curves) to the desired width (typically around 2 inches). Fold the strip in half lengthwise and press with an iron. Fold each raw edge in to meet the center fold line and press again. This creates a double-fold binding.
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Attach Binding to Wrong Side: Open out one fold of your binding. Pin the right side of the opened binding strip to the wrong side of your skirt, aligning the raw edge of the binding with the raw edge of the skirt. Leave a tail of a few inches of binding at the beginning.
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Sew the First Seam: Straight stitch along the first fold line of the binding, sewing through both the binding and the skirt fabric. Maintain a consistent seam allowance.
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Press the Seam: Carefully iron the seam allowance away from the skirt fabric and towards the binding. Be careful not to iron away the folds on the binding itself.
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Flip and Fold the Binding: Turn the binding over to the right side of the skirt. Fold the binding over the edge of the skirt, encasing the raw edge of the skirt within the binding. Ensure the folded edge of the binding covers the stitching line from the previous step.
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Pin the Binding in Place: Pin the folded binding securely to the right side of the skirt, ensuring a neat and even edge.
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Topstitch the Binding: Sew along the edge of the binding on the right side of the skirt, close to the folded edge. This secures the binding in place. You can use a straight stitch or a decorative stitch, depending on your preference.
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Join the Binding Ends: Where the binding meets, trim any excess binding, leaving about an inch of overlap. Open the binding ends, fold in the raw edges, and press. Overlap the folded ends and pin in place. Topstitch over the overlap to secure. Alternatively, you can use a mitered corner technique.
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Final Press: Give the completed binding a final press for a crisp, professional finish.
Tips and Considerations:
- For curved edges, clip into the seam allowance after sewing the first seam to allow the binding to lay flat.
- Use a walking foot on your sewing machine to prevent the binding from shifting while sewing.
- Choose a thread color that matches the binding or the skirt fabric.
- Practice on scrap fabric before applying the binding to your skirt.
