JANOME TUTORIAL: Machine Binding with Janome M7

Hello Quilting Friends! Today I'm sharing today my favorite technique for machine binding!

I absolutely love machine binding my quilts, pillows, and projects because it is durable, quick, and looks fabulous! This is how I bind 99.999999% of all of my projects. It is the way ;).

Ready to Learn: Machine Binding

*I'm sewing on a Janome M7 - so your Janome sewing machine screen/controls may look a bit different.

Supplies:

2.5" strip(s) of fabric for binding
Dual Feed Foot Holder (walking foot) with Open Toe UD Foot and 1/4" OD foot
Janome A Foot * May also use AcuFeed Foot (walking foot) instead
1/4" Ruler
Marking Pen
Thread that matches binding

Step 1: Make Binding

If multiple strips of fabric are needed - sew 2.5"binding strips together on the bias to make 1 long binding strip. Sewing strips together on the diagonal (bias) creates less bulky seams.
Janome M7 settings . A foot, straight stitch, 1.8 stitch length *May also use Dual Feed Holder with UD Foot (walking foot) if preferred

Place left binding strip right side up. Then place next binding strip perpendicular right sides together Draw a diagonal line on wrong side of top fabric as shown below.

Stitch along drawn diagonal line. Trim 1/4" away from sewn line. Hint- make sure you have sewn your binding strips correctly together before trimming.

Press binding strip in half (wrong sides together). Binding strip will measure 1.25" in width when folded wrong sides together

Step 2: Attach Binding to BACK of quilt/pillow/project

Attach Dual Feed Foot Holder (walking foot) with 1/4" OD foot attached (top foot in photo). Needle position 1/4", Stitch Length 2.0, and activate Dual Feed button on screen (highlighted in yellow in photo below). I prefer to use my Dual Feed Foot for attaching binding as the machine is sewing through multiple layers (quilt top, batting, quilt backing, plus double fold binding).

Starting about 6" from end of binding tail, place binding on BACK of project. Line up raw edges of binding and raw edges of project. Attach/Sew with 1/4" seam allowance until you are about 3" from corner.

Mitering Corner of Binding. Draw a line 1/4" from edge of project. Continue sewing until you reach the drawn line. Back Stitch. Stitch off project at a 45 degree angle (see yellow arrow below) - this helps with next step. Cut thread and remove quilt from machine.

Fold binding upwards so edge of binding aligns with edge of project and stitched line from previous step when you stitched off the project at a diagonal to the corner.

Fold binding down so folded edge of binding aligns with raw edge of project. Attach a wonder clip to hold binding in position. Begin stitching 1/4" from edge of project. Backstitch. Repeat at all corners to miter.

Stop stitching about 10" from beginning.

Overlap binding tails by 2 3/8". Draw line and cut on drawn line. I find a 2 3/8" overlap makes my binding fit best. Traditionally the overlap would be 2 1/2" since that is the original width of the binding.

Sew 2.5"binding tails together on the bias. Unfold binding tails. Place fabric on the left right side up. Then place other binding tail perpendicular right sides together. Draw a diagonal line on wrong side of top fabric as shown below. Sewing binding tails on the diagonal (bias) reduces seam bulk.

Stitch along drawn diagonal line. Refold binding and check that your binding is the correct size THEN trim 1/4" away from sewn line. Finish attaching binding with 1/4" seam. Backstitch over beginning stitches to secure start/stop.

Step 3: Stitch Binding to FRONT of Project

Change to Dual Feed Open Toe UD Foot, Dual Feed Key selected, Needle Position Center, and Stitch Length 2.0

Wrap binding to front of project and secure with wonder clips. Bring up bobbin thread before stitching to prevent thread knot on back of project. Stitch 1/8" away from folded edge of binding.

Continue stitching until about 3" away from corner. Fold binding on unstitched side up and hold down. Then fold binding from stitched side over project to create a mitered corner.

Stitch to corner. Raise pressor foot (leave needle in DOWN position). Rotate project. Lower presser foot and continue stitching down binding. Repeat for all mitered corners. Backstitch over beginning stitches to secure.