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How to Bind a Placemat or Table Runner

Alanda Craft May 1, 2022 6 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

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In this tutorial, we are going to be showing you how to bind a placemat but bear in mind, the same process described below also applies to a table runner.

NOTE: If you are wanting to create the table runner and placemats used in this tutorial then click the following link: Kids Placemats & Table Runner Tutorial
how to bind a placemat or table runner

Watch the video below or scroll down for written instructions

(Can’t see the video? You may have an ad blocker installed)

Step 1: Create your binding strips

The first thing you will need to do when binding a placemat is to cut the strips of fabric to create the binding. We cut our binding strips at 2¼”  but you can cut them at 2½” if you prefer a looser binding (or not as tight). (It can also be a little easier for a beginner to use a wider binding.)

Hopefully the pattern you are following will tell you how many strips of fabric you will need but if not, you can always calculate it manually using our tutorial here or you can use a quilting app. I use the Robert Kaufmann Quilting Calculator which you can download for free from the app store.

For our tutorial here, our placemat requires 2 strips of fabric and our table runner requires 3 strips.

Each strip that you cut will measure 2¼ x WOF. The WOF stands for ‘width of fabric’ which is usually around 42″ for quilting fabric.

how to bind a placemat or table runnerOnce you have cut your strips, trim off the selvedge edges at both ends of each strip.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

You will then need to sew the strips together. To do this, start by overlapping two strips. Place them with fabric sides facing each other as shown in the image below.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

You will be sewing the two strips together on the diagonal so the easiest way to do this is to draw a line (with a fabric pen) as shown below.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Pin to keep the strips together and sew along the drawn line.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

After sewing, it should look like the image below. (If not, it probably means you have sewn on the wrong diagonal.)

how to bind a placemat or table runner

You’ll notice that we have a bit of extra fabric along the edge. We need to cut that off.

Fold back the fabric and trim off the excess fabric leaving a quarter inch seam. (Watch the video above to see how this is done).

You will also need to cut off those little bitty overhanging bits on the sides as indicated in the image below.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Now you will need to fold the long strip in half and press all the way down the strip.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Step 2: Sew the Binding to the Placemat

We are now ready to sew the binding onto the placemat.

Line up the binding strip with the edge of the placemat. You will be lining them up along the raw edges and leaving an overhang of about 6″ or so.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Pin to the first corner of the placemat.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Sew down along the edge using a quarter inch seam. Do not sew the 6″ overhang. Stop sewing when you a a quarter of an inch away from the corner and do a small back stitch and remove the placemat from the machine for the next step.

TIP: We draw a line to indicate where this quarter inch mark will be so we know exactly where to sew to. (Watch the video above to see how we do this.)

how to bind a placemat or table runner

You can see the result in the image below.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Fold back the strip toward you to line it up with the edge of the placemat.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Bring the strip over to align with the edge of the placemat. Watch the video above to see how this is down.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Pin in place and sewn down until you are a quarter of an inch from the edge and do a little backstitch.

Remove the placemat from the machine and repeat the process with the other three corners.

When you are sewing from the very last corner, just sew a little way down in order to leave a decent sized gap as shown in the image below.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

From here on, I highly recommend that you watch the video above as it will make much more sense before reading the steps below.

Cut a 2″ piece of fabric from the long end of the binding fabric. We will be using this scrap of fabric as a measurement tool in the next step. If you don’t have enough fabric left to cut, then you can just use a ruler.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Lay the the initial overhang strip of binding down on the placemat.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Take the 2″ piece of fabric you cut and open it up and lay it down at the end of that strip.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Lay the longer binding strip over the top.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Cut the binding strip at the edge of the 2″ scrap of fabric.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Open the top binding strip and lay it flat face up on your mat.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Take the other end of the binding strip and open it up and lay it down over the other end face down. You may need to bunch up the placemat a bit to do this. Overlap it just a little and pin in place. Sew along the line.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Once sewn, it should sit evenly along the placemat.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

You will also notice a bit of bulk in the seam line you just sewed.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Cut that off leaving a quarter inch seam.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Flip over the placemat and turn the binding over and pin.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

When you get to the first corner, create your mitre. (Watch the video above for more detail.) Continue to pin all around the placemat, creating your mitres at each corner.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Sew around the binding keeping close to the edge. Back stitch at the start and finish.

how to bind a placemat or table runner

The final result!

how to bind a placemat or table runner

Be aware that you are not going to get a perfect finish on the back, as the stitching will be visible. So use a matching thread for the back. I try not to sew onto the binding and to do this just feel the seam bump with your fingers as you sew, and keep to the left of that seam. This will keep the stitching on the backing fabric rather than the binding.  If you want a perfect finish you will need to hand sew the binding.  This is just a quick method to attach the binding on quick and easy projects.

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Filed Under: Quilting How To's, Quilting Tutorials Tagged With: binding, placemats, quilting, table runner

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Connie says

    April 9, 2023 at 12:00 am

    Great idea using the add a quarter to mark the quarter inch. Very helpful, thanks!

    Reply
    • Alanda Craft says

      April 14, 2023 at 11:39 am

      Thank you Connie 😊. One day when I was doing some binding I just happened to have the add a quarter ruler in front of me, and thought, “well why not try it” and it worked perfectly.

      Reply
  2. Judi says

    August 27, 2023 at 2:25 am

    Thanks for the great directions on binding.

    Reply
    • Alanda Craft says

      August 28, 2023 at 10:57 am

      You are most welcome Judi😊. I’m glad you found it helpful.

      Reply
  3. Sharon Robinson says

    September 1, 2023 at 4:33 am

    I just saw your video of sewing on binding of a placemat. I enjoyed watching. And, that Add-A-Quarter ruler is the trick! I have a short one and a long one. They are great!!

    Reply
    • Alanda Craft says

      September 1, 2023 at 12:58 pm

      I am so happy to hear that you liked the video, Sharon 😊. I agree with you, those Add-A-Quarter rulers are great.

      Reply

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Welcome to Alanda Craft - We are Wanda & Paula, two friends who love to craft. Our goal is to show you techniques on how to improve your crafting skills. Learn how to use your ScanNCut, your Dream Machine, make quilts and create quick and easy sewing projects! Learn, Create, Enjoy!

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