A single-fold binding is used to cover the edges of a quilted item whose edges will not receive much wear and tear, such as a wall hanging.
First, decide how wide you want your finished binding to be on your project. The example above has 1/2" of binding showing. I made it this width because it is a wall hanging and I wanted the binding to give an appearance of a thin frame.
This is the formula I use for determining the width of my single-fold binding strips : Width of desired finished binding, that will show on the front of your quilt, multiplied by two. Add 1/2" to include the seam allowances on both the front and the back. Add 1/4" for the folds. So, 1/2" x 2=1". 1" + 1/2 + 1/4" = 1 3/4". l cut my fabric strips 1 3/4" wide.
For the length, simply measure the length and width of your quilt. Multiply that number by 2 and add 10 inches for turning corners and connecting the binding strips at the end.
This wall hanging measured 18 1/4" x 14 1/4".
18 1/4" + 14 1/4" = 32 1/2" 32 1/2" x 2 += 65" 65" + 10" = 75"
I cut two cross-grain strips of 44"-wide fabric at 1 3/4" wide each for my binding. I sewed the binding strips together, end to end, diagonally. (As shown using these green fabric strips.)
(For this tutorial, I'm using a small, pieced sample strip as my quilt top and small strips of binding fabric.)
Fold one length-wise side in 1/4" and press.
Lay the unfolded edge of the binding strip along the raw, outside edge of the quilt.
Leave about 5" of the binding strip loose. Backstitch to secure.
Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew until your needle is 1/4" from the corner.
With the needle down, lift the presser foot and pivot your quilt so that you can sew down the next side. Drop your presser foot and sew in reverse, right off the back edge of the binding strip and into the batting and backing.
Lift your needle and presser foot, and pull the quilt off to the left an inch or so. There is no need to cut the threads yet.
Fold the binding strip up at a 45 degree angle so that it is aligned with the right edge of your quilt. Make sure that your 45 degree angle is at the raw-edge corner of your quilt. Finger-press the fold.
Hold the folded angle in place and fold the top part of the binding strip down. (Make sure that this fold aligns with the top, raw edge of the quilt top.)
Align the raw edge of the binding strip with the right edge of the quilt top.
Put your presser foot down and begin sewing just off the edge of the fold. Continue sewing a 1/4" seam to the next corner. Repeat this process until all four corners are sewn.
After the last corner has been stitched, sew until you have approximately 6 to 8 inches of the quilt top left without binding sewn to it. Backstitch it to secure.
Lay the right binding strip down and finger-press a 45 degree angle in the center.
Cut the binding strip on this fold.
Lift the cut side up and lay the left binding strip end down. Lay the right, cut end on top Line up the raw edges.
With a pencil or an erasable marker, draw a line on the left binding strip along the 45 degree cut angle.
Lift the right binding end up. On the left binding strip, draw a line 1/2" to the right of the first line.
Cut the binding strip on the RIGHT line.
Line up the binding ends, right sides together. Off-set the tips for a 1/4" seam allowance and pin.
Sew a 1/4" seam. Finger-press the seam open and clip the tips.
Align the raw edge of the binding with the raw edge of the quilt top. Finish stitching the binding to the quilt top. Fold down the remaining edge and press.
Fold the binding away from the quilt top and press.
Turn the quilt over. Align the folded edge of the binding with the stitching line.
Hand stitch in place.