How to apply blanket binding

So, you think you will make a quick blanket as a gift and you buy some cute flannel and fuzzy fabric and want to add the classic satin blanket binding.  Then you get frustrated because it bunches and snags and you can’t find any help on the internet!  I recently scoured the net for directions on how to apply blanket binding with mitered corners.  I found a couple sites, but none with many details.  So here are some more details to help you put satin blanket binding on the edge of fabric.   I wanted to put the binding on the edge, overlapping the fabric just 1/2 inch.  I also didn’t want to fold it in half again, as you would for a quilt binding.  I came up with this through trial and error, and perhaps there is a different way, but this worked for me.   One more thing, I used a straight stitch with a walking foot.  If you don’t have a walking foot, and you can’t get the tension right on your machine (which happened on my old machine and one reason why I have a new one), you can do a wide zig-zag on the very edge, with half the zig zag on the binding and half on the fabric.  It looks nice, too, and holds up just as well.

I applied the binding to the edge of the fabric, about 1/2 inch in.  You can put it at any distance you like, maybe even all the way in so that the edge of the fabric is touching the inside of the fold of the binding.  You will sandwich the fabric between the binding.  Sew down the length of it and stop 1/2 inch (or however far you have sandwiched it in) from the edge.

(Excuse my blurry macro shot.  Still figuring out how to take good pictures.)

Next, fold the binding up, as shown, to form a 45 degree angle.  Finger press this a lot.  You will need this fold to guide you.  You could even use an iron, but I would rather not have such a permanent crease in case I need to adjust it for whatever reason.

Open up the binding and lay it down in front of you .  Push up the left side of the binding until it touches the inside of the top fold.  You will now have a mitered corner on the front.  Pin that through the first three layers to keep it in place while you do the back.  Fold the back in the same way.  Then put the straight pin through all the layers.

Pull the binding down to sandwich the next side to be stitched.  Pin it in place.

Go back to where you stopped sewing, backstitch and sew the corner and continue sewing until you get to the next corner.

And that is how I mitered the corners of the Daycare Baby Blanket I made for my niece.  Good luck with your blanket!