Facing Instead of Binding

Have you ever put together a quilt, quilted it, and thought, I really don’t want to add binding to this one. It’s perfect just the way it is! That’s exactly how I felt about this quilt. I loved my border! The strips were perfect, and I didn’t want to add another line around the edge that would run in a different direction than the strips within the border, which is what traditional binding would do. That’s when it hit me! Kathy Mac, a fellow member of my quilt guild, uses facing instead of binding. Facing creates a clean, modern finish that lets the design flow right to the edge of the quilt. It was exactly what this quilt needed!

What Is Facing a Quilt?

The process is very similar to binding. In fact, most of the steps are the same. You still piece your quilt top, make your quilt sandwich, quilt it, and trim and square it up. You even prepare strips of fabric that are folded in half!

The difference comes after you sew the strips to the edges of your quilt. Instead of wrapping the fabric around the edge so it shows on both the front and back, you turn the entire facing to the back of the quilt. This keeps all the extra fabric hidden on the back, leaving the front with a clean finish and no visible binding.

The corners are the part of the process that can get a little hairy, but they are totally doable!

A Great Facing Tutorial

If you want to give facing a try, Kathy Mac from Pink Chalk Studio created the perfect tutorial to walk you through the process.

Check out Kathy’s YouTube channel here.

I love learning new techniques from other quilters. Sometimes all it takes is seeing how someone else does something to realize there’s a different way to finish a project.

Adding One More Detail

After I finished facing my quilt, I still wanted some kind of outline around the quilt itself. I also wanted a way to tack down the facing with stitches. I secured it in place with glue, and I didn’t have time to hand-stitch. 

Instead, I decided to stitch a decorative stitch about one and a half inches from the edge.

I absolutely LOVE the way this quilt looks finished! The stitching gives it just enough definition without taking away from the design. The facing lets those border strips shine.

Sometimes the finishing details make all the difference!

Binding or Facing: Which Should You Choose?

I don’t think you need to pick a favorite! Both techniques have their place in quilting.

If I want a colorful frame around my quilt, binding is the way to go. If I want the design to flow right to the edge without a visible fabric border, facing is a great alternative.

Quilting is all about experimenting, learning new techniques, and finding ways to make your projects your own. Sometimes a small change in how you finish a quilt can completely change its overall look.

Have you tried facing a quilt instead of binding it? I’d love to hear how it worked for you! Leave a comment and share your favorite way to finish a quilt.

Happy quilting!