There are many different ways to face a quilt, but this is my favorite technique. This method reduces bulk in the corners, and the stay stitching makes a nice clean turned edge. A folded square at each corner stabilizes the quilt edges with straight-of-grain fabric, but the bias across the back, makes a nice smooth corner. Stay stitching along the straight strips gives a nice clean turned edge.

Quilt facings are commonly used in modern, contemporary and art quilts to allow the viewer’s eye to enjoy the design of the quilt without the hard line of a binding on the edge. But bindings can complement a quilt’s design, like adding a picture frame to a picture. There is a purpose for both quilt edge finishes! Pick the one that best suits your current project.

Face one (1) quilt

How to Face a Quilt

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

Learn how to face a quilt with a technique that makes nice clean turned edges and sharp corners.

Materials

Fabric for facing your quilt, cut as follows:
Four (4) strips of fabric, each about 3" shorter than the sides of your quilt, one strip for each side. I like to cut them about 1-1/2" wide for smaller quilts and 2-1/2" - 3" wide for larger quilts
Four (4) squares of fabric, one for each corner. For smaller quilts about 3" square and for larger quilts 6" square
Thread to sew

Tools

Sewing machine
1/4-inch foot
Iron
Ironing board
Rotary cutter
Rotary cutting ruler
Cutting mat
Corner turner
Optional: Clapper for pressing

Instructions

Measure each side of your quilt. Cut four (4) strips of fabric about 3" shorter than each side of the quilt. This is a larger quilt, so I cut the strips 2-1/2" wide. Cut four (4) squares of fabric for the corners. Again, since this is a larger quilt, I cut them at 6".
Fold the squares in half diagonally, wrong sides together, and press to make triangles. Press 1/2" to the wrong side along one long edge of each strip.
On the right side of your quilt, place the folded triangles on the corners, matching raw edges. Pin in place. Center the correct strip along each side of the quilt on top of the triangles, leaving a 1-1/2 - 2" gap at each corner.
With your 1/4" foot, begin at one corner and sew to the end of that side.
Sew the entire length of each side and all of the way off of the edge. Do this for all four (4) sides.
Once all sides are sewn, stitch diagonally across the end of each corner to stabilize the corner stitching. Here is a close-up after the stabilizing stitching.
From the right side, press your strips out flat from your quilt.
Trim the corners close to your stabilized stitching.
Edge stitch the length of each facing along the seam line, stitching on the facing side of the seam.
Gently turn the corners to the backside of your quilt. The long edge of the triangle is on the bias, so take care handling the folded bias edge. You want to be gentle so you don't stretch the fabric and distort your corners. If needed, gently ease the corner back into shape with your iron (sometimes steam helps), or with stitching.
Use a corner turner or blunt tool to gently push out your corner. Don't push too hard or you might break through the stitches.
Press the facings and the corners to the back of your quilt, making sure the facing doesn't show on the front of your quilt. I like to turn so about 1/16" of the front shows on the back of the quilt. Also, I use my clapper after a burst of steam to really hold the fold with the facing in place.
Here is a finished turned corner, seen from the right side. None of the facing shows on the front of the quilt. Use a slip stitch or ladder stitch to secure the facings to the back of your quilt.

Notes

NOTE: You can trim your quilt to the finished size as I did above before stitching the facing to the quilt. OR, mark the edge of the quilt and trim AFTER sewing on the facing.

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What does it mean to face a quilt?

Facing a quilt means that the quilting goes all of the way to the edge of the quilt. There is no binding that wraps around the edge on front and back. The facing only shows on the back of the quilt. This gives a quilt a clean finish without the binding that is on traditional quilts.

Browse through more quilting inspiration and projects on Create Whimsy.

Want to bind you quilt? We’ve got a tutorial on how to bind your quilt, too!