A finishing technique where a separate strip of material is folded over a raw edge and sewn in place to prevent fraying and provide a clean look. It is heavily used in quilting to finish the perimeter, and in garment construction to finish necklines, armholes, or internal seams.
Heard on the job
I'm cutting the binding strips at two and a half inches wide for the quilt border.
Related terms
Bias tape
A narrow strip of fabric cut on a 45-degree angle to the grainline.
Hong Kong finish
A premium seam finishing technique where raw fabric edges are encased in a narrow strip of bias binding.
Piping
A narrow tube of fabric, often containing a filler cord, sewn into a seam for decoration or structure.