How to use an empty spool to attach quilt binding without the floor mess
Attaching binding is the last step of making a quilt, and also a step that might end in chaos. I’ve tried several approaches:
- Pinning the binding all the way around with regular sewing pins (takes forever and you’ll stab yourself at least once).
- Using Wonder clips (no pain involved, but my clips always get caught on the edges of the sewing table).
- Just piling the binding on the floor in a big heap (always ends up twisted, and the chair wheels will eat it alive).
So here’s the trick I do now — no tangles, no pins, no swearing.
(Disclaimer: I first saw someone do this on Instagram, but I can’t remember who it was. If you’re the genius who came up with it, let me know and I’ll happily give you credit!)
By the way, the quilt I’m working on here is Knitty leaves – the newest pattern in my web pieced series. It will be launched very soon, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
Step 1 – Make your binding strip
Make your binding strip as usual. I use double binding, cut at 2 ½" wide and folded in half lengthwise. For a large throw quilt, 8 WOF strips joined together is usually enough.
👉 If you need a refresher on how to make and attach binding, here’s my binding tutorial.
Step 2 – Roll it onto a spool
Take an empty thread spool (I use the big Gutermann 1000 m ones) and tape one short end of your binding strip to it. Then roll the binding strip around the spool until your loooong binding is neatly packed.
You need to roll it a bit firmly – if it’s too loose, the spool might end up too big for your sewing machine.
Step 3 – Place it on your sewing machine
Put the binding spool onto a vertical thread spool holder on your sewing machine. Pull out the loose end and align it to the edge of your quilt. Start sewing a few inches from the end.
As you sew, the binding will unroll itself smoothly — no twisting, no tangling, and nothing stuck in the chair wheels. I don’t bother pinning, I just align and stretch the binding slightly as I go.
A small note
My sewing machine has two spool holders, so I just pop the binding spool on the extra one. If your machine only has one, you’ll have to get creative:
- Hang it from a ribbon on the wall
- I’ve even seen people put it on a knitting needle and stick it in their hair!
That’s it — binding without the mess. Give it a try next time and see if it saves you from the floor monster.
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