Machine binding finishes the perimeter of a quilt or similar layered project. It is separate from quilting through the sandwich and from temporary basting. The detailed settings below come from a Janome Maker’s M7 tutorial, so treat them as an attributed example rather than universal Janome or domestic-machine settings. Check your model’s manual and accessory fit before sewing.

Prepare the strip#

The tutorial starts with 2.5-inch-wide strips. Join strips on the diagonal when needed to make one continuous length, then press the strip in half with wrong sides together. For the M7 example’s strip-joining seam, it uses the A foot, straight stitch, and stitch length 1.8; the tutorial also offers a Dual Feed Holder with UD Foot as an alternative.

Attach binding to the back#

For the back attachment, the tutorial changes to a Dual Feed Foot Holder with a 1/4-inch OD foot, sets needle position to 1/4 inch and stitch length to 2.0, and activates the M7 Dual Feed control. Align the binding’s raw edges with the project’s raw edge and sew with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. This specific setup reflects the tutorial’s layered project, not a limit or capacity rating for the machine.

At a corner, the tutorial marks a line 1/4 inch from the project edge, sews to it, backstitches, and stitches off at a 45-degree angle. It folds the binding up and down to form the miter, then begins the next side 1/4 inch from the edge. It stops before the starting point to join the tails. The author prefers a 2 3/8-inch overlap for her 2.5-inch strip; she notes that 2.5 inches is the traditional overlap. Treat her preference as a starting example and check that the joined strip lies flat before trimming or finishing the seam.

Stitch the visible front pass#

For the front, the M7 tutorial changes to the Dual Feed Open Toe UD Foot, keeps Dual Feed active, centers the needle, and sets stitch length to 2.0. Wrap the binding to the front and hold it with clips. Bring the bobbin thread to the top, then stitch about 1/8 inch from the folded edge. At a corner, fold the binding to form the miter, stop with the needle down, raise the foot, turn the project, and continue.

Choose a footed method or a binder attachment#

The tutorial uses fitted feet and feed controls; it does not require a binder attachment. Janome’s separate Machine Binding 101 describes its Quilt Binder Set as feeding and folding fabric for a 1/2-inch finished binding. Janome America displays two variants: the 9 mm set, part 202211008, and the HS 7 mm set, part 846421007. Its current listing includes the Continental M7 Professional under the 9 mm set, but a displayed listing does not verify every revision, holder, or regional equivalent. Check the exact machine and accessory instructions, then confirm needle clearance by turning the handwheel before powered sewing.

Test the full layer stack, underside capture, corners, and tail join on a sample before binding the project. The sources do not establish a universal binding width, foot fit, quilt-thickness limit, stitch length, or result for another machine. For the separate quilting pass, see walking-foot versus free-motion quilting.