{"id":1357,"date":"2013-08-18T16:05:00","date_gmt":"2013-08-18T23:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.terryaskeartquilts.com\/Studio\/?page_id=1357"},"modified":"2026-06-16T15:47:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T22:47:03","slug":"my-new-favorite-quilt-facing-technique","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.terryaskeartquilts.com\/Studio\/tips-tutorials-and-more\/my-new-favorite-quilt-facing-technique\/","title":{"rendered":"My NEW favorite quilt facing technique"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I wrote my facing tutorial in 2013 and updated it in 2015. Since then I have developed new tips, and for some time I have been intending to update this tutorial. Last year, I wrote an article for the Summer 2025 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine about my facing technique. Now in June 2026, I am finally updating the tutorial here on my blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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‘Bright Stripes’ – front<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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‘Bright Stripes’ – back<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First things first – why use a facing rather than a binding to finish the edge of a quilt?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I first started quilting, I finished the edges of my quilts with a traditional binding.  I soon realized many art quilts look much better without a binding showing. This can be achieved with faced edges, as the facing strips are turned entirely to the back of the quilt. This technique allows the design and the quilting to go all the way to the edges, and gives a clean, artistic look to the art quilt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finished size of quilt –<\/strong> If you are making a quilt that must finish to an exact size (many challenges specify a finished size), you will need to trim the quilt to the required finished size plus \u00bd\u201d on each edge.  (This allows for the 1\/4 inch seam, the \u2018turn of the cloth\u2019 and the rolling of the front edge to the back, as described below.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My example mini quilt \u201cBright Stripes\u201d has a finished size of 8\u201d x 8\u201d.  I cut the unfinished layered quilt to 9″ x 9″, leaving a 1\/2″ seam allowance on each side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Corners are a challenge with faced edges \u2013 <\/strong>There are many methods of applying facings.  Many of them involve stitching around the corners, clipping the seam allowances, then turning and poking the corners.  Using these methods, I found my corners often turned out lumpy or not quite square.  This is primarily because there are so many layers of fabric and batting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My methods to reduce bulk and ensure square corners<\/strong> – I\u2019ve found the following methods will reduce bulk and control the \u2018squareness\u2019 of the corners:<\/p>\n\n\n\n