You must know this trick!

When we sew bags and pouches, sometimes we have to bind raw edges (on the interior or exterior of the bag). There is an easy way to do this, and it is not only easy, but the binding will enclose nicely the edges.

Here is a little bag (pattern here), look at the beautiful top edge.

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Binding raw edges of bags and pouches

Here is what you have to do:

Cut a strip 1” longer than the edge you want to bind. The width of the strip depends on the thickness of your layers, I cut my strip 2” wide; see below what the technique involves  and make a test first.

Align the strip along the raw edge, on the front side of your work.

Fold the excess strip on the back side as shown. Use clips to keep the strip in place.

Sew the strip in place, with the desired seam allowance.

Here is the view of the back side.

Turn the work back side up and fold the binding as shown in the pictures below.

Look below how nicely  the vertical edge is enclosed.

I used pins in these pictures…

…but you have to use clips.
Turn the work front side up.

Sew close to the folded edge of the binding (see the blue line below). Check on the back side that the binding is caught in the seam.

Sewing this pouch is a fun and easy experience and binding this way contributes a lot to this!

Folding the pouch to create the bottom corners of the pouch is the other fun part of the sewing process.

Hard to stop sewing!

Then why not trying a different finishing? This drawstring bag is even quicker to sew, because you skip the zipper. But both projects are super easy!

In Christmas fabrics- gorgeous gift bags, don’t you think?

Patterns here, if you want to sew your own little bags.

Happy sewing,