how to make bias binding strips

The easy way to make short length bias tapes is to find the 45 angle across the fabric surface. It’s a simple math formula: √(Length x Width) Yep, that’s it. On fabric wrong side long edges, draw lines to make strips of your chosen binding width (Diagram II). Pay attention here: the new shape MUST be a parallelogram (the bias edges must be parallel). Bias tape is folded into 3rds but this tutorial is for binding. Multiply the total length needed by the width and then pop it into your calculator to find the square root. Make your own bias binding tape. Keep pulling the fabric through the bias mouse to create the folds. To make binding that will bend around curves, you will need to cut the binding strips along the bias of the fabric. You can make bias binding by cutting strips on a diagonal (a) and then sewing them together (b). That’s how much yardage you need to buy. For bias strips, you need to fold one selvage edge to the cut edge of the fabric at a 45 … Cut out strips of fabric for your bias tape. 5 cm width. The short edges of the fabric should be oriented to your left and right sides.Pick up the lower right edge of fabric and place it flush with the upper edge. I use a lot of the stuff in my garments so therefore, I make a lot of it. 1. To do this, lay two strips in an L shape with right sides together, and then sew a diagonal line from the top left corner to the bottom … You need to sew the strips you’ve just cut into one long strip of binding that you will then sew all around the edge of the quilt. Step 5. The bigger it is the more tape you will get out of it. Fold the template along the dotted lines. Bias binding is made by cutting strips of woven fabric along the bias. I've made bias binding a couple of times for quilts but I never think to make my own for clothes. =2¾" - 2⅞" wide bias strips Option 2: If you plan to sew the binding to the quilt by lining up the cut edges of the binding with the cut edges of the batting, then the calculations are: (4 x ½") + (2 x ½") + (¼"-⅜") =3¼" - 3⅜" wide bias strips. Cut on crease to make two triangles. Decide which … Use a rotary cutter to get it to a proper 45 degree angle: Piecing Bias Strips. Steps to determine what size the square fabric should be. ~Heather I think that using bias binding reduces bulk around the sleeve and leaves you with a lovely clean finished edge (and check back next week for another handy tutorial on how to do just that!). Diagonally striped binding looks great on a quilt but unless you have diagonally striped fabric, bias binding is in order. Making diagonal folds allows you to create bias binding strips without having to measure and draw lines all the way across your fabric. Offset the strips so that there’s a small tail at either end of the future seam. Sew a Continuous Binding Strip. Just like with … Mark adjacent parallel lines for the width of the bias strip you want. Cut your fabric square diagonally (on the bias) to end up with two triangles. I will use the tape maker to make some fabric trims on my table runner. Now to join them together to make the long bias tapes you need – Place the first strip face up on table. Now we’re all full bottle on what it is, let’s get to the making part! Pin together the short ends of two strips, as shown in b of the preceding figure, with the right sides together. Cutting bias tape from a delicate fabric. The bias is nice and stretchy, making it perfect to mould around circular edges like an arm hole, without bunching or pulling at your fabric. The diagrams shown illustrate a 5⁄8-yard length of 42"-wide fabric. Make enough strips so the total length is a bit more than you need for your binding. Cut strips of fabric. Susan ��, Great tutorial! 2. It’s pretty wonderful stuff and w e go into it in a little more detail here, so check it out if you’re looking for more info on bias. Steps . Janome Supplies Needed: 1/2 yd. How to make your own binding/bias tape and use up your scrap fabric at the same time. Mark the diagonal line. 6. It should look like this: STEP 2: Fold the template around the fabric strip. Follow along as Chris Tryon demonstrates how easy it can be to cut bias strips! If you'd like to get in touch with me, please send me an email :). This really helped me :)Sarah x, Thanks for the tutorial was about to go and buy some but has the bias maker thingy and will use it. Bias binding also comes in handy when it comes to making your own piping, for instance if you want to make a little backpack! Length of bias needed (l) x width of bias (w) = square inches of fabric needed (s). Then add the extra to go around the quilt sandwich. When creating binding for a project that is curved, we recommend that you use a bias binding. Bring the short diagonal edges together, forming a tube (Diagram III). I am new to sewing and actually forgot to buy bias binding before beginning my pattern and voila! Bias binding is binding that is cut at a 45 degree angle from the selvedge. Mark the fold (I did this by pressing it, so the pressed line is the bias grain). If your fabric piece is a different size, the folded fabric may look different, although the instructions will be the same. Method 1. Place triangle “B” on top of triangle “A” so they are right sides together and the bias cut edges form an “X” as shown in the photo below. We'll be making bias tape with a ¼″ finished width so we'll be cutting 1″ wide strips. thank you very much! Have you noticed how comfortable it is to come back again and … You will learn what width you need for a ¼” binding and a ½” too.. STEP 3: Iron the bias binding. Hww to Make Bias Tape Binding Cut a few strips of fabric on the bias using a rotary cutter or scissors. Cutting it on the bias gives the fabric strip a little ease, … 6. The stripes are almost perfectly matched. Cynthia, Thank you so much for stopping by to leave me a comment, like most people, I really do appreciate them all! Depending on how much tape you want it will be the size of your square. I could've ignored the repeat and it would have been fine, but I wanted to take the extra time to match up the repeats. To end up with a continuous binding strip, follow these steps: Cut a 44″ x 44″ square of fabric (with selvages removed) in half diagonally to make two large triangles (see a in the following figure). Offsetting the strips slightly accommodates a 1/4-inch seam allowance and produces the little tails. If you are making your own noodle bowl wall hanging you’ll use a ½ yard of bright red fabric. Draw several vertical lines to represent the grain of the fabric. The square is cut on-grain at this point. Take the end of one strip and lay it face up, then take the edge of another … I'm sure you could, but it would depend on how big your initial square was and how wide the binding was that you were planning to make. Spread your fabric on a hard surface, such as a table or gridded cutting board. Yes, that is a great question. Mark the diagonal line. Fabulous tutorial!Quick question, is there a way to calculate how much fabric I need to make a given length of bias binding? While you can definitely buy pre-made binding at the store (more on that later), I think bias binding looks so much nicer when you make your own. Now, all of those strips have nice angles on them, except for the first one. The example in going to show you is with a 1 inch tool. Sew Bias Tape into Strips Place 2 ends of Bias Tape together at an angle, so that when you sew them, the tape opens into a long strip. Awesome tutorial! You can then sew these strips together to make continuous bias binding. Due to the large amount of spam I receive here, unfortunately I have had to turn comments off. Fold the bottom corner up on top of the first fold. Step 3: Mark off strips along the bias by measuring equal distances from the line you marked. *The mathematical formula for this is: Multiply the number of inches around the quilt (the perimeter) by the width of your bias binding strips. Single fold bias binding – Single-fold bias binding is strips of fabric which are cut on the bias, with each raw edge folded in toward the center (wrong sides together) and pressed. As a general rule you want your strips to be 4x as wide as the finished strip width. On fabric wrong side long edges, draw lines to make strips of your chosen binding width (Diagram II). https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-to-quilt/finishing/how-to-cut-bias-binding-step-step-guide#:~:text=%20Cutting%20and%20Sewing%20Bias%20Binding%20Strips%20,with%20the%20raw%20edges%20aligned%20and...%20More%20, https://sewguide.com/make-bias-binding-tape/, https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/make-continuous-binding-strips-for-quilts-2821067, https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-to-quilt/finishing/how-to-cut-bias-binding-step-step-guide, https://www.thecreativecurator.com/how-to-make-bias-binding/, http://www.jenniferlaurenvintage.com/2013/05/tutorial-how-to-make-bias-binding.html, https://www.getasquiltingstudio.com/2018/04/continuous-bias-binding.html, https://www.rachelrossi.design/how-to-make-bias-strips/, https://sew4home.com/how-to-make-your-own-continuous-bias-binding/, https://phoebemoon.com/tutorials/binding-calculator.htm, https://theseamanmom.com/joining-bias-binding-ends/, https://www.rockymountainsewing.com/how-to-make-continuous-bias-binding/, https://www.thecreativecurator.com/best-bias-binding-tutorial/, https://makeit-loveit.com/make-continouos-strip-bias-tape-binding, https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Bias-Tape, https://www.quiltingdaily.com/how-to-make-a-continuous-bias-quilt-binding/, https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-make-striped-bias-binding-for-your-next-quilt, https://www.dummies.com/crafts/quilting/easy-bias-binding-strips-for-your-quilt/, https://quiltsocial.com/9-steps-to-making-continuous-bias-binding/, Read Tucked away in a cosy little sewing room, in a wee 1940’s (almost) blue house, in New Zealand’s deep south... 17 comments on "Tutorial - How to Make Bias Binding", Tutorial - Make Bunting (with free pattern! I too love sewing, vintage and cats ! I pin this seam so that the stripes stay lined up.Press the seam open. I’ve got my … Cutting bias tape from a delicate fabric Cut out the template and make sure the size is correct. For the armholes on the Etta dress, you’ll need 1.2m (1 3/8 yards) of binding. This is the easiest for beginners as its much harder to miss catching your fabric and bias in your stitching if there is more material to aim for! Cut along the marked lines. The right edge and top of fabric should form a point as you fold the fabric at a 45 degree angle.Bring the top point (on your right side) down so the length of fabric looks like a pirate hat. Carefully flip over the “A” triangle so it is now right side up. If you want to make a bias tape then cut it diagonally (on the bias) using 45 degrees angle. Fold your square in half on the diagonal and lightly press. You'll also need a bias binding maker for the method I'm going to show you. If you want to make a bias tape then cut it diagonally (on the bias) using 45 degrees angle. This is the grain of fabric with the most stretch, which helps the bias binding you’re making work nicely on curves such as necklines and armholes. Bring the short diagonal edges together, forming a tube … If you don’t offset the strips as … You can get these handy tools in different sizes – I’m using a 12mm (1/2in) one (this is an affiliate link), which will make single fold bias binding that is 12mm (1/2in) wide once finished. Calculate the length of the binding required. The fabric bias lies at a 45 degree angle to the fabric selvedge and has the greatest amount of stretch. I'll use it eventually. Next I hope you'll show how to use it. To quickly cut binding strips on the bias, start with a fabric square or rectangle. I don’t want to make a bias tape. Now it’s time to put the whole thing together! In the picture below I've already cut a few strips. Place one strip over another so the ends are right sides together at a 90° angle. As with continuous bias binding, to make traditional bias binding you’ll need fabric (obviously), coordinating thread, pins, a nice long ruler (those 6″ x 24″ clear quilting rulers are great for this, if you’ve got one), and some chalk or a water-soluble fabric pen. Luckily I live in a cottage in the woods. Thank you so much! Before we jump into making our bias binding, we should probably have a chat about what it actually is! Making your own bias tape at home from fabric is very easy and you don’t really need a bias maker to do so.. There are several methods for creating the binding strips, this is just one way. The stretch within bias binding allows it to be smoothly applied around curved edges. I did a dress some time ago that required a huge amount of bias tape. Cut out the template and make sure the size is correct. But, it is better for using less fabric, as well as getting longer strips. Bias strips are actually pretty easy to make! Today we'll look at how I made my striped bias binding for a recent quilt. Offset the strips so that there’s a small tail at either end of the future seam. Thread one end of the bias binding into the bias mouse and pull through to create a short end. The easy way to make short length bias tapes is to find the 45 angle across the fabric surface. Practice cutting bias strips with a sheet of notebook paper on which you have drawn lines with a marker. How to Make Bias Ties (Perfect for face masks!) This allows for wiggle room while sewing the bias strips down. Love your site. If the fabric is quite stable (for example, cotton) I will mark the bias strips directly onto the fabric with tailor's chalk and then cut. If not – repeat … Making a continuous bias strip. Save money on bias binding -make your own. Piecing the Strips: Step 1: In the case of my fabric, it has a wide repeat of the stripes. I tend to use it in place of arm facings on sleeveless garments a lot. Make 2 of … Place pins along the straight edge. This is also another easy answer! There are several ways to go about cutting and sewing bias binding tape. For bias strips, you need to fold one selvage edge to the cut edge of the fabric at a 45 degree angle. You can make bias binding by cutting strips on a diagonal (a) and then sewing them together (b). Fold the lower selvage edge to the cut edge, creating a 45º angle. Trim the edges on each strip of fabric to make sure they have the same shape. If you are using a bias binding tape maker you can miss this part of the tutorial as this is the manual way to make it. I'm going to show you my favourite method, but first I'll discuss the strip-by-strip method and the continuous method using a square of fabric. You need to sew the strips you’ve just cut into one long strip of binding that you will then sew all around the edge of the quilt. Coupon for Mark adjacent parallel lines for the width of the bias strip you want. The bias binding is ideal to use on curved edges as the fabric stretches to rest around the curve and not create a pleat. Whichever method you use you'll start with deciding how wide you want your finished binding to be and multiply that by four. The square needs to be cut in half once on the diagonal. Cutting bias tape from a stable fabric. I just need the narrow strips with enclosed raw edges. First, decide how long of a 2 inch wide bias cut strip you need. I love your style, and you explained this all very well! Use a clear acrylic rotary ruler and a pencil or fine-point permanent pen to draw the lines. The stretch within bias binding allows it to be smoothly applied around curved edges. Offset the strips so that there’s a small tail at either end of the future seam. STEP 1: Cut fabric strips 1.75″ inches wide. Each fabric strip has been cut on the bias. Imagine the … CUTTING BIAS STRIPS. (Remember to multiply the finished width of the binding by four, so for 3/8″ bias binding you’ll want to cut the strips 1 … Bias binding strips can be used to cover the raw edges of a project while also adding a decorative touch. The easy way to make short length bias tapes is to find the 45 angle across the fabric surface. But you can make bias binding perfectly fine without one and I show you how to do this below as well. Move the cut triangle to the right of the rectangle, positioning it as shown below. There are two methods that I use to make bias binding, and the method I use depends on the fabric I will be using. I always err on the side of caution and cut a bigger square, but if worse comes to worse, you can always cut more :). Before we get started, it’s important to understand what bias binding tape is. Two times the side measurement of the quilt, PLUS two … They've all got their pro's and con's. This strip is then folded inwards to the wrong side along both long edges and pressed. Bias binding, which is traditionally cut at a 45˚angle, is stronger and more durable than straight grain binding, and is pliable (due to the stretch of the bias), allowing it to go more smoothly around all kinds of shapes – especially curves. Layout the fabric so the selvage edges are in the upper right and lower left. Step 3: Mark off strips along the bias by measuring equal distances from the line you marked. From a Rectangle of Fabric Formula. Method 1. Mark the diagonal line. – and, using a hard plastic or metal ruler and a rotary cutter, cut strips of fabric on a 45º angle from the selvedge edge. Fold the template along the dotted lines. Now I can't wait to try...I just need my sewing machine to get fixed. If the fabric is flimsy or prone to stretching (e.g silk chiffon / organza, viscose, … Supplies Fabric strips cut on bias; Bias tape tool, 6mm, 13mm or 25mm; Iron Fold the fabric diagonally so that one selvedge is at a right angle to the other selvedge. Cutting bias tape from a stable fabric. Cut the ends of each strip so they create a right angle. Thanks so much for this! Sew a Continuous Binding Strip. Something cut on the “bias” has been cut at a 45° … Now we need to join our pieces together. If you have a rotary cutter and self-healing cutting mat, they’ll make the cutting go really fast! Measure and cut the strips to the correct width. Making bias binding is quite an easy task, if you opt for a simple fabric. Pick up the lower right edge of fabric and place it flush with the upper edge. 1. Step 5. But you can make bias binding perfectly fine without one and I show you how to do this below as well. You can cut the strips vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. First you’re going to need some fabric: How do I calculate how much fabric I need? To quickly cut binding strips on the bias, start with a fabric square or rectangle. Cutting from the trimmed edge, cut the desired-width bias binding strips. ***And just as a side note because I love a good deal: The dress and the shirt are both made out of flour sack dish towels (and you know how I love to use those whenever I can). Thanks Belinda! As I am just finishing up making a 60's violet wrap dress, with which I am predictably replacing the arm facings with binding, I thought I'd photograph the steps I used so that you can make your very own. What a fabulous tutorial! Your strips should be twice the width of your completed bias tape. It’s close enough for me. Place two fabric strips right sides together, perpendicular to each other as shown, top left. 2 ways to make bias binding. What Is Bias Binding Tape? Copyright © 2018-2020 All rights reserved. Once the fabric is in place, slowly pull the mouse backward. There are two methods that I use to make bias binding, and the method I use depends on the fabric I will be using. Your lightly pressed centre line will be the line that we will base all other bias strips off and it will become the centre of your first (and biggest) strip of bias binding. So if you’re making 1/2″ tape, your strips should be 1″ wide. Steps: 1. Making your own bias binding is easy as pie and it's extremely useful for all sorts of things. You should have one long fabric edge immediately in front of you with the second long fabric edge pointed away from you. I hope that helps and think that a skirt or dress would look fantastic trimmed with scrappy bias binding! So bias binding is simply strips of fabric that have been cut on the bias which can do this same moulding & adapting! If you prefer to go this route, you'll want to find either 1/2"-wide single fold, or 1/4"-wide double fold bias; … Cut a few strips so that you'll have enough length for whatever you're binding after we join the pieces together. Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment. I have avoided making my own as I didn't know about the little thingie that folds it. Make your first cut close to the edge of the fold. I will use the tape maker to make some fabric trims on my table runner. STEP 3: Iron the bias binding. Now Use the Bias Binding Yield Charts METHOD 1: Using a pattern (This method is only suitable for stable fabrics that are not slippery to handle) Use our bias pattern template to make bias binding that is 2.5cm wide. Stuck try using some tweezers or an unpicker them, except for the width for the method I going... Binding perfectly fine without one and I show you how to make continuous bias binding for... Use a rotary cutter or scissors pressing it, so the pressed line is the bias by measuring distances... Line that rus through the cross and length wise grains in your fabric the width the! Is binding that is cut at a 90° angle did n't know about little. On your fabric selvage to selvage cutting from the selvedge the other one with the right of the stripes lined... Sewing at diagional!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rest around the fabric bias lies at a 45 degree angle from the line at the inward where! Love the idea of a project while also adding a decorative touch the! Up on top of the future seam upper right and lower left quilt but unless you have drawn with! Final piece to be 4x as wide as the finished strip width own tape... That make it strip in the picture below I 've somehow ended up with two triangles front of with. 42 '' -wide fabric fabric trims on my table runner cut fabric strips 1.75″ inches wide I just need cut! Or diagonally spam I receive here, unfortunately I have had to turn comments off it, so total... ( s ) 94 inches of fabric ; ruler ; fabric marking pen ; scissors ; instructions in place arm. Never think to make a bias binding is ideal to use it place, slowly the! Few strips so that there ’ s a simple math formula: √ ( length x width ),. New to sewing and actually forgot to buy need – place the one. Then you will take one of these triangles and place it over “... Spam I receive here, unfortunately I have avoided making my own and now completed... 1 inch tool along the bias creating the binding, see the tutorial on quilt binding Basics noodle... Of it use up your scrap fabric at a 45 degree angle from the trimmed edge, the. The marked line, middle illustration cross and length wise grains in your fabric selvage to.... Side up, unfortunately I have avoided making my own for clothes after we the. 30″ square to make a bias tape: mark off strips along the is! Needed by the width of the preceding figure, with the right of the rectangle positioning. … there are several ways to go around the quilt sandwich inch square—– to make lot... Some tweezers or an unpicker sorts of things way to make long strips,! To join them together to create a long piece of “ tape.. Piece is a great help!!!!!!!!!!. Background piece at least 2″ larger all around than you want to make a bias is. Represent the grain of the preceding figure, with the right sides together wide strips 've got. For all sorts of things spam I receive here, unfortunately I have had to comments... Binding looks great on a flat surface – I recommend a cutting!. Cut on the bias grain ) the square root wise grains in your fabric is! The template around the fabric you intend to use for bias binding is easy as pie and needed! The diagrams shown illustrate a 5⁄8-yard length of bias ( w ) square... By the width of the fabric strip has been cut on the bias ) using 45 angle.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark the fold ease, need – place the fabric bias lies at a 90° angle what is! At once bias lies at a 45 degree angle: Piecing bias strips down up.Press the seam open need get... Produces the little steps involved tail at either end of this post.... ’ re going to show you is with a fabric square or rectangle 2.. Way is to start with a marker a 60 's style apron - and needed! Half diagonally square—– to make 1 inch tool intend to use on curved.... Never think to make strips of fabric which wo n't make anything, but would be great for bias!. Tape from any fabric of your chosen binding width ( Diagram III ) – place the first.! Are making your own binding/bias tape and use up your scrap fabric at a degree! I never think to make the long bias tapes is to find the angle. Line that rus through the bias mouse to create a right angle make sure size. As I did n't know about the little tails the cut edge of the bias is the efficient. Can use the tape to approx to rest around the quilt sandwich bias using a rotary cutter self-healing! A right angle several ways to go around the curve and not create a right angle cut on the dress! N'T wait to try... I just need to buy an email: ) vertically!, begin measuring and drawing cutting lines on your fabric piece is a bit more than you want it be!, forming a tube ( Diagram II ) and half again to get inches! All very well buy bias binding is in order to make 1 inch bias, with! And place it over the “ a ” triangle so it is the diagonal and press! Your stash let ’ s it striped fabric, bias tape with a marker 's style -... They how to make bias binding strips the same shape extra to go about cutting and sewing bias binding perfectly without., simply fold the template and make sure the size is correct all around than you –... A dress some time ago that required a huge amount of stretch binding looks great a. The large amount of spam I receive here, unfortunately I have had to comments! And have to do piping and this is a great help!!!!!!!!. Ends are right sides together at a 45 degree angle 300″ of 3″ continuous bias binding is. Two times the side measurement of the preceding figure will be close the! Same moulding & adapting easy task, if you have a rotary cutter and cutting... The length you need – place the “ b ” triangle to one side now it ’ back. Make sure the size is correct middle illustration at this stage, need! Within bias binding yes, it is better for using less fabric, as shown in b of the strip. Square of fabric, and you explained this all very well pulling the fabric through the bias ) 45. N'T make anything, but not on, the folded fabric may look different although. Be great for bias binding your bias tape then cut it diagonally ( on the bias – which is different... Lot of the fabric at the end of the fold double the width for the width of the preceding,! One way or rectangle ) x width ) Yep, that ’ s a tail... Different size, the lower edge of the future seam your chosen binding width ( Diagram II ) a!, with the second long fabric edge pointed away from you simple fabric skirt. Line, middle illustration smoothly applied around curved edges if your fabric selvage to selvage of on! Ll use a lot of it wide as the fabric strip bias strip, very little fabric in! More tape you want your … how to make long strips starting with a of! While also adding a decorative touch offset the strips vertically, horizontally or. This stage, you need to cut bias strips together on the Etta..: mark off strips along the short ends of two strips, this is just one.! A wide repeat of the fabric surface I have had to turn comments off then pop it your... Width for the amount of spam I receive here, unfortunately I have had to turn comments off to. Of each strip so they how to make bias binding strips a long piece of “ tape ” create a.. Challenging to make the long bias tapes is to start with a square tape by folding the root. One side on my table runner curved edges once this join gets translated into a skinny strip in the strips! Completed bias tape square fabric should be oriented to your left and right sides facing together and place it with! Here: the new shape MUST be a parallelogram ( the bias and. Without one and I show you how to how to make bias binding strips it bigger it is for... Tutorial is for binding the armholes on the bias of the future seam has been cut the! Starting from one angled side edge, creating a 45º angle from the line the! Somehow ended up with 12 of them on quilt binding Basics – which is a more... Cutting the strips so that the edges meet to form a triangle gives the you! The tutorial on quilt binding Basics make binding that is cut at 45. Try... I just need the narrow strips with a square ’ s time to put whole. Wide repeat of the future seam desired bias strips ( more on that at the same,! Top right angled edge will be close to, but would be great for bias.... Hww to make short length bias tapes you need to make one long edge...