Bias binding tape is used in garment making, as well as other sewing projects like home dec and making accessories. Yes, you can buy it pre-made in a package, but it doesn’t always come in the exact color or size you’d like. When you learn to make your own, you’ll probably never buy pre-made bias tape again. You have so much more flexibility, and you save money, by making your own.
There are different ways to make bias binding. Here are my two favorit ways to make bias tape. One is using a bias tape maker, and the other is using pins. When you use a special maker, you are limited to the size of the makers that are produced, and which ones you have on hand. Instructions for using makers are at the end of this article.
When you make bias tape with pins, you can make any size — as long as you have long enough glass head pins! You don’t need to buy fancy tools in all of the specific sizes – make it any size you want! You can have tape for any project without running to the store, and in any color or print fabric you want!
Bias tape is great for two primary purposes — finishing edges and stabilizing curves. I use it to finish off most of my quilt projects – whether they are art quilts, traditional quilts or baby quilts. I also love to use it as a way to finish neck edges on my garments — it’s fun to use a contrasting fabric to add a little interest to your neckline. It’s also a fun way to finish off your seams in garments!
It might seem pretty complicated, but it is really easy. Once you start making your own, you’ll never buy it again!
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How to Make Bias Tape
Make your own bias tape for craft, quilt, garment or other sewing projects. With this easy two-pin method, you can easily make bias binding any size you would like! You aren't limited by the size of bias tape maker you happen to have in your sewing supplies.
Materials
- 1/4 yard or more of fabric
Tools
- Ironing board
- Iron
- Straight pins with glass heads
- Rotary cutter and mat
- Quilter's ruler
Instructions
- First you need to cut a bias strip of fabric. To cut on the bias, turn up one corner of your fabric to make a right angle along the selvedge edge The selvedge is always straight of grain, so using this as your guide will give you a true bias cut. See our article on cutting fabric on the bias for more information.
Cut your bias strip twice as wide as your finished single fold bias tape LESS 1/8". I wanted 1" bias tape to finish the neck edge of a dress, so I cut the bias strip at 1-7/8" wide strip. ((1"x2)-1/8") = 1-7/8"
- Put two pins with glass heads into your ironing board cover where the center gap is the measurement you want your finished tape. Since I want 1" finished bias tape, the measurement of the exposed part of the pin is 1/2". {Note: Make sure you are using glass head pins — plastic will melt. Ask me how I know? 🙂}
- Gently fold your fabric with cut edges meeting at the center and ‘thread’ it through these pins with the wrong sides together and right sides up. The raw edges should meet in the middle. Here it is through the first pin.
- And, now I've threaded the bias strip through both pins.
- With the cut edges meeting in the cennter of the fabric strip, take your hot iron and press the section between the two pins.
- Pull the strip and press again.
- Continue until your entire strip is pressed.
- It’s that easy to have bias tape out of any fabric, and in any width!
Notes
*What is bias? Bias is the 45 degree line that runs between straight and cross grains of fabric. Woven fabrics are made with warp and weft threads. If you cut 'straight of grain' those threads are perpendicular to your cut line. If you cut on the bias, they are at a 45-degree angle to your cut line. When you make a 90 degree angle fold along the selvedge, the folded edge creates a 45 degree line of bias.
The bias grain of fabric will go around curved edges easier.
Bias is best for finishing edges that are curved. The bias tape can be gently sewn to curves for a nice finish. Straight edge tape is best for straight edge finishes.
Read our article on how to cut fabric on the bias.
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How to Make Bias Tape with a Bias Tape Maker
The second way to make single fold bias tape is using a special makers. They come in popular sizes ready for you to cut your bias strips and press using the tool.
Start by cutting your bias strip. Here is an article on how to cut bias fabric strips.
Feed the bias strip into the special maker. I find that if I slowly feed the fabric in, it generally is pretty easy. If it isn’t coming out the other side, take a pin and push it along through the opening in the top of the maker.
Pull through an inch or two of your bias strip. Make sure that the folded edges are even, and gently press.
Continue to pull the bias maker, feeding the strip of fabric to the iron and pressing. I like to use quite a bit of steam to make sure that I get good crisp edges.
Continue pulling through a few inches and pressing until your strip of bias fabric is all pressed into single fold bias tape.
Here is the finished tape ready to use!
Ideas and tips for making your own bias binding tap:
- Use fun fabrics to make bias strips to cover seam allowances in your garments for a clean finish to the inside of your garment. See our article on how to finish seams.
- You can also make contrasting bias tape and turn it to the outside of your garment for a design element.
- Do you need yards of bias tape? It’s easy to make continuous bias tape with either of the methods above. Cut a continuous bias strip using these instructions.
- Make double-fold binding by taking your single fold bias binding, fold it in half so that the folded fabric edges meet. Bam! Done! The center crease will go along the edge of the fabric.
- Use bias bindings for your quilt bindings, especially if they have curved or uneven edges.
It can be used for so many things! Being on the bias it is easy to manipulate around curves, like to finish off a neckline the way I did on this dress.
Browse through all of the sewing projects and inspiration on Create Whimsy.
Learn how to make your own double fold bias tape, too!
