Make Custom Bias Tape for Quilts and Applique

A Useful Notion for Sewing and Quilting

Nov 13, 2009 Dawn Goldsmith

Bias tape is made of a woven fabric, usually cotton, cut into strips on the fabric’s bias, at a 45-degree angle. The strips are then pressed with the edges folded so they meet in the center. Sometimes referred to as French Fold.

The following instructions make single fold bias tape. To make double fold, simply fold the finished single-fold bias tape in half lengthwise and press. Just know that you’ll need to cut the strips twice as wide to get the same width finish as the single-fold.

Available commercially, bias tape comes in assorted colors, but options are limited. Many stitchers make their own and there are about as many ways to approach this project as there are stitchers.

Tools Needed to Make Single-fold Bias Tape

This simple technique to make bias tape requires a rotary cutter and grid mat, a quilter's ruler at least 24 inches long and fat quarters, a steam or craft iron, ironing board, a heavy tapestry needle and maybe some pins.

Cutting Cotton Fat Quarters for Custom Bias Tape

For those familiar with rotary cutting, the cutting is simple and rather fun, almost therapeutic. The fat quarters, 18 inches x22 inches, work quite well.

Prepare your fabric. Wash, dry, and press, use some spray starch or sizing to add some body to the fabric. Straighten fabric. You can layer the fat quarters cutting two or more at a time. This might make it easier to cut; the fabric will cling together and not move. Accuracy is important.

• Find the 45 degree angle on your ruler and cut a discard triangle. (see photo). You can layer the fat quarters cutting two or more at a time.Cut strips on the diagonal from edge to edge. Choose the width you need for your project. If you’re making a Celtic Quilt and want to use this bias as the appliqué for the interlaced design, perhaps a 3/8-inch finished bias strip would work best. To create the 3/8-inch wide finished tape, cut 1 inch wide strips.
• After cutting the strips, sew them together into one continual tape or sew together into manageable lengths. To sew them together, first cut the ends of the strips at 45 degree angles lay them across each other at a 90-degree angle, right sides together. Sew a 45 degree seam or a diagonal from corner to corner across the square where the two ends overlap. Trim, carefully turn without stretching strips, and press. Here are good photos of the step by step process. Some prefer to sew the bias into a tube and use a bias press bar inserted inside to help with pressing the tube into shape, centering the seam in the back. Allow extra width in the strips to account for the seam.

Others may invest in commercial bias tape maker tools that come in various sizes and fold the cut strips of fabric in preparing for pressing. A new notion on the market not only folds but also presses the strips.

The most clever way (and cheapest) to fold bias tape involves running a heavy tapestry needle into your ironing board cover as if you were basting stitches into it, but leave the needle imbedded in the cover.

• Make the bar of needle left exposed the same width as your finished bias tape. The needle is sturdy and well anchored. Use the point of the angled end of the strip to poke under the needle, right side down or wrong side up. Grasp it on the other side and gently tug it through the opening between the needle and the ironing board cover.

• The fabric strip is wider than the allotted space in the center of the needle. For example if you cut your strips 1-inch wide to make a 3/8-inch wide bias tape, then the opening between the needle and the ironing board would be 3/8-inch wide.The edges of the fabric will automatically turn up. Simply adjust the edges so they fold evenly toward the middle. As you pull the fabric strip under the needle, press the folded strip with a hot steam iron and voila, bias tape

Adhesive is a helpful addition to the bias fold tape you make. You can purchase strips to adhere to the back of your tapes.

Source

• Celtic Quilts: A New Look for Ancient Designs by Beth Ann Williams

If you liked this article, you might also be interested in:

• Stackn-n-Whack Quilts: Optimize the beauty of these fun Stack-n-Whack, easy-to-create kaleidoscope designed blocks with a few pointers on fabric choice.
• Tips and Techniques of Fusible Applique: Many have discovered that time doesn't permit labor-intensive handwork when there are many quck and easy techniques and products that produce similar results.
• Begin Making Tessellating Quilts: For starting the tessellation journey, it seems appropriate to proceed slowly with an easy to sew project. And what could be more perfect than the snail's trail?