Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

Voyajr243 — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:21:33 GMT

Sorry this comment is so late.

I'm new to sewing and quilting, and decided that making continuous bias tape (aka continuous bias "tube" or "loop") was a skill I should acquire. After puzzling over the directions in three different books, I finally found two videos on YouTube that explained it all. I tried it and, Ta-Daaa! mounds and mounds of continuous bias tape. The skies opened, beams of light poured from the heavens, celestial choirs were heard. It was so great, I'm gonna do it again. Then all I have to do is either buy one of those little bias tape folder thingies, or do the "pin in the ironing board" method that Sandy Snowden describes below (there's a YouTube video for that, too).

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

homecraftnut — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 14:41:18 GMT

make my own

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

Barbara E.Hill — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:12:44 GMT

I usually make my own. I have used the bias tape tools in different sizes, but I used the old standby of starting with the pressed bias, take a long pin and pin it into your ironing board leaving a space about the same size as your finished tape. Scoot your bias that you started under the pin, (you can add a 2nd one about 6 inches away, and put the starter bias under that too. Pulling through the pins will make the strip turn into the correct shape. Iron as the tape goes through the pins. Adjust along the way if it gets wonky. This a quick way to get the bias into the 3rds that we want.

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

emmer97006 — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 02:55:38 GMT

i generally make my own, as i can then have custom colors and higer quality fabric. but i use the spiral technique to make it, because it is fast and there is no chance of sewing those ends together backwards and having an L-shaped bias tape. :-) also, the spiral technique seems almost magical for my young students--they are always surrprised how well it turns out and the seemingly endless amount of bias they end up with.

also, i generally just press mine in half. i can adjust the needle placement or the foot i use to allow sewing at what would be the quarer width press mark, which is quicker and easier than than extra folding and pressing.

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

NancyS@120 — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:48:06 GMT

Great. I make my own; mostly with the tool. I usually want the tape to match, thus I make. Thanks for the tutorial.

Nancy

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

chocolaterules — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:27:41 GMT

Hi! I do own a bias tape maker and love it. I have several tip sizes so that makes several sizes easier. Bias tape is a bit more forgiving than just using straight grain for edges. I'm by no means an expert at it, but always eager to learn more. Oh, by the way, I am not above buying in it a pinch.

LIT

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

ElenaD@2 — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 22:07:00 GMT

I make my own, pretty much the way it's described above pinned into the ironing board. I've never tried the tool as it seem a little too fiddly. I've used store bought tape n the past and not liked the texture; it's easier to make it and then you can also customize it in terms of fabric and size.

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

ReanaZ — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:01:27 GMT

b its easier and faster than trying to buy it

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

sharonmaroney — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:28:07 GMT

I use what others have called the French method. I like having two layers of fabric on the bias especially if it is the edge of a quilt or another place that gets lots of wear and tear. I like being able to pick my fabric and the amount of bias I get in my strips.

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

sharonmaroney — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:28:02 GMT

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

Susan Fatemi — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:06:21 GMT

Now you've made the bias tape, what do you do with it? When I used to use "store-bought" bias, I'd press it open, sew one side to the fabric by machine, press it to the inside w/ the fold and slip-stitch it to the inside.

Then I saw Louise Cutting demonstrate "French" bias which is the same thing, but the fabric is folded double.

The couple of times I've made quilts, hot pads, etc. I did cut my own bias strips and machine stitched on both sides, but you wouldn't want to do that on fine garments. Commercial bias tape is such rubbish now, but I do like the fold lines to use as stitching guides.

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

JudeMB — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:30:33 GMT

I tend to make my own bias tape pretty much as you've described as I never seem to find just what I'm looking for in the store.

Judi

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

EllenS@2 — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:57:36 GMT

I usually use a bias tape tool, much easier than free hand.

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

FuzzyWhiskers — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:46:34 GMT

I hardly ever use purchased bias binding anymore. I've used the "pin in the ironing board method" and once I figured out how to use the binding tools (they come in various widths) that is my method of choice for double fold bias. I've made bias from wool for a wool suit, and just about everything else except silky fabrics. When you're picky, you're picky!

re: Tips for Easy Sewing Patterns: Make Your Own Bias Tape

Scop — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:42:33 GMT

I avoid using bias tape. It's only necessary when binding curved edges, so I also avoid curves.