How To Use A Bias Tool 2

A  lot of people find the idea of making their own binding too much hassle. By hand it can be time consuming and if your not careful, a little bit wonky. I want to show you just how easy and quick it is to make perfect binding with a bias making tool every time.

First off you need to cut the material. The example in going to show you is with a 1 inch tool. 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! So to make 1 inch bias, you will need double the width for the amount of fabric to cut - 2 inches.

Decide whether you need your binding cut straight or on the bias (at 45 degree angle). Bias is inherently stronger and has more stretch which is why it's favoured for binding sleeves and neck lines. I would recommend using a bias cut if you material has any stretch to it or will be undergoing strain.

Some tips that I find useful when cutting my fabric are:

• if you don't know which direction the weave is, find a loose thread and pull. Bias tape should be cut at a 45 degree angle to where the thread was lying

• use a template of some sort to mark. This could be 2 inch strips of newspaper or wrapping paper that can be pinned on and trimmed round, some cardboard cut to 2 inch to draw around with taylors chalk, or if you can find 1 inch wide masking tape, just lay 2 lines side by side on the fabric. This is especially good if your trying to avoid pin holes. I have a 2 inch wide meter ruler stick so I just lay this down and mark either side.

• start with a square of fabric with the weave parallel to the straight lines of the square. Mark corner to corner - this is your 45 degree angle to line your template up against.

• if you need a length longer than your fabric, simply cut multiple strips and join, making sure you press the seams open.

• always cut at least 3 inches more than you think you will need as you will likely loose some fabric overlapping the join, or tidying ends up on your project. It is easier to cut fabric off than it is to try to add an extra inch if you underestimated how much you need.

Now the hard bit is done (don't forget you can bind things with a straight cut too, just don't expect as much stretch)

To turn the fabric strips it into binding really is so simple. Just poke the end of the fabric through the tool with right side facing down.

You may need to use an awl (pointy stick tool) or a pin to help ease it though the end.

Keep the Iron down and move the tool around the same amount.

Press and repeat until done!

We hope you enjoy our tutorials and love hearing what you think so please leave us a comment or send me an email to linda@sewingbeefabrics.co.uk