How to Make Your Own Seam Binding

Finding the Bias

• 1

  Square one of the the cut edges of the fabric by tearing the edge or pulling out a thread and cutting along the pull line.

• 2

  Fold the fabric at a 45 degree angle by bringing the squared cut edge over to the selvage edge. The selvage edge is the woven edge on the sides of the fabric.

• 3

  Cut along the fold. This gives you an edge that is cut along the bias. Fabric has the most stretch along the bias so fabric strips cut on the bias will easily fold around curves.

Making Bias Strips

• 4

  Draw a line 2 inches from the bias cut edge, using a straight edge and a fabric marker, if you are cutting with scissors. If you are using a rotary cutter and a self healing board, place a straight edge two inches from the cut edge and cut along it with the rotary cutter.

• 5

  Cut 2-inch strips by cutting along the line you drew.

• 6

  Make longer strips by sewing the strips together at a 45 degree angle. Lay the right end of one strip over the top end of a second strip so that the strips form a 90 degree angle. The right side should be up on the bottom strip and down on the top strip. Sew diagonally across the square where the strips overlap from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. Unfold the fabric and press the seam open.

Folding the Bias Strips

• 7

  Fold the bias strip in half lengthwise with the wrong side of the fabric on the inside.

• 8

  Iron the fold.

• 9

  Open the ironed fold and fold both edges of the strip to meet the fold in the center of the strip.

• 10

  Iron the new folds to create double-fold seam binding.