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Tutorial on How to Make Bias Tape

Bias tape gets its name from being cut on the bias. Fabric is cut at a 90-degree angle to the threads of the fabric on a bias. Fabric stretches more along the bias than in any other direction, so bias tape can be manipulated around curves. Single-fold bias tape has both side edges folded in while double-fold bias tape is single-fold tape folded in half again, which is used to encase raw edges.

Things You'll Need

Fabric
Scissors or rotary cutter
Seam gauge or ruler
Yardstick
Ironing board
Iron

Instructions

- 1
  Square the cut end of your fabric by ripping it or pulling a thread and cutting along the line of the pulled-out thread.
- 2
  Fold your fabric at a 90-degree angle by bringing the cut edge to the selvage edge. The selvage edge is the woven edge of the fabric. Cut along the fold.
- 3
  Cut 7/8-inch strips on both sides of the fold. These 7/8-inch strips will make 1/2-inch single-fold bias tape.
- 4
  Sew the strips together if a longer piece of bias tape is required. Cross the ends of the strips at a right angle, with the right sides together, and sew diagonally across the square where the two strips intersect. Press the seam open and trim the seam allowances and the edges.
- 5
  Fold in a generous 1/8-inch on each side of the strip and press down. Steam the fold with an iron to set it. A 1/2-inch-wide strip of cardboard or thin metal is useful for folding. Place the strip in the center of the fabric and fold the edges over it before ironing them down.
- 6
  Fold the strip in half again with the raw edges inside to make double-fold bias tape. Steam the strip with an iron to set the fold.

Sewing