New Tools: Bias Tape maker

Sometimes, you just have to try a new tool or technique.  I recently tried out a bias tape maker for the first time.  It's a great tool for a very specific task.  This tool is a staple of the quilter's toolbox, but not so much so for garment and home dec sewers.

 First, why would you want to make bias tape in the first place?  You can buy it already made in a variety of colors.  Simple. Right?  Sometimes, you'd like to have bias tape that matches a fabric.  Bias tape can be used for things like armhole binding, like on an upcoming project.  It can also be used as a decorative element, like on another upcoming project, where I wanted bias tape made of satin, rather than plain cotton fabric.   Quilters use it for binding quilts, where matching the fabric in a quilt adds a lot to the final effect.  So, making your own bias tape gives you options. 

Bias tape makers come in a variety of widths, too, so you aren't just stuck with the standard 1/2" width.

The first step of the process is to make a long strip of fabric cut on the bias, diagonal to the grain of the fabric.  A long strip of bias cut material is sewn together to make a loop. However, the ends of the loop are offset.

  Now the fabric is cut in a helical pattern.  The trick is to make the strip a very uniform width.  It should be 1/2" wider than the bias tape.

Unfortunately, on attempt #1, the width of the fabric strip was to variable and too narrow in spots.  There wasn't enough to fold over in some places.  I actually had go give up on this and buy new fabric!

I discovered that using scissors to cut the strip is a disaster.  It's better to use a ruler and rotary cutter.  Also, the 1/2" bias tape maker will actually accept a 1 1/4" strip.  That leaves a little room for error in the cutting, especially since I cut the strip 1 1/2" wide, then trimmed where necessary.  That was a lot of work, but it did work!

The  final step is to feed the fabric through the tool.  It goes in flat, it comes out folded.  Then you use an iron to crease the material.  You use the loop to pull the bias tape maker along the fabric strip.

I did try making bias tape by folding over the edges of a fabric strip.  Don't do it!  Getting a uniform width, especially if the fabric strip isn't a uniform width is very difficult.

Come back next time for some applications of the bias tape maker.