I don’t know about you, but the prospect of accurately marking out and cutting narrow strips of fabric on the bias seemed a bit too fiddly and a bit too much like hard work for my liking. So for ages I relied on my stash of ready made bias tape for projects. Then I had a minor brainwave and tried out the basic idea here. What d’ya know…it worked! Alot of you seemed to think it was a pretty neat idea, so I thought I’d share my bias strip technique in a little more detail in case, like me, you can’t be arsed to faff about 😉
I used one of these bias tape makers to make my bias binding. This particular size requires strips of fabric 1″ wide. So I got me some 1″ wide low tack masking tape (masking tape comes in several widths in our local hardware shop. If I need 2″ wide bias strips I just use 2″ wide masking tape)…
The fabric pictured is cut in a perfect square. (See here for an easy way to do this. The technique applies the same way to fabric as it does for paper!) Now for a little geometry. Bias tape needs to be cut at a 45 degree angle to the grainline. On a perfect square, from point to point diagonally across the square, is exactly 45 degrees. So the strip of masking tape below, marks out a 1″ wide strip of fabric at a 45 degree angle…
Every subsequent piece of tape lined up against it will therefore be at the perfect 45 degree angle too. I just kept adding strips of tape either side until they became too short to be of reasonable use. (For zero waste, the resulting corners/trianges left over at the end.could go in your scrap pile until you’ve enough to make some bunting)….
Leaving just enough gap between each strip of tape for your scissor blades…
…provides a super accurate cutting guide and stabilises the fabric whilst you are cutting (bias by it’s nature is prone to stretching) this is especially useful on fine and/or slippery fabrics….
You end up with a load of strips backed with masking tape. Exactly the right size, with poker straight edges and cut precisely on the bias….
Square off the ends….
…and there you have them. Lovely neat bias strips. Ready to use to make your own bias tape. (I’ve been making up more than I need, then peeling off the masking tape as and when I need the make some bias tape up. Otherwise I leave the masking tape in place to keep them stabilised and store them for future use)
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
genius!!
I much prefer this way than measuring, then cutting. Great tip! Thanks.
That is a genius idea! I’ve always been put off making bias tape, just the fiddlieness (is that a word?) of it. Off to raid DH’s DIY stuff. Thanks for sharing this.
OMG – thank you!
I was seriously pondering to get a rotary cutter to achieve straight cuts, but this is so much better!
such a simple idea, why haven’t i ever thought of it?? ahhhh! thanks so much for sharing :3
Great tutorial
Hmm, very interesting way to do this!
I recognise that fabric!
This is amazing! I tried making bias tape once and it was a major fail! They do have machines that will make it for you but I can’t justify the cost. I will have to try this!
oh my god – genius! I love adding silk charmeuse bias tape to projects for a little bit of shine and this is going to save me a lot of time and heart ache!
What a great technique! I’ve always used the one I found on Colette patterns’blog, but this might come in handy! I’m a bit obsessed with self made piping, so I use all of my scraps to make bias strips.
Sheer genius. A nightmare task made effortless!
I love masking tape! What a GREAT idea! Thank you so much!
This is great, I need to share this with a friend of mine who just asked “what is bias tape?”. She is new to sewing and I told her she could buy it, but making is always nice because it gives you more options to find a coordinating fabric. This is a great picture tutorial that will make it so easy.
Karen, indeed you do, he he! Watch this space 🙂
AGoodWardrobe, this’ll be perfect for silk charmeuse or anything similary delicate. So glad!
Annabelle, glad it could help your friend.
Everyone, so pleased you find this useful. Dunno about genius….Laziness is the mother of invention, ha ha!
Px
Oh, this is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
this is such an awesome idea! Thank you! I made some today and it was totally easy peasy 🙂
What a fantastic idea and a great tutorial – thanks!
I’m loving the masking tape trick, pure genius! Thanks so much for sharing!
Such A cOol top Tip. Love it!
Very cool, thank you for showing us. Lg Heike
I love that technique! The tape idea is genius.
Oh! Now this is a revelation! Thanks!
You have freed me from the grip of the old tired and never straight bias tape. I am sure the rotary cutter companies hide this trick from us. GRATEFUL HOBBY SEAMS FROM TX.
Gah! I HATE rotary cutters, lol! I’m just too cack handed to get on with them!
Fantastic!
This is an amazing idea. double wow! saves time and helps with accuracy.
This is an incredible idea. I have found the rotary cutter helpful but gave up and rely on store bought tape.
wow so clever idea!
http://babyemilycloset.blogspot.co.uk/
OMG. I think I love you! lol!
Oh my gosh you are a GENIUS. Wow this would have saved me so much time time and hassle, I wish I would have seen it before darn it!
If it’s any consolation Haylee it was a while before it dawned in me! A real face palm moment, lol! Px
Oh, thanks for this stroke of utter genius! I avoid bias bits and bobs like the plague, but there’s no excuse now!
Piece of cake now! Px
I just stumbled across this… you are a shear genius! I love the idea of leaving the tape in place. I’ve used blue painter’s tape in quilting but never hit upon the idea of tape for making bias strips. Perfect, perfect, perfect! Thank you very, very much.
I use painters tape too! All depends what width I want my strips to be. You are very welcome. So glad it’s useful to you!
LOVE IT. Got cutting mat and rotary cutter but this is just SOOO much better! Thank you!
You’re so welcome. 🙂 Px
Really like this; quite ingenious. Have you ever experienced the tape sticking too much to the fabric? If so, how have you handled it.
I use a low tack masking tape. If it still feels too sticky,you can reduce the tack further by sticking the strip on a fluffy towel or blanket before sticking it on your fabric. Px
Maybe a dumb question: but does this mean the strips won’t ravel? Do I still have to turn them under so they don’t?
Thanks!
Hi Julia, not dumb at all. Remove the tape when you’re ready to use the strips and then turn the edges into the middle as normal to create your bias tape 🙂 Px
I noticed that you mention leaving the tape on until you need that strip – just make sure not to leave it on TOO long, because I’ve seen masking tape degrade; the tape often becomes like dust & the glue stays stuck to whatever it’s attached to! Now, of course we’re talking about years later, especially in an ‘extreme’ environment (perhaps next to a radiator, or a basement, etc) & you probably use them fairly soon. But I’ve noticed in my own life time slipping by, as well as uncovering forgotten bits in my craft stash/room YEARS after putting them aside for “a week or two”, so I wanted to make certain to mention it!
Thanks for the tips!
You make a good point Brenda! Thank you 🙂
Brilliant Idea TFS and demonstrating
You’re welcome Ann 🙂
I am a sewer for more years than I care to remember and you are definitely an inspiration! What a brilliant brilliant idea. Cutting strips on the bias is a nightmare even when one has been sewing for years. So, THANK YOU, I shall now bias bind everything hahaa…
Fatima that’s such a compliment, thank you! Glad you like! Px
If you use tape to mark lines and then draw in, remove tape and then join sides making a tube (align one row out) then when you cut along lines you will end up wil several metres of bias rather than bits and no waste. Quilters do this all the time *and very quick)
I’ve seen that technique around Edwina yes 🙂 not tried it yet though. Perhaps I should!
will definitely try this!
Wow. this is simply genius. My bias improved greatly after investing in a cutting board and a rotary cutter – but this beats it! Thanks so very much!
You are so welcome Francesca!
What?? Can’t believe these comments/suggestions were written in 2015… Anyone who knows how to use a rotary cutter properly, knows that bias strips can be cut in a fraction of the time over your masking tape method! Once you find the 45 degree angle (with that line on most wide rotary cutting rulers), you make your 1st cut, the. You use the lines already on the ruler for whatever width you want your strips, then just cut one strip after another! Each one of my cuts are probably 2 seconds – if that..
And re your advice on using ‘masking’ tape – wrong… Too sticky and DO NOT leave it on the fabric-you’ll have an awful residue and ruin the fabric.
I’m guessing all the comments that are calling your tip “genius”, are from sewers with very little experience.
Back to the blogs by experienced sewers/quilters.
Just goes to show that anyone can have a blog, despite their lack of experience or good content.
Wow! Could never have imagined sharing how I choose to cut my bias strips would elicit such a cross response. I’m sorry that you didn’t personally find anything of use here and I’m happy that you have a method of cutting bias strips that works for you. Sadly I have never gotten on with rotary cutters so I found a way of doing it that works for me. I’m guessing from your response that you won’t be following this blog. I’m cool with that. But thanks for stopping by and sharing your take on things. Have an awesome day. Px
Thanks Portia – I read your instructions and am now feeling much more competent about my bias binding for #therefashioners2015
Thanks for pointing me in this direction!
Jenny 🙂
Ah that’s awesome Jenny! So glad it helped 🙂
Hi sorry to be a “pluts” but I live in Spain and not a very good sewer 🙂 but I try 🙂 my question is what size gadget should I buy? Thank you for the tips very helpful by the way 🙂
No need to apologise Fiona! The gadgets come in different sizes depending on how wide you want your finished bias tape to be. But I would suggest that a 1″ bias gadget would be a good place to start. Good luck! Be careful of your fingers on the iron 😉 Px
One tip about the “Be careful of your fingers on the iron”…I struggled with this for years myself. Then I discovered that I can use a butter knife (instead of fingers) to hold down whatever fabric is near the iron at the moment. No more scorched fingers for me!
Thank you for sharing your tips and ideas, these are giving me great ideas to try!
Oooh I like that! Thanks! I often use the tips of my thread snips in place of my fingers at the sewing machine if I need to get close in to the needle…but never thought of using it near the iron! Great idea! !
Love this idea! However, I would be weary of storing for long periods of time with the tape attached, and it really doesn’t serve much of a purpose after the lengths are cut.