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Radiant Home Studio

Radiant Home Studio

September 7, 2015 ·

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter

Sewing· Tutorials

Here’s a tutorial showing you how to make bias binding from a fat quarter. (After making these pencil pouches with the girls last week, I realized I needed a tutorial they could reference!) Why make your own? Well, store-bought bias binding is typically a poly/cotton blend of fabric. It’s a little bit stiff and can melt at high temperatures more quickly than cotton and linen. If you are making something like a pot holder, you’ll definitely want to use cotton binding so you don’t melt your hard work. (Yes. I learned this from experience…)

Store-bought binding typically comes only in solid colors, but when you make bias binding the design possibilities are endless. You can make your projects uniquely yours by adding extra pops of pattern with floral or striped bias binding. I used this method to make bias binding for the pencil pouches I made with the girls. I also shared this technique when I made the Hot Mitt House Potholder for Betz White’s blog.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

Starting with a fat quarter, you can make about 5 yds. of bias tape. There are many methods for doing this, but I find this method to be less confusing than some of the others I have tried.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter:

Materials:

1 fat quarter of quilting cotton
rotary cutter, quilting ruler, and cutting mat
iron and ironing board
bias tape maker (optional, but recommended)

Instructions:

1. Start by folding one corner of the fat quarter of fabric up diagonally and press.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

2. Cut along the diagonal crease using a rotary cutter and mat.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

3. Move the left piece over to the other side and match the straight edges. You should have a parallelogram.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

4. Align the straight edges right sides together, stitch and press.

5. Using a rotary cutter and mat, cut 2” strips of fabric across the diagonals. The last piece will probably be too small and can be discarded.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

6. Connect the strips using a ¼” seam, matching the ends as shown. See how the corners are offset by ¼”? It’s important to align the edges this way to account for the seam allowance and to ensure that you have a nice straight edge when you open it up.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

7. After stitching and pressing the strips together, trim the excess corner pieces.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

8. Push one end of the fabric through the wide end of the bias tape maker and pull it through to the narrow end. See the small, straight opening in the top of the bias tape maker? You can use a pin or seam ripper in that space to guide the fabric through to the opening. Adjust it until the fabric comes out folded equally on each side.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

9. Begin pressing the folds in place with a hot iron as you gently pull back the bias tape maker. Continue pulling and pressing in small sections until you reach the end of the fabric strip.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

10. At this point, you have single fold bias tape. To make double fold bias tape, fold the binding in half one more time and press as you go.

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

When you finish, you’ll have about 5 yards of ½” double fold bias binding to use on your projects!

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio

Though it’s a few minutes of extra work, making your own bias binding for your sewing projects is worth trying. You’ll have new design options and you’ll be able to make higher-quality binding than you can find at the craft store.

If you use the “pin it” button on your browser, you’ll find a hidden full-length step-by-step image to pin! Try it!

Make Bias Binding from a Fat Quarter | Radiant Home Studio
Previous Post: « Zipper Pouch Girls Sewing Day
Next Post: Autumn Running Stitch {Tote Bag Upgrade} »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jess says

    September 7, 2015 at 10:39 am

    Oh my gosh, this looks so simple! I tried to make bias binding for a Christmas gift last year and it was very frustrating (it was a plaid, and that didn’t help, but I kept getting confused on how I was meant to cut it).

    • Sara Curtis says

      September 7, 2015 at 11:46 am

      Thank you! I love it when people find my explanations to be easier than what they thought. I hope you get a chance to try it!

  2. Jaime Johnson says

    September 7, 2015 at 11:31 am

    Great tutorial and the pinterest image is great! Pinned to my free patterns & tutorials board!

    • Sara Curtis says

      September 7, 2015 at 11:45 am

      Thanks for sharing Jaime!

  3. Bobbie says

    September 7, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    Great way to make binding. I love my little binding maker too

    • Sara Curtis says

      September 7, 2015 at 8:21 pm

      Thank you! It’s a useful and inexpensive tool to have on hand. I have multiple sizes.

  4. Stacey..... From-a-Box says

    September 8, 2015 at 12:21 am

    I love making my own bias tape – it is much preferred over the store bought kind. Thank you for this tutorial. I will keep it handy… 5 years from a fat quarter?!!! more cost effective over store bought too 🙂

    • Sara Curtis says

      September 8, 2015 at 12:13 pm

      I don’t actually love making it, but I much prefer using it 🙂

  5. Jamie N says

    December 3, 2015 at 10:46 am

    This is great! I hadn’t seen a tip for cutting the FQ on the bias and then joinung it together before cutting the strips. This is awesome! It eliminates individually joining short strips.
    Thank you!

    • Sara Curtis says

      December 3, 2015 at 11:21 am

      Great! Glad it was helpful 🙂

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