A Guide To Bias Binding
Reading Time: 8 Minutes
Bias binding is a seam-stars best friend!
Have you ever used it before?
We use it ALL the time in our in-house projects and everyday sewing, it’s used to cover those not so pretty raw edges and gives a project a neat finish.
As well as being available in multiple colours adding a dash of excitement to your project!
Did you know you can use bias binding on a range of different materials and projects?
It’s suitable to use on garments, quilts, cushions and much more and come in various different materials too!
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Types Of Bias Binding
You can find different colours of bias binding ranging from white to blue, to red to pink to black to match any fabric colour! We stock 144 colours of our 20mm bias binding tape!
As well as different colours, bias binding tape also comes in different materials such as cotton, polycotton, metallic, patterned, satin, velvet and leatherette suitable for most types of projects.
And if you’re still on the fence about using this bias tape for your sewing projects this might just sway you… you can get different types of bias binding! There’s plain, piping, stretch, lace edge, iron on and blanket bias binding!
Making your own bias binding is also an alternative to buying it ready made and can often work out much cheaper! We’ll go into detail further on in the guide on how to make your own bias binding.
What’s The Difference Between Single Fold And Double Fold Bias Binding?
We’ll also go over the different types of bias binding.
There’s 2 main types, single and double bias tape and you can differentiate both by the way they fold up.
Single fold tape has both edges folded towards the middle, creating a fold down each side of the bias tape..
Whereas double fold is similar to a single fold bias binding, but with an added extra fold in the centre of the bias.
All bias binding is cut at a 45-degree angle to allow for stretch and use on project corners!
So let’s get into the guide, we’ll go over how to make bias binding, how to attach bias binding, how to sew bias binding corners and more!
How To Make Bias Binding
Knowing how to make bias binding (also known as bias tape) is a life-long skill for any sewist!
The advantages of making handmade bias binding tape are that you can decide on the exact width and pattern that you want, it can also be more cost effective saving you money by using fabrics from your stash.
Plus you can match it perfectly with your project by using the same fabric!
We’d recommend investing in a bias making tool, they’re worth the money and can save so much time. However they come in various different sizes so make sure you choose the correct size for your project.
Want to learn how to make and how to cut your own bias binding tape? Read on!
Make Your Own Bias Binding Step-by-Step
Step 1: Take your piece of fabric
Step 2: Take the top right-hand edge to meet the bottom edge creating a triangle and press.
Step 3: Use a ruler and fabric marker to draw strips parallel to the fold. If you are using a bias tool.
Step 4: Cut the strips using fabric scissors or a rotary cutter.
Step 5: Overlap the ends of two strips at a 90-degree angle and pin in place.
Step 6: Stitch together and press back the seams. Trim the seam edges that overhang. Continue to piece all your strips together in this way until you have enough to go around the edge of your project.
Ways To Fold Your Binding
Option 1: Use a bias binding maker
Once you have all your strips joined, feed one end of the strip into the wide end of the maker.
Next, pull the strip out of the narrow end of the bias binding maker.
Move the maker along with the strip, pressing it with a hot iron as you go.
When finished, wind the bias binding tape around some strong card to keep it flat and pressed.
Option 2: If you don’t have a binder maker.
If you don’t have a tool, you can press by hand or use a pin on your ironing board as a guide.
To use the pin method, use a fabric marker to mark two points half the width of your fabric strip.
Insert a pin between these marks.
Pass the strip under the pin pressing with an iron as you go.
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How To Attach Bias Binding
Curves
Applying and sewing bias binding around curves may seem daunting at first but it isn’t as difficult as you might think.
Follow our step by step bias binding tutorial to learn how to sew bias binding around curves and how to attach bias binding to a project.
Applying Bias Binding Step-by-Step
Step 1: Unfold the bias tape and line up the edge with the edge of your fabric.
Make sure your right sides are facing each other and pin in place.
Step 2: You will get some puckering but don’t worry about that. Slowly stitch along the fold line.
Step 3: Fold the bias tape over to the back.
Step 4: Pin or clip in place. If the binding doesn’t quite sit where you want it, trim the seam allowance slightly.
Step 5: You can topstitch the binding in place, but we recommend hand sewing it so there is no stitch line on the front.
You can also clip the seam allowance if you need to along the curve to remove the bulk.
Step 6: Give the binding a good press with the iron.
How To Mitre A Corner with Bias Binding
Although you might find mitred corners hard at first, following the method below takes all the confusion out!
All it takes is just a bit of practice.
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Mitre A Corner With Bias Binding Step-by-Step
Step 1: Unfold the bias tape and line up the edge with the edge of your fabric.
Make sure your right sides are facing each other and pinned in place.
Step 2: Leave 2 or 3cm before you sew.
This will form an overlap at the end. Stitch along the fold line.
When you get to the end, stop about 6mm before the fabric edge.
Step 3: Move your needle up and fold the bias tape up at a 90 degree angle and fold back down, this will give you a diagonal 45 degree angle at the corner.
Pin in place.
Step 4: Stitch all the way along the fold line.
Repeat these steps at every corner.
When you get to the end, you can cut your tape but leave enough to overlap.
Step 5: Fold the bias tape over to the back.
Pin or clip the binding in place.
Step 6: If the binding doesn’t quite sit where you want it, you can trim it slightly.
When it comes to corners, fold in one side, then the other and if the sides are nice and even, you should get a nice, neat 45-degree corner.
Step 7: You can topstitch the binding in place, but we recommend hand sewing it so there is no stitch line on the front.
You can also clip the seam allowance if you need to along the curve to remove the bulk.
Step 8: Give the binding a good press with the iron.
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Ready Made Bias Binding
Prefer to buy ready made bias binding?
We’ve got it!
There’s definitely advantages to buying pre-made bias binding vs learning how to make bias binding. It can save you time and also fabric!
Here at Plush Addict, we’re not only a fabric store but we’re also an online haberdashery! We stock a wide variety of bias binding in lots of finishes and sizes.
Our most versatile ready-made bias binding is made from polycotton in 13mm, 20mm, 25mm, 27mm and 50mm. This is the one we would recommend if you have never used ready made bias binding before.
If you’re looking for something bolder, we sell metallic, patterned and decorative bias binding, as well different textures and fabrics such as satin, velvet and leatherette.
We also have several ranges of piping bias to create a different finish, which is great for decorative projects such as cushions and detailing on clothes.
Did you find this guide helpful? Let us know in the comments below and tag us @PlushAddict we’d love to see how you used bias tape in your projects!
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