Today’s sewing tip is a bias binding tutorial.
Have you ever used bias binding or made your own bias binding? If not or if you struggled before we hope we can help you with this tutorial!
First we will show you how to make your own bias tape and then we will show you how to bias bind a straight edge and rounded or mitered corners.
The mitered edge is a bit more advanced and need a bit practice
Please let us know if you have any questions!
your own BIAS TAPE
1. To cut your bias binding tape fold over the edge of your fabric to form a triangle. If you cut along this angle, it will be 45 degree and is the stretchiest part of your fabric.
Cut about 5 cm (2“) wide strips.
2. To sew binding strips together, cut the edges in 45 degree angles.
Take two strips that have ends pointing in the same direction and place them right sides together, as you can see in the picture.
And sew together.
3. Press the seam open and trim the outsticking edges.
4. Press the bias tape in half, with wrong sides together.
Just watch your fingers as the steam from the iron can be hot.
5. Open up the bias tape again. Fold and iron the side edges to the middle.
6. Fold again and iron.
A straight EDGE
Unfold the binding and sew it right sides together on the edge. Don’t sew directly on the fold, sew 1mm inside the side edge.
Trim the edge 1 or 2 mm, if necessary. And fold the binding tape around the seam, that half of the binding is on both sides. Pin and topstitch close to the edge.
ROUNDED CORNERS
To bias bind the outer edge with rounded corners, unfold the binding and sew right sides together on the backpiece.
Don´t sew directly on the fold, sew one milimeter inside the side edge.
Sew carefully in the corners to avoid pleats.
Fold the binding tape in the beginning 1 cm, left sides together, like it is shown in the picture and let the ending just overlap.
Trim the edges 1 to 2 mm if necessary. Fold the bias binding around the seam, that half of the binding is on both sides. Pin and topstitch close to the edge.
mitered CORNERS
Unfold the binding and sew right sides together on the backpiece.
Don´t sew directly on the fold, sew one milimeter inside the side edge. The seam allowance is here about 1 cm.
Stop 1 cm ( depending on your seam allowance) before the corner.
Fold the bias tape in a 45 degree angel, as you can see in the picture.
Fold it back again so that you can see the left side of the binding tape. Start sewing 1 cm (depending on your seam allowance) away from the corner.
To get the best result it is important that you sew accurate and that the seams meet exactly.
When turning the bias tape on the other side you will get automatically mitered corners on the left side. Fold the corners on the right side that they will look similiar, and pin.
Fold the bias binding around the seam, that half of the binding is on both sides. Pin and topstitch close to the edge.
Info: I´m sewing the bias binding first on the left side and topstitch it later on the right side, this works best for me and gives me the best result. But you can do it of course other way round as well! Just try out what works best for you!
