On the Bias

This posting has been a long time in the making! Whew! It's finally done! You will notice that the fabric changes from green to purple and then back to green in the pictures. There's a story behind that--I originally did that section of the instructions in a video. I thought it would be much easier to "show" how to do that part than to "tell." Anyway, the video would not upload. Not on this computer, not on my husbands. I tried 100 different things, still no go. So, I went and bought some purple fabric (one day I will make a purple quilt) to re-do the movie. Certainly, it was something I did! The movie STILL wouldn't upload. But, this time, I also took pictures, just in case. So, you get to see the still pictures and hopefully, my explanations are good enough. As always, ask questions if you need clarification!

This posting is a how-to on making bias strips for binding a quilt. Bias strips can come in handy for binding a quilt and also if you are appliqueing vines or other strippy things that can curve. It is a must to use if the border of your quilt has curves or even rounded corners. Bias is fabric cut on the diagonal from the weave of the fabric. This gives the fabric a tiny bit of stretch, which can make it easier to manage, go around curves, and lay flat better.

First of all take one yard of fabric and press out the creases. Lay it on your cutting board right side down.

Next, fold the fabric so that the bottom edge meets the side edge. This turns your fabric into a sort-of traingle. Turn your fabric so that the folded edge is at the bottom of your mat, closest to you.

Then fold the fabric over two or three times so that it's a manageable width, keeping the folded edge even and at the bottom, nearest you. When I say manageable width, it should all fit under the length of your ruler.

The first cut you make will be along the folded edge. I make my bias 2 1/2" wide so the first strip that I cut on the fold is 1 1/4" wide. When that piece is unfolded it will measure 2 1/2" wide.

Cut 2 1/2" wide strips up the entire piece of fabric until you get to pieces so small they'd only be good for your scrap pile.

Next, you're going to take all of your strips and cut the ends into a 45 degree angle. Start by taking 4 or 5 strips and stacking them on top of each other, ends together. Some of the strips will be shorter than others or angles will be different. Match up the ends as close as you can. Make sure you stack each fabric with right sides up.

Find the 45 degree line on your ruler. Line this up with the bottom of your strips. Make sure that the ends of the strips (the underneath ones, too) will all get the same cut.

Make the cut, but don't move your ruler when you're done. Just slide it over a bit. Try and keep the angle of it in the same spot. Now, take the strips out from underneath the ruler, keep them right sides up, and turn them around so the other ends are in front of you. (this is where a video would be helpful--sorry). If you take both ends of the strips and turn them like a steering wheel, does that visual help?

Now, line up those ends of the strips. Make sure they're all together. You might need to scoot down some of the shorter pieces so all the ends are together. All of the ends will need to be cut to the same 45 degree angle.

Slide the ruler back over this end of the strips. Make sure the angle of the ruler has not changed. Put the 45 degree line at the bottom of the strips and make the cut.

If the ends of all of the strips are cut with the same angle, you will be able to sew them together without worrying if the angles will match up. Because they will.

Now it's time to sew all of those strips together. Use a 5/8" seam allowance. Notice the overhang when the strips meet up.

Make sure that your needle goes in where the two strips meet and the edge is along your 5/8" marking.

After all of your strips are sewn together, press the seams open.

Along one edge, press a 1/4" hem. This will be your starting end when sewing the binding onto your quilt. Press the entire strip in half, lengthwise. For the how-to on sewing binding onto your quilt, click here.

If you want, snip off the stragglers.

Roll your binding up so it's manageable to work with. One yard of fabric makes over 14 yards (500"+) of 2 1/2" wide bias. This is enough to bind a King-size quilt. PLENTY!

You do NOT have to use fabric cut on the bias to bind your quilt if the sides and corners are straight. Yes, it does look better and is easier to manage, but it is not necessary. If the perfect fabric for your binding is already cut on the weave of the fabric and you can't or don't want to buy more, then use what you have.