Bias
Binding Tutorial
Written and Designed by
Janet M. Davies
Bias Binding is strip of fabric that has been cut at a 45
degree angle to the grain of your fabric. Doing this allows the cut
strip to bend slightly and be folded over itself without it puckering.
It is a great way if finishing off a neckline or armline on a garment.
Or finishing off the edge of a quilt or bag etc. Use this technique on
any project fabric item that has a curved edge.
I use two methods to attach the binding. It depends if I want the
binding to show on the front of the main fabric or not, too which method
I use. Below I show you how to cut on the bias and the two methods of
attaching.
Cutting a bias strip
1. Below: To find the 45 degrees, lay your
ruler/compass's straight edge along the fabric grain.
The blue line shows the actual 45 degrees.
You do not have to have a rectangle ruler like below, you can use a half
circle protractor of any size.
6. Below: You can sew bias binding onto your main
fabric that has a curved concave or convex edge.
7. Below: With right sides of fabric together pin
the bias strip onto the edge of the curved main fabric. Pin every 1cm
(1/4 inch apart) the outer edge should sit smooth and the other edge
wavy.
8. Below: Sew the two fabrics together with a 1cm
(1/4 inch) seam allowance.
Sewing down the bias strip so it does NOT
show
on the front of the main fabric.
1. Below: Fold
the seam allowance downwards. Holding the bias strip upper most, fold it downwards
towards the seam allowance and
fold the bias strip down to meet the seam sewn line.
2. Below: Now turn over bias strip again
down over top of the seam allowance.
3. Below: Pin folded bias strip in place. Hand
sew the lower edge
of the bias strip to the main fabric or machine down.
4. Below: Below shows the right side of your main
fabric before the folded bias strip is sewn down.
Sewing down the bias strip so it DOES
show
on the front of the main fabric.
1. Below: Holding the bias strip upper most
turning upwards the seam allowance and fold the bias strip down to meet the
the raw edge of the seam allowance.
2. Below: Then fold over the bias strip so the
lower fold, lines up with the sewing line,
and over the seam allowance itself.
Below: Photos of 2 bags and a pot stand
made with the bias binding showing from the front.
Below: On the edge of this applique hanging
I did not want the binding showing.
I used the same patterned fabric on the front of the hanging as I did on
the back strip.
Front
Back
