(For example, space the lines 2" apart for a 2"-wide binding strip.). Place your clear ruler across the shorter area of the rectangle so that it is about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) from the edge. Step 3. Since the coaster was not very big a 6 ½″ wide strip of fabric would be wide enough to cut the bias strips from at a 45 degree angle. Using a rotary cutter and acrylic ruler, trim off left-hand folded edge. Press the seam allowances open. 7. Use a quilt marker or pencil and a ruler to draw lines parallel to the long bias edges, spacing the lines the desired width of the binding strip. Fold the lower selvage edge to the cut edge, creating a 45º angle. In my opinion, ⅜” binding gives you a “meatier” binding, and ¼” is just too skinny, especially on a queen or king bed quilt. This type of bias binding isn’t quite as durable as traditional binding, so use it for projects that won’t be handled or washed … Cut a square from your binding fabric on the straight grain. I LOVE striped quilt binding cut on the bias! Unfold the bias tape. Rather than cutting individual bias strips, you can cut and seam a square to make a continuous bias strip. The diagrams shown illustrate a 5⁄8-yard length of 42"-wide fabric. Position and pin the strips perpendicular to one another with the raw edges aligned and right sides together. This method is popular for quilters to bind the edge of their quilt and is often used. Cutting from trimmed edge, cut the desired-width bias strips. Take the square root of that answer and add two inches. Holding the fabric in this position, sew the bias edges together with a 1/4" seam allowance. 2. The double-fold binding method uses a single layer of fabric on the edges of the quilt, making it more economical than traditional bias binding. First you want to make your own bias tape – don’t make the folds inwards as this method requires a different type of fold on your bias tape. You must Register or 5. Lay out the fabric so the selvage edges are in the upper right and lower left. To sew a curved corner, you don’t have to do anything special. Offset the edges by shifting one down so that the top of one edge aligns with the first marked line of the opposite edge. 6. With right sides together, match lines with pins at the 1/4″ seamline and stitch seam; press open. Each time you cut across the seam, you'll be moving down one marked line. Step 5. Expectant mothers and little ones will love these handmade crib quilts! 6. I recently received a question from a reader who asked to explain an easy way to make striped bias cut quilt binding. Cookie Statement | Terms & Conditions | Subscription Alert â Unauthorized Agents. The secret of bias binding is to begin with a square that is sewn shut on all four sides, like a pillow. Continuous Bias Binding is another way to make binding a quilt real easy. In our example, these lines are 2-1/2" apart. 3. © Copyright 2021 Golden Peak Media. The width of your quilt binding will be influenced by whether you use a double fold or a single fold binding. Move the cut triangle to the right of the rectangle, positioning it as shown below. Begin with a fabric square or rectangle. Add 20" or so to the total to determine how much binding you'll need to surround the quilt if you plan to use continuous strips and miter the corners. Then add the extra to go around the quilt sandwich. You will be logged in automatically and a confirmation email with a password will be sent to your email address. Purses, totes, and shoulder bags--we have all the free bag patterns you need! Actually, I use it for all my binding - no pinning needed except at the corners. Generally, it is a lot wider than the standard bias binding tape, and you can make it any size that works for the quilt on hand. 4. Add the two lengths together and multiply that figure by two. Easy Framed Quilt Art: Block Framing Technique + Pattern, First Look: McCallâs Quilting March/April 2021, On the Horizon: January Quilting Workshops, Behind the Scenes: Love of Quilting 3700 Series, Quilting Daily TV: What to Binge on Your Holiday, Subscription Alert â Unauthorized Agents. The pin placement for the top and bottom place the pin heads pointed out; on the two sides place the … From cuddly baby quilts to quilted play throws, these quilts will be treasured for years to come. Make sure that the intersection of these lines with the marked seam allowance are quite visible. A square of fabric is cut in preparation to make bias binding Step 1 The square needs to be cut in half once on the diagonal. This is the grain of fabric with the most stretch, which helps the bias binding you’re making work nicely on curves such as necklines and armholes. Fold the bottom corner up on top of first fold. If you're binding around curved edges, you'll want to cut your binding strips on the bias. Buy a yard and pre-make binding for future projects. When binding something round or curved the binding needs to be cut on the bias so that it has give and can be placed smoothly and evenly along the curve with no puckers or gaps. Option 2: If you plan to sew the binding to the quilt by lining up the cut edges of the binding with the cut edges of the batting, then the calculations are: (4 x ½") + (2 x ½") + (¼"-⅜") =3¼" - 3⅜" wide bias strips. I also prefer to use a ⅜” binding rather than a ¼” binding. 4. 3. You’ll find more than 50 ideas for stylish accessories. It is flexible with most amount of stretch and can be used on any edge. With right sides together, sew the triangles together with a 1/4″ seam and press open. If you have a narrow strip left at the end, cut it off. Attach the triangle to the large piece. 1. To make longer continuous bias binding, you can use a rectangle instead of a square or cut two squares on the bias and sew them together to make a larger parallelogram. With scissors, cut along continuously drawn line. Then, run the rotary cutter along the edge of the ruler to cut this 0.5 in (1.3 cm) strip off of the rectangle. Trim the excess fabric, leaving 1/4 " seam allowances. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Step 6. Measure your quilt along its top and along one side. Better Binding: Mitered Corners & Invisible Joins, How to Bind: Prep Your Binding and Sew It On with Two Methods. If you do not see the email, please check your junk or spam folder. The folded edge should be facing toward the quilt. In fact, this is always my first choice when making quilt binding!! You can make quilt binding in any size you'd like, but 2 1/4 (2.25 inches) or 2 1/2" strips are most common - this will give you a binding width of about 1/4" on the front and back of your quilt. Here is my answer in a simple step by step. There are two methods that I use to make bias binding, and the method I use depends on the fabric I will be using. Sew the triangles together with a 1/4" seam allowance to make a parallelogram. 1. You can create bias strips by simply sewing strips together. Bias binding is also more enduring than straight binding and can give a smoother, more beautiful finish to your quilt. 2. 1. Turn the quilt over and bind the other side. Use your walking foot to begin stitching along the edge of the quilt. 3. I personally am not much of a quilter, but make mine with approximately 1″ of visible bias tape showing, therefore requiring a 4″ wide strip. If you have a strong preference this needs to be decided before you cut the quilt binding strips. All Rights Reserved. With right sides together, align two short triangle edges. For tightly curved edges, you absolutely NEED to use bias to get a nice flat binding that doesn’t pucker and gives you a smooth curve. 1. Use a quilt marker or pencil and a ruler to draw lines parallel to the long bias edges, spacing the lines the desired width of the binding strip. Step 1 – Measure the quilt to determine how many inches of binding you need. Mark, then join the strips with diagonal seams to make one continuous binding strip. Sewing Striped Bias Binding to Your Quilt: If you have a walking foot for your sewing machine, use it for applying the bias binding. Here are two ways to cut bias binding strips. Pay attention here: the new shape MUST be a parallelogram (the bias edges must be parallel). Begin cutting on the top marked line and cut in a continuous spiral. Get free quilt patterns that will make it easy for you to put your fat quarters to good use. Bias binding is made by cutting strips of fabrics on the bias – which is a 45º angle from the selvedge. Offset the drawn lines by one strip. Place the pieces right sides together, aligning the … For more information, download the illustrated tutorial. Fold top corner down on top of first and second folds. To get 300 inches of 3″ bias binding from a piece of fabric that is 43″ wide: (300 x 3) ÷ 43 = 20.9 inches (round up to 21) 21 inches/36 = 0.588 yards (round up to 5/8 of a yard) So you need 5/8 of a piece of fabric that is 43″ (wof) wide. Calculate Quilt Binding Length. Easy Bias Binding Strips for Your Quilt. Align one edge of the bias tape with the edge of the quilt and pin all the way around the quilt. (For example, … Carefully mark lines parallel to the bias edge every 2”. How To Make A Quilt With Floating Bias Binding When I was small, I had a quilt with a silky edge. These steps on how to make a quilt … this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Since bias binding is a more intermediate technique, I assume you already know things like, how to make a mitered corner and join your ends for continuous binding. Look for sale and clearance fabrics that would make great binding. (For example, space the lines 2-1/2" apart for a 2-1/2"-wide binding strip.) Login to post a comment. *The mathematical formula for this is: Multiply the number of inches around the quilt (the perimeter) by the width of your bias binding strips. The threads in a bias binding are on an angle, so no one single thread is always at the edge of the quilt. Cut enough strips to total the length needed, handling the edges carefully to avoid stretching or distorting the strips. You can then sew these strips together to make continuous bias binding. This cuts down on wear and tear of a binding on a well loved quilt. Strips will be a variety of lengths; piece strips to equal the desired length of binding strip. Use a large acrylic ruler to square up the edge of the fabric and find the 45-degree angle. Step 2. Allow 10″ extra for turning corners and the closure. Flip the quilt and fold the binding strip to the same measurement as your seam allowance. All Rights Reserved. How to Make Bias Binding. Use a quilt marker or pencil and a ruler to draw lines parallel to the long bias edges, spacing the lines the desired width of the binding strip. By Cheryl Fall . Starting from one bias edge, mark parallel lines a strip's width apart across the width of your binding material. This tutorial will teach you how to make 1/4" double fold bias binding for your quilt. If the fabric is quite stable (for example, cotton) I will mark the bias strips directly onto the fabric with tailor's chalk and then cut. Refer to chart to find the size square needed. How to Cut Bias Binding: A Step-By-Step Guide. Unfold the binding and lay it right side down on your quilt front with raw edges aligned. Cut off the end of the rectangle. Leaving 6" - 8" of extra fabric, start sewing the binding around the edges of the quilt. It was such a nice feeling rubbing the 2 pieces of silk together that even after the blanket had fallen to pieces, I kept the edge until probably my mum decided it was time for it to go. These simple guidelines show you some quick tips to make sewing binding fast and easy. Fat quarters are fun to collect and even more fun to use! Cut the square in half diagonally (Diagram I). Sew the two pieces together with a 1/4-inch seam and press the seam open to reduce bulk. Allpeoplequilt is part of the Meredith Home Group. To quickly cut binding strips on the bias, start with a fabric square or rectangle. If you don't have a walking foot, you'll need to pin the bias binding to your quilt, making sure not to stretch it as you sew. This chart will take the mystery out of what width to cut your quilt binding. Press the seam allowances open. 4. Lay your square on the cutting mat right side up and place pins as shown in diagram A. Cutting bias tape from a stable fabric. Many quilters prefer this stitch-as-you-go method because it’s a good way to use up an odd-size piece of fabric. 2. Line your needle up with the first crease mark (the fold line that is closest to the raw edge of your quilt), and begin sewing about three inches down from the tail of your binding. Cut the square in half diagonally to form two triangles. 3. If you used a ¼” seam allowance, fold the binding strip over the edge ¼”. Plaids and stripes, when cut on the bias give a lovely diagonal look that can be the "icing on the cake". Click here to download a chart of the amount of continuous binding you can cut from various size squares. Traditionally, there are 2 ways to get a length of bias to make a binding … Press the seams open and trim the dog-ears, Next page: Making Continuous Binding from a Square. The equation is: [(height of quilt + width of quilt) x 2] + 10. 5. How to Sew Binding to a Quilt Line up the raw edges of the binding with the raw edges of the quilt. This instructional video demonstrates how to quilt 5 yards of bias binding with a small amount of fabric. Along the top edge of the fabric, mark the intersections of the bias lines with the seam line starting with the number 0. Straight grain binding is easier to create, but if a quilt is going to be used and washed a lot, or has curved edges, you may want to consider bias binding. Bias binding is much more sturdy for the quilt because the edge of the binding has a cross-weave, rather than a straight weave. Since the square is so large, I find it easier to fold the square in half on the diagonal, making sure the corners are well lined up. Two join two pieces of bias tape, cut each end at a 45 degree angle. Bring the short diagonal edges together, forming a tube (Diagram III). 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