Step by Step Directions For Making Continuous Double Fold Bias Tape
Step by step directions for making continuous double fold bias tape can be found here, and it's a lot more simple than I ever imagined! Although I have been making 'double fold bias tape' for years, when I made the baby blanket for Memphis, I used this method for the first time. For years, I have heard of the continuous strip method but have never tried it. Up to this point, I have cut the 2-inch strips on the bias, sewn them together and then using the little bias tape maker in the picture above, ironed the strip to make the double fold bias tape.
Wow! Why did I wait so long? This method is easy and definitely faster. A fifteen inch square of fabric will make a little over three yards. I needed two of these to make the baby quilt. A bigger square would have produced more bias tape, but the piece of fabric left from the baby quilt less than half of a yard.
The first step is cutting a square of fabric. Cut off the selvage edge and fold the fabric diagonally into a triangle to make a perfect square. Trim off the extra fabric.
Cut along the diagonal fold, as shown in the picture above, which will leave you with two identical right triangles.
With one triangle facing up and one facing down, line up the edges, as shown above, and sew a 1/4" seam as shown.
When you open the sewn triangles and lay flat, you will have created a parallelogram. Iron the seam flat.
With a fabric pen, mark every 2-inches on the left side and the right side of the parallelogram. Connect the marks, creating 2-inch sections, as indicated above with the broken lines.
Fold the fabric in half and match the lines. Notice you have to offset the first 2- inch section so that the edge will be offset on both ends. Pin and sew a 1/4" seam. It is critical that these lines match up and look like the picture above after the seam is sewn. This is the line you will cut. Double check to make sure the lines match. If they don't, rip out the seam and redo.
When your lines are matching, iron, and begin cutting on one offset end, as shown in the upper right corner of the picture above. Lift the fabric and only cut through the top layer of fabric, following the drawn lines.
When you finish cutting, the end result should look like this, one continuous length of 2-inch wide bias fabric.
Using a 2" bias tape maker, insert one end of the fabric into the tool and thread through to the opposite end.
Pull the wire handle back and hold as you iron the tape and guide it easily through the tool. (The handle will keep your fingers from being burned by the steam from the iron.) Continue ironing until the entire piece is transformed into double fold bias tape ready to be used on your latest project. To pin this click here►Double Fold Bias Tape.
These step by step directions for making continuous double fold bias tape show what an easy process it really is!
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