Bias Maker Tutorial

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This is a 1/2" bias maker. It is a NON fusible style and this one is made by Clover. This tutorial shows you how easy it is to use and my trick for placing the bias on a project!  Let's get going!

Find the bias on your fabric. If the top and bottom are the selvage, then that fold is the bias. It is VERY stretchy... give it a pull! You can certainly make straight of grain bias, but it will not curve if you are doing stems. it would be find for place 'straight'.

Find the 45 degree angle on your ruler... on my Sullivan Edge rulers it says "USE FOR BIAS" on the 45, nice and helpful!

Line that 45 degree on the BOTTOM of your fabric

Make one cut to get us going

Flip the short triangle if you want to use it first.I do that if I have short stems. If you need more length and want less seams, start on the larger piece of fabric.

Cut 1" wide strips for a 1/2" wide bias maker.

Cut as many as you need.

let's sew them together... right sides, at a right angle

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this is what it looks like

 

Sweet!

Trim

Get out your bias maker, iron and a straight pin

See that opening between the yellow and the metal? That is where we feed in the fabric

Slide the end of the bias strip into the space between the plastic and metal, the pointy end is helpful so don't cut that off!

often you need to give the fabric a little help to pull it out the end. Use your straight pin to slide the fabric until it peeks out the skinny end, where....

It's folded already! Do NOT pull it any further than this as it will unfold.

TIP.. do NOT use starch before or after as you won't be able to CURVE the bias as well if you starch your fabric

now PRESS your bias WITH STEAM.. LOTS AND LOTS of steam. The steam heat sets the folds

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Ta Da!! Yards of easy peasy bias!

Here is how I apply bias so I can sew it on the machine.. this is REALLY good.. believe me!

You need some basting GLUE.. a glue stick can work but it's going to pull on your background... so I much prefer a liquid glue

Draw a line of dots with your basting glue. This one is Roxanne's but there are several brands available.

TIP - Basting glues WASH OUT. Be sure you read the label of the glue you are about to use

Now start positioning you bias ON TOP of the glue, following the curve

there we are! A nice curved stem

TIP... if you won't like your curve, just PULL IT OFF, rinse away the glue and redo it!

And this is how you store bias... perfect eh?

Buy a 1/2 Bias Maker HERE and the Rulers I show 

Buy Basting Glue HERE

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Comments

[pat sloan]

You are so welcome everyone!

[Ness Charlton]

Thank you for sharing this. I have often been a bit confused by the simplest things. This tute makes it very easy to see what I have to do. Hooray.

[Janet Ward]

Ack!! I don't know how long you've had this post up, but Thank you so much "Strawberry Red"!! I needed this... you do it different than su was taught, but yours is so much easier & better! Thanks thanks thanks!!! ❤️🍓♥️🍒

[pat sloan]

you are welcome!

[Bertie Martin]

Thanks pat,

I have those bias makers already but could get it to work. Thanks for the info. Now I'll try see if I can do it.
Bertie martin

[Mary ann]

Great tutorial and I love the glue hint. I will be trying that soon.

[Penny Maki]

I have 3 and use them all the time! Love it for making binding for my quilts!

[beth holness]

Thanks so much!
I've been struggling with my bias.... With Starch!!!!!
Beautiful curves here I come!!!!!

[FLOR CHAVARRIA]

THANKS PAT. LOVE THIS ONE.
I have 3 of those bias makers but never used them..........

[patricia heer]

Thanks for all you've done for usand for all your pearls of wisdom. I also love to use aurifil threads...they're great.

[Sue]

Thanks Pat - As a lefty, now I think I can do this...it has always seemed SEW backwards, but not now!

[Elizabeth]

I have this
tool and really needed the tutorial to get me to using it. Thank you!

[Györgyi Varga]

Thanks for great tutorial! I love your blog and free patterns as well!