How to Cut on the Bias Using Plaid Fabric

When using plaid fabric a cut on a bias will make the plaid look like diagonal lines. Cutting on a bias refers to the direction of the fabric grain and a cut along the bias allows for curved edges in a garment to lay smoothly. Understanding how the direction of the grain affects the way clothes lay on the body is the first step to designing comfortable and functional clothing.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Pattern
• Pins

Instructions

1. Lay the fabric right side up on your work surface. When the plaid pattern is straight up and down the fibers in the fabric should be running north and south, east and west. The fibers running north and south are the straight grain and the fibers running east and west are the cross grain.

2. 

   Lay the pattern pieces at a 45-degree angle against the straight grain of the fabric. Pin the pattern to the fabric with the pins lying perpendicular to the edge of the pattern, make sure the pins do not overlap the pattern piece onto the fabric.

3. Cut the fabric with scissors at a 45-degree angle from the straight grain. This will mean the fibers are now running north-east and south-west on the cut pattern piece. Since the pins are not overlapping the edge they pins should stay in place while cutting.

Resources

• Bias 101- Threads Magazine