How to Cut Fabric for Bias Quilt Binding

Bias binding is a popular choice for quilts because it stretches smoothly around corners and protects the quilt's edges from wear and tear. Although pre-made bias binding is widely available in many colors, quilt makers often prefer to cut their own from fabric. This means you can use any fabric of your choice and perfectly match or complement your quilt top. It is very simple to cut bias strips from fabric; essentially you just need to cut strips of equal width across the diagonal grain line.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 100 percent cotton fabric square
• Scissors or rotary cutter
• Ruler
• Tailor's chalk or fabric marker
• Iron

Cutting Bias Strips

1. Pre-wash and dry the fabric square, then press it well with your iron.

2. Fold the square in half across its center diagonally so that the selvage meets the straight grain at the edges. Press along the diagonal fold.

3. Draw lines on the fabric parallel to the diagonal fold with tailor's chalk and a ruler. The width of bias strips for quilting are usually 2 to 3 inches wide but can be wider or narrower if you prefer. The important thing is that the lines are equally spaced to make strips of equal widths.

4. Cut along the parallel lines through both layers of fabric, using sharp scissors or a rotary cutter. You also need to cut along the diagonal fold.

5. Join the strips together. To do this, match the ends of two bias strips along the straight grain with the right sides together. At this point the two strips will sit at right angles to each other.

6. Sew along the straight gain edge and press the seam flat so that the two strips form one long joined strip. Trim the little triangular corners that stick out at the sides of the joint. Join additional strips in the same manner until you have enough binding to go around the entire perimeter of your quilt.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you cut the square of fabric along the grain--examine the warp and weft threads to make sure they are perfectly perpendicular. Take the time to press, measure, mark and cut the strips carefully for the best results.

References

• "The Encyclopedia of Needlecrafts"; Lucinda Ganderton & Dorothy Wood; 1998
• "Quick and Easy Scrap Quilts"; Patricia Wilens; 2001