How to Attach Double Fold Bias Tape
Double-fold bias tape is a useful seam binding with folded edges that create a finished edge to handmade items. Many people choose to use double-fold bias tape when finishing the edges of quilts and blankets as an easy and attractive way to finish these projects. Attaching double-fold bias tape to the unfinished edge of fabric is a simple process that even a novice can easily accomplish.
Things You'll Need
- Fabric with unfinished edge (for binding)
- Double-fold bias tape
- Scissors
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Matching thread
Instructions
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Place your fabric with the unfinished edge on a flat work surface with the right side facing up. Lay the double-fold bias tape along the fabric to estimate how much double-fold bias tape you will need to bind the edge of the fabric. If you are binding one straight edge of fabric, cut a length of bias tape that is several inches longer than the length of the fabric edge. If you are binding around an entire blanket or quilt, measure the entire perimeter and add approximately 2 inches and cut the bias tape to this length.
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2
Line the double-fold bias tape up along the edge of the fabric and unfold one long edge of the bias tape. Make sure the right side of the bias tape is facing down and the wrong side of the unfolded bias tape is facing up.
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3
Align the raw edge of the fabric with the raw edge of the unfolded bias tape, leaving at least ½ inch of excess bias tape at each end beyond the edge of the fabric. Pin the bias tape to the fabric along the entire length of fabric edge.
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4
Sew the bias tape to the fabric, stitching along the unfolded fold line of the bias tape. Continue sewing along the entire fabric edge.
If you are binding around a blanket or quilt, when your stitching comes back to the point where you began stitching, overlap the edges of the bias tape by 1/2 inch and then fold up the edge of the bias tape 1/4 inch. Stitch over this fold at the very end of the bias tape. This will create a folded end of the bias tape instead of a raw edge.
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5
Cut the excess bias tape if you are binding one edge of fabric. Cut each edge of the bias tape to ½-inch. Fold these ½-inch edges of bias tape to the inside (this will create finished edges of bias tape), and fold the entire length of bias tape up and over the raw edge of the fabric to the underside of the fabric. This will bind the raw edge of the fabric.
If you are binding around a blanket or a quilt, you have already overlapped and finished the raw edge of the bias tape. Simply fold the bias tape up and over the raw edge of the blanket or quilt to the back side to bind the raw edge.
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6
Turn the fabric over so the wrong side is facing up and pin the folded-over binding in place. Stitch along the folded edge of the binding with the wrong side of the fabric facing up to secure the binding around the fabric and hold it in place. This will completely bind the raw fabric edge with an attractive double-fold seam binding.
If you are sewing around a blanket or quilt, when you come around to where you started stitching, fold under the raw edge of the overlapped bias tape 1/4 inch to finish the raw edge on the under side of the blanket or quilt.
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