How to Make BIAS TAPE (Bias Binding) The Best Way

Learning how to make bias tape allows you to create custom binding in any fabric, color, or print for sewing projects, garments, quilts, and home decor. Bias tape is made from fabric strips cut diagonally across the fabric grain, allowing the tape to stretch smoothly around curves and edges. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to cut bias strips, join them together, and press them into single-fold or double-fold bias tape with or without special tools.

How to Make Bias Tape (Step by Step)

If you learn how to make bias tape (bias binding) it can save you a lot of money and the possibilities for using beautiful fabrics are limitless. Bias tape is simply a long strip of fabric that has been cut on the diagonal therefore making it stretchy.  It is used to encase raw edges and can be used decoratively on projects such as quilts or clutches or it can be used to bind armholes or necklines. This tutorial will show you how to make bias tape with or without special tools.

Read the full guide explaining what bias tape is and how it is used.

This tutorial will show you how to make bias tape strips and how to press them into single or double fold bias to use for your sewing projects.

Supplies

What you will need:

• FABRIC – Your fabric should be lightweight and tightly woven. I normally find that cotton fabrics with small prints work the best. A larger piece of fabric will result in fewer joins in your fabric. I recommend you start with fat quarters or a piece of fabric that is at least 1/2 yard (0.45m).
• CUTTING TOOLS – Scissors or a rotary cutter
• SEWING TOOLS – Ruler, iron and general sewing supplies
• OPTIONAL – Bias tape maker – They come in assorted sizes such as 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1 inch and 2inch widths. Here I have used a 1/2 inch (12mm) maker. Common brands include Clover, Birch and Dritz. Don’t worry if you can’t get one as I will show you how to make bias tape without any special tools as well.

1. Find and Mark the Bias

First, find the bias grainline of the fabric. This is just the stretchiest part of your fabric and is a 45-degree angle from the selvage. Find the angle easily by folding over the edge of your fabric to form a triangle. If you cut along this diagonal line, it will be 45 degrees – no maths involved! Cut the excess fabric on the side. You will now have a perfect square. Press the 45 degree angle to make the next step easier.

2. Cut the Bias Strips

You will now need to cut strips at this 45-degree angle. Use a rotary cutter and cutting mat or scissors for this. A quilting ruler makes this easier to measure.

The width will depend on whether you are making a single-fold or double-fold bias. For single-fold bias strips, cut bias strips twice the finished size. For double-fold bias strips, cut and quadruple the finished size.

• 1/2 inch Single fold – cut 1 inch
• 1/2 inch Double fold – cut 2 inches

If you are using a bias maker, cut strips double the width of your bias maker. Here is a chart with the cutting measurements for bias tape

3. Join the Bias Strips

1. Take 2 strips that have ends pointing in the same direction.
2. Put the right sides together and stitch your pieces together like this.
3. Use a small stitch and backstitch the ends. Your seam allowance will be around 1/4 inch (6mm). 

See how each end overhangs a bit, and the stitching line goes from edge to edge. The 2 pieces of tape will form a 90-degree angle. Repeat until all the strips are joined together to form a continuous strip of bias tape.

4. Press Open and Trim Seams

Press the seams open and trim the sticking pieces over the edges.

We have lovely bias strips and are ready to turn them into bias tape with or without our bias maker.

About the 2 Types of Bias Tape

There are 2 types of bias binding tape:  single fold or double fold. (Read types of bias tape). This tutorial will show you how to make bias tape to create these 2 types.

1. Single fold bias is used on the edges of clothing, such as necklines and underarms. It is flat, with the raw edges facing each other in the middle. (Read how to sew single fold bias)
2. Double fold bias tape is a simple single fold bias that has been folded again so that all the edges are encased. It is can be used for quilts and decorative purposes or to bind armholes and necklines.  It is probably the most commonly used tape.  (Read how to sew double fold bias)

How to Make Bias Tape with Tools

Once you have all your pieces joined, you can make them into tape using your bias maker. These are readily available either individually or in kits from fabric stores, quilting stores, and Amazon. Read more about how to use a bias maker.

How to Make Bias Tape with No Tools

A bias maker is a great tool to have, but don’t worry if you can’t get one. It is just as easy to use this traditional method. Just watch your fingers as the steam from the iron can be a little hot.

Can you make bias tape without a bias tape maker? Yes, you can! It is just as easy and sometimes quicker for small amounts.

1. Press the bias strips in half with the wrong sides together to form a crease.
2. Open up the bias and then press the edges in to meet in the middle crease. You now have single-fold bias!

An alternate way to make bias tape with no tools is to use pins or needles.

Take a long needle and stick it in and then out of your ironing board cover. Now measure a gap the width of the tape you need to make and stick it back in the ironing board and out again.

• SINGLE FOLD – For 1/2 inch (12mm) single-fold bias, the gap should be 1/2 inch (12mm). If you are making 1 inch (2.5cm) single fold bias then the gap should be 1 inch
• DOUBLE FOLD – For double fold, the gap should be double the final width. For example, to make 1/2 inch (12mm) double-fold bias this gap should be 1 inch (2.5cm).

Repeat for the second needle 1 inch (2.5cm) directly under the first one.

Fold your fabric edges to meet in the center and then pull the end under the pins. You can use your ruler to make sure that the edges meet in the center.

Pull the fabric through the needles and start ironing. Check every now and again that the edges are still meeting in the middle and that the width is still correct. Keep ironing the whole strip and you are finished!

How to Make Double Fold Bias Tape

Here is how to make double fold basis tape.

1. Make strips the same way as the single fold instructions with one important difference.
2. Cut the strips 4 times the width of the bias tape maker. For a 1/2 inch (12mm) bias maker, cut the strips 2 inches wide.
3. Once you have single fold bias tape, fold the tape in half so one side is just wider than the other. It should be around 1/16 inch (1.5mm) difference.

How to Make Bias Tape FAQs

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How to Make Bias Tape – In Conclusion

Learning how to make bias tape allows you to create custom sewing trims in any fabric, print, or color for garments, quilts, and home decor projects. Homemade bias tape is flexible, affordable, and ideal for curved edges, seams, and decorative finishes.

With practice, cutting and pressing bias tape becomes a quick useful sewing skill that can greatly improve the finish of your sewing projects.

• How to Sew Bias Tape
• Sew Double Fold Bias
• Square Corners Bias Tape
• Types of Bias Tape
• Bias Bound Seam
• Hong Kong Finish
• V Neck with Bias Tape

And there you have it—beautiful, colorful bias tape. To store it neatly, wrap it around a rectangle of cardboard.