Continuous Bias Tutorial
Nancy's Fabrics 218 West Edgar Avenue Ronceverte, WV 24970 (304).645.0010 (888).870.2252 www.nancysfabrics.com info@nancysfabrics.com Tutorials linkedin profile Facebook Twitter Google Plus The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1
CONTINUOUS BIAS BINDING When I first began sewing many centuries ago, all the binding that I used was always cut on the bias. In those days the binding would have been for sleeves or necklines and almost always on a curve. For quilt binding I use straight cut folded binding most of the time because most of my quilts have straight edges. Some quilters prefer to use bias binding and that's a matter of personal choice. If you do prefer bias binding, there is a way of cutting a continuous length which saves enormous amounts of time. I began with a 21" by 10" rectangle of fabric although you can use any size, and I ended up with a length of about 70" of 2" bias binding. Line up the 45 degree line on your ruler with the bottom edge of the fabric and draw a line from the bottom left corner of the fabric up to the top edge. Move the ruler along 2" and draw another line. Continue until your line reaches the top right corner of the fabric. Cut off the excess triangles to either side of your lines. Fold the remaining piece of fabric in half from top to bottom with right sides together. Line up the first line of one edge with the second line of the other edge. Pin across the seam and sew a 1/4" seam. You'll end up with a tube of fabric with a diagonal seam joining the two fabric edges. I know this doesn't sound totally clear, but the video can explain it more clearly than photos can. You should have a flap of fabric at either end of the seam. Begin cutting along the line at one of these flaps and cut along the line. You'll find that because the lines were matched up you will be able to keep cutting round and round the tube of fabric and you will end up with a continuous length of binding. It's not strictly continuous because there are seams, but these were made with just one seam at the beginning rather than lots of fiddly small seams. I think it's a great way of making binding if you do need to have it cut on the bias.
Robert, owner Nancy's Fabrics Man who Quilts!!!