Adding bias tape to any garment can quickly transform the look of the design. You can add it to a neckline hem, elastic casings, use to the make adjustable straps and more! Solid color single and double fold bias tape are available at your local craft store, but you are limited to solid colors that may not match. To solve this problem, I make bias tape from fabric I already own!

What is the Bias on Fabric?

The bias of your fabric is the 45-degree angle from one of the manufactured edges of your fabric, also known as the salvaged edge. The bias also has more stretch than the salvaged fabric edge. The added stretch of the bias makes for a perfect finish around curved edges since the material will lay flat as you sew it around curved edges.

What is Single Fold Bias Tape

Single fold bias tape has only been folded over once as shown in the picture above and can be used as a hem for necklines or skirts or as a decorative element or trim.

What is Double Fold Bias Tape

Double fold bias tape is single fold bias tape but folded over one more time. I love using double fold bias tape and use it more often than single fold tape.

How to Make Bias Tape

What You’ll Need

• Fabric quarter or a square of fabric you’re using for your pattern. I’ve found that a 20 x 20-inch square makes 4.5- 5 yards of one-inch single fold or 1/2 inch double fold bias tape
• Matching tread
• Bias tape maker
• Scissors
• Rotary Cutter (Optional)
• Cutting Mat (Optional)

Steps to Making Single and Double Fold Bias Tape

Place your fabric on a cutting board with the salvage end facing you. Fold the material in half, or on the bias, to make a square. One way to know if you’ve done this correctly is to stretch your material to see if it stretches more than the salvaged edge. Once your fabric is cut in half, trim the excess fabric to make a square.

Next, rotate your fabric so the bias edge is facing you and get ready to cut your fabric strips along the bias.

Before you begin to cut your fabric, calculate the size of bias tape you’d like to make. If you’re making single fold bias tape, multiply the size of your bias tape by two. For example, if you want to make one-inch bias tape, you’ll cut out your fabric into two-inch strips. When making double fold bias tape, multiply your width by four. For example, to make one inch double fold bias tape, you’ll need to cut out four-inch strips OR if you fold your one-inch single fold bias tape in half, you’ll have 1/2 inch double-fold bias tape.

To join the strips of fabric together, pin and sew your fabric as shown in the image below. Sewing your fabric together this way will allow your seam to lay flat when you create your bias tape.

Trim the excess on your seams and iron them open.

Next, pull your fabric through your bias tape maker and iron the folds in place as you go. Just like that, you’ve created single fold bias tape!

To make double fold bias tape, fold your single fold bias tape in half and press with an iron.

Now your tape is ready to be attached to your next project! What are you planning on making? Let me know in the comments below.