How to Cut and Sew Bias Strips

Be Crafty.
Technique Tutorial
How to Cut and Sew Bias Strips
What is a bias strip and why do you need to know? First things first – what is bias anyway?
Bias is the diagonal direction of fabric created when the lengthwise grain is folded to line up
with the crosswise grain. Whew. (Want to know more? See our tutorial “What is a Grainline?”
It has the 411 on how and why)
Why cut strips? Strips become other stuff! They can be joined to form one long strip, which
in turn can be folded to make binding or filled with cord to make piping or spaghetti straps.
It’s very cool! There are tools to help with making binding, spaghetti straps and
But first you have to cut it. It’s easy! Here’s how.
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Bias is
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To cut, you will need:
Your fabric
Cutting mat
Rotary cutter
Grid-marked ruler
To sew, you will need:
Bias strips cut to desired width
Sewing machine
Thread to match fabric
1. Find the bias by folding the fabric diagonally,
lining up the selvage with the crosswise grain.
This will form a triangle. The fold is the bias.
TIP
For smaller pieces of fabric, use the lines on your
cutting mat as a guide. No folding necessary. Line up
fabric edges to the crosswise and lengthwise grid
marks on the mat. Place your ruler along the 45
degree diagonal line and cut the fabric.
2. To cut: Lay the folded fabric on your cutting
mat. Place the grid-marked ruler over the fabric
so the edge of the ruler is parallel to the fold.
Use your rotary cutter to trim off the fold.
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TIP
To most accurately trim the fold, use your ruler to
measure and mark an equal distance along the fold.
(about 1/8”) Cut on this line.
© Prym Consumer USA
Be Crafty.
Technique Tutorial
How to Cut and Sew Bias Strips (continued)
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3. Turn your work so the ruler is only over the newly
cut edge of the fabric. Decide what width you need
for the bias strips – 1”, for example. Line up the
desired ruler line (1” line) with the cut bias edge.
Use your rotary cutter to cut the first strip at
the required width.
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Rulers can slip. To prevent accidents, press
down evenly with one hand while you use the
rotary cutter to cut with the other hand. You
can also use Invisigrip™ on the underside of
your ruler. Invisible, and grips – just like it sounds!
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First cut.
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4. Slide the ruler over so the same ruler line (1”)
lines up with this new cut edge. Use the rotary
cutter to cut this second parallel strip. Repeat,
cutting parallel strips of the same width until
you get as many strips as you need.
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Second cut.
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Repeat.
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© Prym Consumer USA
Be Crafty.
Technique Tutorial
How to Cut and Sew Bias Strips (continued)
TIP
Appearance of strips as they are
placed before stitching. They are
right side up.
5.
Offset 1/4” for the
seam allowance
6.
Pin pieces
right sides
together.
How many strips do you need? Add up all the
edges to be bound, or the total length of the bias
project. How many strips will your fabric piece make?
See our Bias Yardage Chart for a guide.
5. To create a long bias strip, pieces must be
joined together along the short diagonally cut ends.
To join strips along the diagonal edges, pin them
right sides together. Offset the short ends by
1/4”. When pressed flat, the finished strip will
then have a nice straight edge!
6. Stitch 1/4” from the short diagonal edges.
© Prym Consumer USA
Be Crafty.
Technique Tutorial
How to Cut and Sew Bias Strips (continued)
7.
7. Press seams to the side.
Seam is pressed to the side.
This seam
is pressed
open.
Note: While this is the most common practice,
if you are using heavy fabric you may wish to
press the seam open. This will create less bulk.
(This is important if you are making welting.)
It’s good to have options!
So what are you going to make first?
TIP
If you plan to make single or double fold
bias binding, use a Bias Tape Maker. See our
tutorial How to use a Bias Tape Maker for great
tips!
© Prym Consumer USA