Absolute genius. 220″ of bias x 3″ wide = 660 / 42″ wide fabric = 15.72″ / 36 = 0.436 yards Cut off the selvedges of your fabric as well. The bias grain of a piece of woven fabric, usually referred to simply as "the bias", is any grain that falls between the straight and cross grains.When the grain is at 45 degrees to its warp and weft threads it is referred to as "true bias." I haven’t made it this way yet, but plan on practicing on some muslin to get the technique before using an important piece of fabric. Cut bias strips. Thank you!!! Londa demonstrates how to fold fabric to cut the longest possible bias strips of any width. Very often I see DIYers finding thrift store furniture that came with welt cord, and reupholstering it without the welt cord. Very helpful!! Third line on bottom to fourth line on top. You can cut straight strips of fabric for your piping, but today we’re going to show you how to cut on the bias. Or, do I need to use multiple 1/2-yd. Laura, sewing individual bias ends together is easy when you sew them in a chain, without stopping to cut thread and snip the thread after. Brenda. Again this can be done two different ways. Steps. I had read about this before but your pictures and explanation made it very easy to grassp. This is going to be such a timesaver. Thank you! Kristi, Take one corner of the fabric and fold it diagonally to meet the opposite corner. On the right is the piping I made from the same fabric, but cut on the grain. delete my comment above. I hope this helps! DIY: Sewing the Pipings. 2. *Bias is fabric that is cut on the diagonal. I’m assuming that if 1/2 yd makes 280 inches, one yd of fabric makes double that? The strips have angled ends that make it … Thanks I recently made some strips for edging on pillows and had trouble with having a wavy or rippled bias when I sewed it closely over cording. I am planning to recover a dozen dining room chairs and reupholster an old rocker. What am I doing wrong. Continue marking the strips until you reach the top right corner on the other end of the fabric. When you are finished you will have one long piece of perfect bias strips. It was easier this way to cut the fabric. (The zipper foot isn’t necessary at this point. The bias is a 45-degree angle through the warp and weft threads of a fabric. How to Cut Bias Strips for Piping or Banding When using 54" wide fabric, allow 54” for the length so you can start with a 54" x 54" square. So reach your hand through the middle and turn the fabric right side out, like this. It was only in the last few years that I realized most pros call it “welt”. I have used this method before and it is wonderful. Thank you! Thank you! Kristi, I ultimately decided to forego the piping – but I had to comment because this was one of the best, most clearly written and photographed tutorials I’ve ever seen. Bias binding can seem like it takes a LOT of fabric to make (this is not entirely true. (I REALLY did not want to have to piece together a bunch of strips!) it doesnt matter which side you draw the lines. Cutting along the bias takes a little more time, but generally looks nicer and bends around corners better. Cut 36" Fabric: Bias 36" Fabric: Straight 46" Fabric: Bias 46" Fabric: Straight 54" Fabric: Bias 54" Fabric: Straight; 1-1/4" wide: 19 yards: 23 yards: 25 yards: 31 yards: 28 yards: 35 yards She had a name for this method, but I can’t remember exactly what it was, something like fascia?? Didn’t expect to find such helpful advice with my first click! To make the welt cord, find the end of the bias strip, and sandwich the cord into the strip. I can’t wait to try it now! Such a time saver! Thank you for all the tips and projects. Next take a t-square or yardstick and using pencil or pen mark the cutting lines. Thanks. Kristi, Wow! I made over 9 yards of bias tape using a half yard of fabric, so the yield is pretty good! So very easy – just follow your wonderfully detailed instructions. But, this works like a charm. I'm a DIY fanatic remodeling my way through our 1948 fixer upper.More About Kristi. Kristi, thanks so much for this tutorial. I think welt might be the technical term, since I’m pretty sure it’s a play on “warp and weft”, because you need both to get welt. But I’m telling you, it’s not as bad as you think. More on that later). Yes, it’s on the right side of the fabric. Now you need fold the strip in half and press it with steam iron. I hope that I will have them made by the end of this weekend. I just subscribed to your blog and can’t wait for more tips. Thanks! Thanks a million! I thought I was going to have to cut bias strips and sew them together. This chart only displays approximations for the most common piping diameter, 5/32”. I used this particular welt cord on my dining chair makeover. It comes in cotton and other materials. Diane, I’ve sewn since I was in high school, and I only recently learned this technique. It’s pretty consistent in width, and is very economical. I’m going to give this a try. There’s a chair waiting in my basement right now. Cutting the Bias Binding Strips 1 Cut off the end of the rectangle. I really didn’t want to make my own for the reasons you mentioned your idea looks great. When I try to pin so that the lines match up at 5/8 inch, the edges are no where near to being even and it is therefore impossible to sew a seam. I cut a rectangle that was 24″ x 18″ to start with. This is great!!! Reply. I was inquiring about continuous bias with 1 yard instead of a 1/2 yard and that I’m having difficulty with it. THANK YOU! Can you please verify that when you are marking your strips, you mark them on the RIGHT side of the fabric? (There's a little hand-sewing step left to finish where the beginning and ending of the piping meet at the back). Open the fabric up so that it’s just a single layer with the selvages on the sides, and the cut edges on top and bottom. Christi- This is a great, very clear tutorial! If your fabric is 45" wide, then allow for 45" length. If your fabric is 45" wide, then allow for 45" length. Applying piping to a rounded seam. Sew the seam diagonally when joining two strips to make one, so that it has the same give as the rest of the fabric in the piping. Thanks again Kristi , […] that fabric, but I found a similar one, and this one even had the dark navy blue that I used on the welt cord on my dining chairs. This is the coolest sewing tip I think I have ever seen! Perfect! Yes – this can be confusing, but it is SO WORTH forging on and figuring it out. Now you can start attach the piping to the edge of fabric using a sewing machine. Thank you. The chart displays how many yards of 5/32” piping 1 yard of fabric will create in both bias and straight cuts. Crease the fold with your iron. Keep marking the lines until you have enough strips for your project. I have tried this, thanks to your tutorial, and came out with a length of bias tape that goes on for days! Then, fold your strip of fabric in half, sandwiching the cording right down the middle, then pin it in place. The fabric for piping should be cut on a bias, or a diagonal, so the piping can stretch slightly as it is sewn into the pillow seam, especially around the corners. "Fabric grain" is the direction in which the woven threads run. It's a tad tedious, taping the piping ends together, pressing the end of one fabric piece under and lapping it over the other end by hand. Kristi – could you make a video of this? Can’t wait to give it a shot on an ottoman I’ve been trying to sell because reupholstering it properly was not an appealing option. . LOVE that ! This tutorial shows you how to make piping using your own fabric cut on the bias. I've worked with lots of vinyl and bias cutting has never helped or hurt one way or the other. Cut as many strips as your project requires, parallel with the 45 degree crease you made. When you make your piping, cut the fabric on the bias. But, it is better for using less fabric, as well as getting longer strips. Cutting and sewing "on the bias" means the fabric is cut against the natural grain. It has a box cushion and welt cording, and I have been simply scared of it. for both Bias Cut and Straight Cut Binding. How to attach the piping to fabric. On the left is the piping I made from bias cut fabric. It is generally used around edges of blankets, hot pads, neck lines, and so many more projects. thanks. This is the most incredible tutorial! I seem to remember that there is a way to either fold the fabric or to cut in a circular pattern that gives the benefit of saving fabric and cutting the fabric on the bias. If I am going to go to the trouble of making a slipcover, I always make welting too, it really sets the piece off, but I dread it. . Debbie Colgrove Join the Bias Strips . Cut the strips a little wider than you would for fabric, fold over the piping … Thank you so much!! I will be using it to redo my dining chair covers. Once again, you have made something in my life so much easier! Perfect! Use a gentle cycle on your washing machine, and cold water. This worked perfectly with a canvas fabric for a slipcover….my first one, and this made the whole process so easy. I just wanted to let you know that I love your tutorial. When you fold the selvage (finished edge) of the fabric at a 90 degree angle. Such as 4.5 yards? If you don’t want to insert the cord, or prefer the look of flat piping, you can simply press this bias tape in half and use it … I’ve only ever cut bias for welt cord. Also, since the threads in the fabric are woven together, it has a tendency to not ravel. Does anyone have any idea on what I’m doing wrong? Take the second layer and join it to the third layer crisscrossing and aligning the ends as shown. Very good question ~ I’m glad you asked. I had watched a youtube video by an upholsterer, and he said most in the profession use a 60″ bias, which I misunderstood as 60 degrees! (I always keep a bit of cording poking out the end, just so that it doesn’t slip inside.) If you have cut your binding from a square of fabric, selvedge to selvedge for example, you'll see that the ends of your strips are trapezoid shaped. Grain binding is a giant improvement if 1/2 yd makes 280 inches, one slanting to the machine to basting! Continually shorter in length can ’ t wait to get up the border and. Can be confusing, but it is an old post but thank you so much for sharing need to them. Fanatic remodeling my way through our 1948 fixer upper.More about kristi at local! About 1/2 to 1 yard of fabric that is cut at a 45-degree angle the! 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