About

• Bias tape is a strip of fabric used as a sewing aide. This strip of fabric is cut on a bias, across the grain of the piece of the fabric at a 45 degree angle. This style of cutting makes the strip stretchier and allows it to be more easily draped than other fabric cuts. These strips are then sewed together to create bias tape. The tape is generally cut between 1/2-inch to 3-inches in width. Bias tape can be made at home by purchasing a commercially manufactured bias tape makers. Fabric strips cut at a 45 degree angle are threaded through the bias tape maker which folds it evenly to create the tape. Additionally, commercially manufactured bias tape can be purchased in many different color and widths.
  
  

Uses

• Because of the pliability of fabric cut on the bias, bias tape is commonly used to finish curved edges of various types of fabric projects, including clothing, bags and crafts, without adding the bulk of facing. For instance, bias tape can be used to finish the curved arm and neck holes of shirts and dresses instead of facing or can also be used as a casual tie for loosely joining two pieces of fabric together. Additionally, bias tape can be attached to bags to form straps. In crafts, bias tape is commonly used to finish the edges of quilts and place mats. Bias tape can also be used for piping and binding seams.
  
  

Single-fold

• The single-fold type of bias tape is a strip of fabric that has been cut on the bias, with each raw edge folded inwards so that the wrong sides are facing each other. The bias tape is then pressed to keep the folds in place. Single-fold bias tape is used to finish unfinished seams without adding bulk, particularly at the arm and neck lines. This tape is used by stitching it to the fabric with the right sides together. It is then turned to the inside of the garment and stitched in place, which prevents the bias tape from being seen on the right side of the garment.
  
  

Double-fold

• Double-fold bias tape is a single-fold bias tape that has been folded in half and pressed together, so the unfinished edges of the tape are pressed inside the center. Double-fold bias tape is sewn in such a way that it is visible on the right side of the garment, so this type of tape is commonly used toencase raw edges when the visibility of the tape on the right side of the garment is not an issue. Because of this, double-fold bias tape should be selected in a similar color to the color of the garment fabric.