How to Sew Bias Tape - Tutorial

So, it occurred to me…after receiving several emails from you lovelies…that maybe I should give you a run down of how to sew with bias tape after I posted the Double Oven Mitt Tutorial here.  This project uses quite a bit of bias tape and I didn’t even think that maybe some of you might not sew with it often or even ever to really know how to put it on.  

Sorry about that, my bad!
Here is a picture of what bias tape looks like…

You will usually find it near the zippers and quilt binding in most fabric stores.  It always comes pre-packaged like this and Wright’s is usually the brand you will see on the label.  

Bias tape comes in single fold and double fold as well as in a variety of widths.  I tend to use more of the double fold and I like extra wide for most of my projects although smaller widths tend to work better for children/baby clothing.  
For this tutorial I’m going to show you how to use the extra wide double fold as seen in the picture above!

 Click HERE to see the Tutorial for How to Sew Bias Tape Around Corners!!

Okay, so here is the bias tape out of the package.  If you look closely there is a crease down the middle and two folds on each side of it.  Yuppers, that is where the double fold name comes from!!

Now, if you look at your bias tape from the side you will see that one side is ever so slightly narrower than the other.  You see it there in the picture?  The side closest to us is just a teensy bit shorter than the farther side.

Okay, so what you are going to do is open your bias tape back up again and so that the narrower side is unfolded and laying against the raw edge on the right side of your fabric.  Check out the picture above for the details!  If you are new at this you may want to use lots of pins so that you get your bias tape to lay nice and smooth.  

If you are covering all edges in bias tape (like for a potholder or the Double Oven Mitt) you can lay one end of your bias tape anywhere before you start sewing it down.  I always choose the middle of a side verses a corner.  Since bias tape is basically fabric cut on the bias it shouldn’t really fray so you don’t really have to worry about the ends of it at all :-)

Now if you are just bias tape-ing one raw edge of a project you may want to fold in the ends (like the picture above) which will essentially tuck them under.  This will give your project a cleaner edge and therefore a more professional look once finished. 

Alright, so once you are all pinned up you are going to stitch down the fold crease.  

Just like so.  
See how I tucked in both my ends since I’m just bias tape-ing one side of this project?

And now you are going to fold the bias tape over the raw edge and back down the other side of your fabric.  Make sure that you have the bias tape folded under on the back (wrong) side!

Now just pin the bias tape in place, again pins will help you go faster and make it much easier to keep things lined up, although wanna know a little secret?  I don’t always use pins, most of the time I just wing it, yeah I’m a sewing rebel 😉  So, what’s the moral of this story?   Do what’s most comfy for you!

Then just sew very close to the edge of the bias tape on the right side of your fabric. I usually sew about 1/8 inch form the edge of my bias tape, basically I’m top stitching the bias tape on the right side of my fabric.  This way you will be sure to catch the back (wider side) of the bias tape every time!!  

Happy Project Making To You!!