Thursday, November 3, 2011

Double or nothing

Your comments on the 0.5" wide single-fold bias tape maker made me so happy, I just had to follow up with a 1" wide single-fold bias tape maker! The great thing about 1" single-fold bias tape is that it is but 1 fold away from being 0.5" wide double-fold bias tape, which is incredibly useful for binding and finishing edges.

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It works exactly like the 0.5" tape maker, I just widened the appropriate parts. It took some tweaking, but once I got it optimized it went together quickly since the instructions were essentially the same. Now I'm going to take the laziness a step further and recycle some blog content :) . The free pdf contains instructions for printing and assembling the tape maker. There is some careful cutting involved, but it goes together pretty quickly and can be used over and over again. And if you happen to smash/tear/burn it, simply print another.

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The contraption is optimized for folding 1.875" bias strips into 1" wide single fold tape. You can tweak the starting strip width a bit to get slightly wider or narrower tape.

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Here is how it works: The strip is fed into a "slide" that does the folding. The top notch and tabs keep the strip centered, and the "splitter" keeps the outer edges from curling or overlapping. The folded tape is pressed as soon as it comes out of the slide, and it goes under two more tabs to set the folds as they cool.
Now I'm hearing the How it's Made music in my head AGAIN!

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The result is 1" wide tape with folds that are a bit over 1/4" wide (just like purchased tape of this size).


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I played a bit with a single-fold to double-fold tape maker, but honestly, the easiest thing is to fold the 1" tape in half lengthwise and press to make 0.5" wide double-fold bias tape. You can make the folded edges flush, or leave a bit of an overhang for single step application (described by Angry Chicken in this video).


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Now that I have an easy, foolproof way to make double-fold bias tape, I'm going to have to knock out a bunch of Betsey Aprons for the holidays!

Download the free printable bias tape maker here.
See this post for more information about cutting bias strips.

48 comments:

  1. You are seriously awesome. THANK. YOU.

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  2. Thanks again! Now I won't have to figure out how to adjust your first pattern by myself! :)

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  3. This is wonderful. Thank you so much.

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  4. SQUEEEEE! Thank you. This is the size I use for most quilts.

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  5. What a neat gadget Carla. Binding is not something I enjoy making for my quilts, so cannot wait to give your way a try. I've featured this post on Craft Gossip here:
    http://quilting.craftgossip.com/?p=12820

    Warmly,
    Scarlett Burroughs
    Quilting Editor, Craft Gossip
    http://quilting.craftgossip.com/

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  6. Simply genius! Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Oh my gosh! Thank you so much! This is FANTASTIC!!! I am pinning it right now. :) I can't wait to show my mom!

    http://www.starsforstreetlights.com

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  8. This is brilliant! Thanks so much!

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  9. OH this is BRILLIANT! I am unable to get a bias tape maker in India and purchasing it from the US is nonviable due to shipping costs. This is just perfect
    Thanks

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  10. Wow, i wish i found your blog earlier! I just spend over 5 bucks buying a bias tape maker.but this is aweso,e. i can make other siZes for free! Tank you!

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  11. MY HERO!!! YAY for brillaint Scientists/crafters/mommies/bloggtastic folk who share their insights, crafts, and creations with the world. Many happy blessings to you!!!

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  12. This. Is. AWESOME! Making one tomorrow, yes I am!

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  13. This is fantastic. Thank you so much.

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  14. WOW!! Just wow! You rock - thank you...

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  15. I LOVE this. I actually wrote it up on my blog here: E.C.B. (Especially Creative Broad) I tried the metal bias tape makers too, and had just given up on being able to make bias tape easily. Thank you so much!!

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  16. Thank you so, so much for these bias tape makers!!!! I have only on a few occasions made my own, the "traditional way", because it just is so tedious. I was directed here from Craft Gossip, and my mind was absolutely blown away!

    The reason I finally took time to thank you (oops!) is that today I found a link to this from Craft Gossip: http://www.aestheticnest.com/2011/11/sewing-how-to-make-bias-tube-tape.html
    Ooh... combining the tube bias tape method with your bias tape maker... holy moly, I'm going to make bias tape!!!! (And I thought you might appreciate the scientific method in it, too... sure hit my little scientist in me :)

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  17. thank you so much for sharing this!

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  18. YAY! I am sooooo excited about this and can't wait to send my readers over! Thank-you SO much for sharing this!

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  19. this is just GREAT!!!
    I follow you!..

    meet my blog... glukobussino.blogspot.com!! and tell me your opinion!!

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  20. May we please now have one for 1/4" tape? My attempts have been so sad and pathetic...and I would like to choose my own for binding things.

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  21. hello it's fantastic
    I love this idea, thank you very much !!!

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  22. That's fantastic, thank you for such a great idea! I love the look of bias binding the compliments the main fabric.

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  23. I agree with Emily, YOU ARE SERIOUSLY AWESOME. I knew there was a reason I kept staring at bias tape makers at stores and shaking my head at the prices. This totally makes my week. Thanks!

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  24. Genial!
    Thank you.

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  25. I used a heavy card stock. It seemed to hold the cut areas better. I used a "exacto-knife". Hope this helps.

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  26. I just stumbled across this and may I say. "THANK YOU!!!!" You just cut down my bias tape time by soooo much!

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  27. thank you so much, very help nice

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  28. Merci beaucoup pour ce partage, c'est génial!

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  29. Fantastic, was thinking of buying a tape maker now I don't have to! this is genius you should patent this idea!

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  30. I tried it today, and I'm hooked. How very innovative. Thank you so much

    http://instagram.com/p/c6xOEYRE1k/

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  31. Thank you! I have successfully used the .5 in bias tape maker and was going to try and make my own for a 1 in. But low and behold...here it is! Thank you!

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  32. Well, that's funny! I found your .5 inch bias tape maker and needed 1" so I made my own using the .5" as a template. And then today I come back to comment and I notice this one. Woot! Actually I'm glad I made my own since I recycled a cereal box to do so. I just measured out the channels with a ruler and pencil, and it looks similar to yours (but a little smaller). Thanks again for the great idea!

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  33. I found this website through Pinterest and would love to say a big Thank You! I used this to make my very own bias tape and love it!

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  34. Oh, thank you for taking the time to put this together-and to offer it for free. You're too kind. I'm going to love making my own bias tape. Have a wonderful day!

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  35. Thanks so very much for this genius tutorial :D Greetings from Germany!!

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  36. I can't tell you how many hours I have SLAVED over a hot iron making my own bias tapes - THIS is the BOMB!! I made yards and yards of bias tape in minutes!! Thank you for all your ingenuity, the time you took to make this and the willingness to share it! Thank you a million times! (Now I have to invest in a rolling cutter!)
    Have a fantastic day!

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  37. Merci pour votre "faiseur de biais", je viens de le faire dans du papier cartonné et avec du tissus coupé dans la largeur. Ca fonctionne aussi.
    Je vais le refaire avec du carton plus épais et avec du tissus coupé dans le biais.
    Je vais même le montrer à mes amies du club de couture (Hagondange - France).

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  38. If you laminate the paper beforehand it can be used over and over again.
    or even use the thin plastic stuff you get on the front of notepads etc

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  39. This is genius...thank you. I just learned to make bias tape 2 weeks ago.

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  40. You are a lifesaver, I have been wondering how to make my custom bias tape and you have solved my dilemma. Thank you so much.

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  41. This is amazing. I made one last night and it works perfect! Thank you!!

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