Quilting Tips
Bias Minder
When
traveling to your quilt guild, sewing group, a class, or
just about anywhere that requires you to take along bias
tape, you may experience your freshly made tape becoming
wrinkled. I have found a handy solution to that problem.
While at the local hardware store with my husband, I always
peruse the aisles to see how I can adapt a "hardware
thing" into my quilting life. When I discovered PVC
pipe and caps to fit the end, you would have thought I had
won the lottery.
Materials Needed
- 2" Plastic PVC pipe cut to any length suitable
for you needs. Mine is 13" long. Many times someone
at the hardware store will cut it to any length you ask
for.
- Plastic PVC cap ends
- Sandpaper, to lightly sand the rough edges of the pipe.
- Pretty contact paper, if you would like to cover the
end caps and pipe.
Inside the tube, you can store your bias-tape makers, celtic
press bars, pins, rolled fabric, small scissors, and tape.
When you make bias tape simply wrap it around the tube and
pin the end to keep it wrinkle free, and it travels very
nicely.
Just a Few Applique Hints that Have Helped Me
- When sitting in the evening and sewing, I like to have
on my lap, either a pillow or one of those writing trays
that have a bean bag adhered to the underside. It is better
than balancing everything on your lap!
- A nice tip from Doreen Speckman on a "Math-magical"
formula for bias binding strips:
1. Measure the number of
inches around the edge of the quilt.
2. Multiply that number
by the width you wish to cut the binding strips.
3. Calculate the square
root of this number by pushing the square root key on
your calculator. This number tells you what size fabric
square will give you bias strips in the width you want.
4. Add 2 or 3 inches to
this number to make up for the seam allowances. Then cut
the square of fabric this size from which you can prepare
the bias binding strips for the quilt or project!
- Fabric Calculator - Let this little machine do
the work for you, just click here.
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