 Creating a beautiful bias tape for a quilt takes some effort but yields stunning results. I always find it particularly lovely to do this with mitered corners, as shown on the quilt here. |
 Make the bias tape from strips of fabric cut across the full width of the fabric. This can be done straight, which saves a lot of fabric. Sometimes it may be better to cut the bias tape diagonally, especially if you need to make rounded corners with the tape. We are not making rounded corners but mitered corners. The method described here for attaching the bias tape uses more fabric, but the advantage is that you can attach it beautifully to the quilt.The strips that are sewn together are cut to 4 times the width of the bias tape plus 1/2 inch when working in inches. So, if the bias tape needs to be 1.5 inches wide, the strips are cut to 6.5 inches wide. If you want a 1-inch bias tape, cut the strips to 4.5 inches wide. The 0.5 inch is for the seam. We work with folded fabric and attach the bias tape to the top with a 1/4 inch seam. |
 The total length you need is 2 times the length and width of the top, plus 8 times the width of the bias tape, and a few extra centimeters for convenience. If your top is 150 cm by 180 cm and you want a 1-inch bias tape, you need a total length of 660 cm plus 8 inches and a bit extra. For simplicity, we calculate 2.5 cm as 1 inch. This is allowed because we are already taking a bit extra. Actually, an inch is slightly larger. When converting large lengths, it’s better to use a calculator and use 2.56 cm for 1 inch. After calculating, round this to the nearest mm.In our example, we need approximately 680 cm and a bit, so about 7 meters of bias tape. Cut enough strips of the calculated width and sew them together until you have at least this length. Sew the strips together and press them neatly in half. |
 You should have already quilted the top, batting, and backing. The backing and batting should extend about the width of the bias tape minus 1/4 inch beyond the top.Start attaching the bias tape somewhere in the middle of one of the sides of your quilt. Place the bias tape on top of the top, with the raw edge aligned with the edge of your top. You should have 3 raw edges of fabric on top of each other: once for the top and twice for the bias tape. You can see what I mean in the photo above. Do not start at the very beginning of the bias tape but leave about 20 cm hanging loose. You need to join the beginning and end of the bias tape at the end, and this would not be possible otherwise. In the photo next to this, you can see what it looks like when the bias tape is attached. Ensure you sew 1/4 inch from the edges of the fabric. You can use a 1/4 inch quilt foot for this. From the stitching to the edge of the batting and backing, you should now measure the width of the bias tape. |
 Sew the bias tape neatly until you almost reach the corner. In the image next to this, sew until approximately the black dot near the arrow. This is 1/4 inch from the corner, measured from the bottom and side. Secure the thread here. |
 You cannot see this point well while sewing because the bias tape lies over it. It can be useful to use a pin to indicate the end of the top or the point where you need to stop. |
 Now comes a tricky part. Fold the bias tape as shown in the photo next to this. The bias tape makes a right angle. If you look closely, you will see that the bias tape, after the mitered seam, aligns with the edge of the top again. If you have stitched exactly far enough, the stitching will be exactly under the mitered seam, 1/4 inch from the bottom. |
 Now fold the bias tape back again. On the right side, the fold is 1/4 inch from the edge. In the image next to this, this is distance D. For checking, here are a few measurements indicated. You see the following distances:
If you look closely, you can also see the mitered seam where the bias tape is folded under the fabric. Turn your quilt a quarter turn counterclockwise and try to get the needle exactly back into that mitered seam, again neatly 1/4 inch from the edge. Continue stitching here. |
 Here you see again how you fold the bias tape. The fold is not flush with the edge of the batting and backing of your quilt but stays 1/4 inch away from here. |
 Continue stitching neatly with a 1/4 inch seam as shown in the photo next to this. You also see the point indicated where you start sewing again. Make sure you do not start too early. A black line indicates approximately where the mitered fold in the bias tape is. The dashed line shows where you need to stitch. |
 Here you see how the bias tape is neatly stitched further. You can also clearly see the foot I use. This is a 1/4 inch or a quilt foot. The side of the foot is exactly 1/4 inch wide. So, if I let the edge of the fabric align with the side of the foot, I automatically have a 1/4 cm seam. |
 Attach the bias tape to the quilt in the same way as described here. Since you keep turning the quilt a quarter turn counterclockwise, the trick for the corners is the same everywhere. About 20 cm before you reach the beginning again, stop and secure the bias tape. Now cut both ends so that you have just enough length left to sew them together with a 1/4 inch seam.Join the beginning and end of the bias tape. Check if you have the length correct. If everything is correct, you can also secure the last piece of the bias tape. Now that the bias tape is completely secured, you can fold the bias tape over the batting and the backing fabric. The bias tape comes exactly to the seam that attached the bias tape to the front. Pin the bias tape all around. |
 Now that the bias tape is completely secured, you can fold the bias tape over the batting and the backing fabric. The bias tape comes exactly to the seam that attached the bias tape to the front. Pin the bias tape all around.In the corners, fold the fabric neatly inward as shown in the photo next to this. Secure the entire bias tape with small stitches by hand. Make sure the stitch that attached the bias tape is not visible. If you attach a label to the back, it is nice to secure it while attaching the border as well. |
 If you attach a label to the back, it is nice to secure it while attaching the border as well. You can see this in the photo next to this. The left and bottom sides of the label are secured to the fabric before the bias tape is attached. |
 With this method of attaching the bias tape, no seam is visible on the front. With wide bias tapes, you can also secure the mitered seam in the corners with a few small stitches. |
 Here you see another quilt where the bias tape was attached using this method. It takes some time, but the result is worth it. |