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5 tips for making fusible bias tape with tools from Heirloom and HeatnBond

by Paul Leger

Yesterday we selected, prepared and fused our fabrics onto our stained glass quilt with HEATNBOND® Lite Iron-On Adhesive Sheets.

Today with the help of an HEIRLOOM Bias Tape Maker – 6mm (¼”) and HEATNBOND® Quilter’s Edge Iron-On Adhesive Tape – 6mm x 13.7m we’ll make some bias tape that will give our project an authentic stained glass look.

Heirloom bias tape maker and HeatnBond quilter's edge iron-on adhesive tape that will be used to make adhesive bias tape for the stained glass wallhanging.

HEIRLOOM Bias Tape Maker and HEATNBOND® Quilter’s Edge Iron-On Adhesive Tape

From the shortest side of the black fabric cut six strips that are each ⅝” wide. Then, from the remaining fabric, cut three strips on 45angle that are also ⅝” wide.

A rectangle of black fabric showing ⅝” strips cut on the diagonal and on the straight of grain.

Cutting instructions for black fabric strips

Sew the two diagonal strips together at a 45o angle. Trim the seam down to ⅛” and press open. Before inserting the strip of fabric into the bias tape maker, cut one end of the strip at a 45angle.

TIP Insert the black fabric into the Heirloom Bias Tape maker using a pin to help guide the fabric through.

A pin is used to help guide a strip of black fabric through the Heirloom bias tape maker.

Using a pin to guide the black fabric through the bias tape maker.

TIP Once the black fabric strip is through the end of the bias tape maker, I secure the end of the fabric to the ironing board with a pin. This keeps the fabric from shifting and help it slide through the bias tape maker as it moves along the fabric strip.

The fabric is secured to the ironing board with a pin to prevent slippage when making the bias tape with the Heirloom Bias Tape Maker.

Secure fabric to ironing board to prevent slippage while pressing

Once your fabric strip has been secured to the ironing board, you’re ready to make bias tape. I use the iron to push the bias tape maker along the fabric strip. You may find that you need to pull on the bias tape maker ever so slightly to help it moving smoothly along the fabric strip.

TIP You must go slowly! You want the edges of the bias tape to be nicely folded and pressed. You could also use a light mist of sizing or of water to help ensure sharp creases.

Repeat this process for all black strips.

A hot iron is used to push the bias tape maker forward and fuse the HeatnBond stabilizer to a fabric strip.

Hot iron pressing bias strip as it pushes bias tape maker forward

Our last step for today is to fuse the iron-on adhesive tape to the fabric bias tape. This step prepares the bias tape strips to be secured to the quilt top before sewing.

TIP This product only takes 2-3 seconds to fuse to the fabric so you must be quick.

For delicate pressing tasks like this, I like to use the GO IRON™ Mini Travel/Craft Iron due to its small sole-plate.

Place the iron-on adhesive tape sticky side down on the backside of the fabric leaving the paper side up.

TIP You’ll need to press quickly making sure that you stay on the fabric and not on your ironing board!

Adding HEATNBOND® Quilter's Edge Iron-On Adhesive Tape to the back of the bias tape made with the Heirloom Bias Tape Maker.

Adding iron-on adhesive tape to the back of the bias tape

Almost there!

Now that our sections of bias tape are all prepared we are ready for the last steps to complete our shamrock stained glass quilt. Come back tomorrow and I’ll also show you how to sew the bias tape to the quilt top using a double needle.

This is part 2 of 5 in this series.

Go back to part 1: Stained glass quilt made easy with HeatnBond

Go to part 3: Sewing bias tape with a SCHMETZ twin needle

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3 comments

Patty E March 14, 2017 - 7:47 pm

Great tutorial for adding the fusible to the back of bias tape. I have an applique project I am working on where using a fusible bias tape will work much better… If I make my own fusible tape I can use the exact color I need. A win-win. Thanks

Reply
Melissa February 19, 2017 - 8:58 am

I’ve tried every adhesive available on the market – some of them twice just to be sure. Heat and Bond is by far my favorite.

Reply
Carol Miki February 15, 2017 - 8:37 pm

Interesting article as I have a project where I need fusible bias tape. Thanks!

Reply

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