How to Use the 1 1/4" Sasher: Fold Strips and Bias Tape Without Burned Fingers
Folding long fabric strips by hand — edges in, crease sharp, width even end to end — is slow work, and it is easy to burn your fingers guiding fabric under a hot iron. The 1 1/4" Sasher from Pauline's Quilters World solves that. It is PQW's version of a bias maker: a tool that folds bias or straight-grain strips in half, raw edges together, as you press, so you get a perfectly folded strip every time.
What the Sasher Is
The Sasher is a flat folding tool sized by finished width. The size printed on the tool is the finished size of the folded strip, not the width you cut. For this 1 1/4" Sasher, cut your fabric 2 1/2" wide and put it through the tool, and it comes out folded to a neat 1 1/4". That makes it a perfect match for Jelly Rolls, already cut as 2 1/2" strips, so you can start folding right from the roll.
The sides of the Sasher have a curved shape, and that curve is there for your iron: its curved edge fits neatly against the Sasher as you push the tool along, keeping your fingers clear of the heat — no more burned fingers. Pauline recommends a mini iron, which fits perfectly in the curve.
Why Quilters and Sewists Use It
Any project that calls for a folded strip is a Sasher project. Use this size for stems and vines for appliqué, sashing strips for Quilt As You Go quiltmaking, and bias tape for Celtic or stained glass appliqué. It also suits bag handles, where you want a strong, evenly folded strap rather than one that twists or narrows. Because the tool controls the fold as you press, long strips stay consistent instead of drifting the way hand-folded strips often do.
How to Use It: Step by Step
- Cut your strip to width. For a 1 1/4" finished fold, cut your fabric 2 1/2" wide — double the finished size. Cut on the bias for bias tape that needs to curve, or on the straight grain for sashing, stems, and handles.
- Feed the strip into the Sasher. Thread the end of the strip through the tool so the raw edges are guided together in the center as the strip passes through.
- Pin the starting end. Anchor the first inch on your ironing surface so the strip does not pull back.
- Press as you push. Set your iron into the curve of the Sasher and slide the tool slowly along, pressing the fold flat as it emerges. Let the iron follow the tool rather than pushing fabric by hand.
- Work in sections. Move along the strip a few inches at a time, keeping it feeding smoothly and the edges meeting in the middle.
- Check the finished width. Your strip should measure 1 1/4" folded, raw edges tucked together inside, ready to stitch.
Practical Tips
Test with a short scrap first to confirm your cut width gives the finished size you want. Keep the iron moving with the tool — lingering can scorch, while moving too fast leaves a soft fold. For bias strips, handle fabric gently and let the tool do the folding; pulling stretches bias edges out of shape. A mini iron makes the curved fit easier to control, especially on long sashing strips.
Care and Storage
The Sasher has no moving parts and needs no special care. Wipe it clean if starch or residue builds up, let it cool completely after pressing, and store it flat in your notions drawer with your rulers and templates. Keep it with your Jelly Rolls so it is at hand when a project calls for folded strips.
Project Ideas
Fold Jelly Roll strips into sashing for a Quilt As You Go quilt, make curving stems and vines for a floral appliqué block, or prepare bias tape for a Celtic or stained glass design. Use the same folded strips as sturdy bag handles, or run coordinating prints through the Sasher to have ready-made strips for trims and embellishments.
Shop the 1 1/4" Sasher at Linda's Electric Quilters.
