Hey everyone. Today you'll learn to cut bias tape and binding strips by hand, where a rotary cutter won't fit.
Here's the problem, y'all. Bias strips like to move. You cut them on the 45-degree angle. That angle gives binding its stretch, so it eases around curves so pretty. But that same stretch makes fabric shift. And sometimes there is no room to roll anyway. You're working in a hoop, or at a crowded class table. A rotary cutter needs a mat, a ruler, and a clear run. Some days, you have none of that.
Here's what I use for that job. These are the Famoré 712DL Left-Handed Mini Duck Bill Applique Scissors. They are 4.5 inches long. True left-handed, and I mean true — the blades are set for your left hand, so you can see your line. The duckbill blade is 5/8 inch wide. That flat bill rides under the top layer, lifts the strip you are cutting, and keeps the layer underneath safe. Famoré built this mini size with professional needle art educators. I keep mine by my binding pile, for when the space gets small. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
What You Need
- 712DL - Left-Handed Mini Duck Bill Applique Scissors (4.5in)
- Fabric for your bias tape or binding, pressed
- A fabric marker or chalk that shows up well
- A ruler for marking your strip width
- Pins or a few pattern weights
The Steps
- Find your true bias first. Lay your fabric flat, right side up. Bias runs at a 45-degree angle to the straight grain. Fold one corner down to the edge. That fold is your bias line. Press it lightly. Now you have a line you can trust. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
- Mark your strip width. Most quilt binding starts with 2 1/2-inch strips. Want narrower tape? Mark 2 inches, or 1 1/2 inches. Completely up to you. Draw 2 or 3 long, clear lines. Mark before you cut. A good line does half the work.
- Pin so nothing walks. Bias edges stretch if you tug them. So don't tug. Pin along the strip every 4 to 5 inches, or set weights on the fabric. Keep your hands gentle.
- Rough out a short piece. You do not need the whole yard in your lap. Cut one section you can control, about 12 to 18 inches long. Small piece, small space. That is the whole point here.
- Slide the duckbill under the top layer. Rest that wide, flat bill on the layer below. Slide it under the strip you are cutting. The bill holds the top fabric up, and your marked line stays in view. Angle the scissors so you can see the blade edge the whole way.
- Cut in short, steady bites. Here we go. Follow your marked line in small cuts. Do not chop the full blade length at once. Small bites keep a stretchy bias edge honest. Turn the work, not your wrist. Slow down near the end. Oh my goodness, that last inch loves to shift.
- Check the width as you go. Stop after the first strip. Measure it in 3 places — start, middle, and end. Still your marked width? Good. Just like that, you know your hand is steady. If one spot runs a hair wide, trim it now.
- Join and fold when you're ready. Join your strips with a diagonal seam, just like always. Press that seam open. Then fold and press your tape or binding. Even edges fold clean, and clean folds stitch down pretty.
Tips From My Table
- It doesn't have to be perfect. A strip a hair off still binds a quilt just fine. You're your own worst critic, folks. Take your time. It's not a race.
- Keep your cuts short. Long cuts let bias fabric creep. Short bites, steady hands. Really really simple.
- Watch that bottom layer. After each strip, lift your work and peek underneath. No nicks? Good. That quick check tells you the duckbill is doing its job.
- Prefer your rotary cutter on a big open table? Completely up to you. This hand method is for the tight spots — hoops, classes, and crowded tables.
A Quick Care Note
Wipe the blades with a soft, dry cloth when you finish. Store the 712DL closed, in a dry spot, points protected. Keep this pair for fabric only — paper will dull a fine edge fast. Care for the pair, and the pair will care for your projects.
Alrighty, folks. Small space? No room to roll? Pick up the little left-handed duckbill and cut by hand. Super duper easy once it's habit. Thanks for sewing along today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 712DL - Left-Handed Mini Duck Bill Applique Scissors (4.5in) at Linda's Electric Quilters.
