Did you enjoy the tutorial on how to make your own cute bias binding? So now you want to have a go at creating your own. But how much do you need to make? What size square will you need to start with. Or how much will get you from a piece of fabric? There's nothing worse than running out of bias binding before you get to the end of your project, so make sure you always have enough with this handy Continuous Bias Binding Calculator.
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You know from my background in finance that I love working with numbers and formulas and I've already shared a couple of handy spreadsheets to use for pattern drafting, for the pencil skirt pattern and the custom fit leggings.
This project is perfect for another spreadsheet, so I've made one that works out:
- How big a square you will need to cut for any length and width of bias binding
- How much length you will get from a square of a fixed size
Its easy to use. Enter your figures in the green boxes and read the results in the blue boxes. Want to make enough 2 inch wide strips for a quilt measuring 36 x 48 inches – then you'll need a starting square of fabric that is 19 inches wide.
Have a small piece of fabric left over that is just 6 inches square? Want to know how long of 1 inch wide continuous strips you could cut? That's easy too. Enter the 6 inches and the 1 inches and you'll see that this 6 inch square of fabric would make you a continuous length of at least 34 inches.
If you don't fancy the spreadsheet or are just looking for something you can slip in your purse when you go to the fabric shop, I've also produced a simple table from the spreadsheet results too. This allows you to calculate roughly any amount of tape from 1 to 4 inches wide and from 12 to 120 inches long. Why not print and pin this table to the wall next to your sewing machine. Never again make far too much or too little.
Which will you download? One or both?
Download the Spreadsheet HERE
Download the table and printable guide HERE
You will need a spreadsheet program such as Excel, or Open Office Calc or MS Works in order to open and use the spreadsheet. The printable guide is a PDF document.
photo credit: lovelihood via photopin cc
Authored by: Deby at So Sew Easy
Thank you so much for this Guide. It is fabulous. As soon as I found it, I printed it! It was just what I was looking for! I’ve made continuous bias tape only once but will never go back to making strips. I wanted to make 4 inch tape and was wondering how…your Guide saved me!! I love your site!!! Thank you!!!
I couldn’t figure out where the download link for the printable guide is – until I realized it is right below the Craftsy advert! I’m “blind” to adverts (read: “Ignorant of them”!) and thus couldn’t find the link! 😉 LOL!
Thank you VERY MUCH Deby – this is such a handy gift to have! I really appreciate! I hate using bias binding for this exact reason, I either have miles too much, or too little and I never know how much fabric to buy initially – so now I’ll probably start using it! Thank you!
What a great tool!! Thank you for making that for us! I would never have been able to figure out how to create such a dynamic table.
I just downloaded drop box so I could access the bias binding calculator but it appears to be a photo of the spreadsheet. Numbers are already fixed in, I can’t change width of fabric strip or length. HOw do I access the interactive spreadsheet?
Kathe, I just used the calculator successfully – when the Dropbox option popped up, I chose “No Thanks” to downloading/saving to Dropbox. The next screen then opens with the calculator that allows you to manipulate the numbers in the boxes. (So apparently when you download to Dropbox, what’s saved in Dropbox is the chart with the current numbers and you can’t change the numbers in Dropbox.) So skip the Dropbox part and you should be able to put you own numbers into the chart. (My guess is that if you want to save your specific calculations after you’ve put your numbers in the alterable chart, THEN you can save to Dropbox which will save a copy of the chart with YOUR numbers.)
All I can say is THANK YOU, YOU SAVED ME A TON OF TIME!!!!!
I am unable to use the calculator on the web site, unable to download it , unable to find it for sale, tried the google search for it and get nothing in return. Where is the darn thing??
agnesethel@hotmail.com
Hi Teresa, I just check the link and they all work. Please try and click on the links again.
I just found your bias tape calculator. I need to make a mountain of bias tape (40 + meters worth) to edge seat covers, for both son’s truck and my car. Now I know I have the right amount of matching fabric. As there was only a limited amount of the one fabric I was really concerned. Now I know I will have plenty. Thanks for the handy tool.
You are welcome!
Thank you Thank you!
You’re so good! This is so handy. I’ve never made bias tape but when I do I will refer to this! Thanks for sharing it..pinned!
Marti
Yay! What a sweet gift! I can’t wait to try this out. I’ve made bias tape for years but not your method with a square piece of fabric. Now I’m extra anxious to make some! Thank you Deby!
This is so useful -thank you very much for doing this- I have always done far more than I needed, as it is such a pain running out. No more of that! Joan xx
This is so awesome! I am generally good at geometry but trying to figure how big a square I need to make so many diagonal strips makes my head hurt. Thank you for sharing this!! I’ve linked to your post on Craft Gossip:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-continous-bias-binding-plus-a-calculator/2014/02/23/
–Anne
Thank you very much Anne.
This is awesome! Thank you for sharing with us. I’ve downloaded both and am pinning so I can’t lose this. ~Deborah
That’s so handy! Thank you! 🙂
You are awesome! I’ve often thought about making a spreadsheet like this but a calculator is so much better! Thanks for doing all the legwork and sharing!
Glad you like it Jill. Do share it around, I found it hard to describe what it does, but I think once you try it, both the table and the calculator, a person can see how useful it is. Combine it with my new love of the bias tape maker and I’ve got more than I’ll use all year!