So here's the new trick I learned at guide lessons on Monday...it's a great way to make bias binding out of a square without much waste. AND...I was able to successfully do it on the first try! ...well, I did have to rip the first seam because I sewed wrong instead of right sides together. Rookie mistake. I got too excited.
Okay. First cut out a square of your binding fabric, slice from corner to corner, and lay out like this:
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qjb2ZckF_4s/TuI2B7VnnpI/AAAAAAAAAWA/lrh-KScTZOU/s280/DSC_0099.JPG)
Then, fold over and pin:
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bN4Tb4iKHjE/TuI2RLywp7I/AAAAAAAAAWM/wcV7xmHWFBY/s280/DSC_0100.JPG)
Sew a 1/4 inch seam, press your seam open, and draw your lines for the binding width of your choice (mine were 2 inches).
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--QRFmAxY3hI/TuI29D3hUCI/AAAAAAAAAWk/UW_-FsxtOqA/s280/DSC_0102.JPG)
Now, the tricky part, line up your lines so that the first strip is sticking off to one side. The goal is to have a continuous strip that you can cut and cut in a big spiral all the way to the end. I match the first line on one end with the second line on the other; then, pin the rest of the lines making sure that both lines meet at the point where your 1/4 inch seam will be sewn.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oCKt1OJpUKE/TuI4myxb_iI/AAAAAAAAAXI/qmkcLhR4Xvo/s280/DSC_0105.JPG)
Close up view:
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rof7UhEa2Bc/TuI2y3WSxTI/AAAAAAAAAWY/EH5poIwlGPU/s280/DSC_0104.JPG)
Sew your 1/4 inch seam and begin cutting your strips (I now recommend pressing open the seam 1st, but I didn't).
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGR1YUHiJ6U/TuI5oCs8qGI/AAAAAAAAAXU/IwW0Bl1xwZM/s280/DSC_0106.JPG)
Then you'll have this:
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BM_0mAVZsB0/TuI6FuHtdpI/AAAAAAAAAXg/8xY3q0PiSZA/s280/DSC_0107.JPG)
Press, and you have one long piece of bias binding with no waste!
Did you know it doesn't have to be a square? You can use the same technique for a large rectangle. This is the tutorial I love for that - and for doing the math to figure out how much fabric you need. http://pir8.freeservers.com/quilting/CBT/index.htm
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