QUILTsocial Issue 6 | Page 69

Making the bias tape Step 1: Feed the fabric through the bottom hole on the fusible tape maker. It feeds through much easier if the fabric end is pointed. Sometimes the fabric gets stuck. If it does turn the tool over and there's a slit in the bottom that a pin can fit in and push the fabric along. Step 2: Feed the fusible tape through the top hole on the fusible tape maker. I recommend giving the tape a pointed end as well as it has to be fed through a small opening by the fabric and the pointed end will make this go much smoother. Step 3: Feed the pointed end under the metal bar above the fabric. Step 4: Lay the fabric on the ironing surface with the fusible tape centered on the fabric. I like to use a hot iron with steam. Caution though as the steam does billow up around the tool and fabric. Step 5: Lift the tape maker up at a slight angle to the ironing surface and drag it backwards. This motion will feed out the tape and fabric together. At the same time that the tape maker is being dragged backwards with the iron towards the tape maker to fuse the fusible tape to the fabric. Feeding fabric into tape maker. Fusible tape being fed through the top hole. TIP It's best to go slow otherwise the fabric can go askew as it's in the top of the picture below. At the bottom of the picture is how the fusible bias tape should look. Feed tape under metal bar above fabric. Making the fusible bias tape. Bias tape made - some areas aren't as smooth as others. 69 QUILTsocial .com | issue 6