Make your own bias tape binding

 I make my bias tape using this great little tool

You need strips of fabric 1 3/4" wide. I'll be binding a set of placemats, so I'm going to need 7 strips.







The first thing to do it sew your strips of fabric together. Place 2 strips right sides together perpendicular to each other, and sew from the top left corner of the top strip to the bottom right corner of the bottom strip, as in the photo.

Repeat until all strips are sewn together.

Then trim the edges. Fold back and iron.

Now we're  ready to make the bias tape.

 With the right side of fabric down, feel it through the bias tape tool

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Pin the tape to the left side of your ironing board, and slowly pull the tool to the left as you iron the now folded strip of fabric. 

 When you get to the left side of the ironing board, go back to the right side of the ironing board, fold the bias tape in half, and iron again.

 Now you need to roll your bias tape to keep it together. I tape the end on an empty toilet paper roll.

 And wind it around, using a pin to keep it in place when I get to the left side of the ironing board. Then I move my roll back to the left, pull my tool to the left while ironing, fold my tape and iron, and then wind more around the roll. Repeat until you get to the end.

When you are ready to sew, put your toilet paper roll on some sort of vertical post, like the post you can use for large spools of thread if you have one. Works like magic!