Bias Bar or Bias Maker Machine
 

I need to make bias strips that are 1/8" which leaves me with using a bias bar or buying the simplicity bias maker machine and the 1/8" tip that can attach to it. I already have a lot of bias makers from clover that you use with an iron so I'm not as interested in buying the machine. However, I still want to make the nicest 1/8" bias strips I can. Which would be better? Thanks, Yael

I tried using the bias bars years ago and really hated them. If you get them, plastic is better than metal; the metal ones can burn your fingers.

Personally, I'd invest in the bias tape machine if you need lots of the 1/8" size. It would be a lot easier and faster than bias bars (at least, for me!).

I've never heard of a bias bar..... but i hope someone can help you....That's really tiny!

Here's a link to a video demo of the bars:
http://www.connectingthreads.com/tut...ideo__D79.html

I have a set of the bias bars.. not sure you would like them for the 1/8 inch... the seam allowance would have to be trimmed to almost nothing to get them bias to lay flat. I think they would be a pain in the .. for large quanities.

I agree with Lori S. I like the bias bars, but the smallest I have used is 1/4 inch. The 1/8 would really be a pain! Good luck!

I have the machine and love it for wide straight quilt bindings. I haven't used the small tip but I think it would make small binding just as nice. The binding is folded and ironed perfectly. I had the bias bars and hated to use them. I put them on my guild's white elephant table and no one bought them for .50. They were put in the donation basket.

If you opt for the machine, I think it's a good idea to heavily starch the fabric before cutting into strips. It makes the creases nice and crisp (when I do this with the manual Clover tips).

For the machine the fabric needs to fold easy inside the tip, I don't starch the strips I use with it. The auto ironer will make the folds very sharp. It gets as hot as an iron on high setting.