I dug out an old bias tape maker from my sewing box and put it to use making fabric ties for cloth masks. I’m honestly not sure whether this particular well-made piece came from one of my grandmothers, or from a bundle of goodies from a garage sale. There are no makers marks, and definitely no remaining packaging.

This tool makes 3/4” single fold bias tape. For garments, bias tape is cut on the … wait for it … bias. Which means at a 45 degree angle to the fabric grain. It makes a tape that is more flexible than those cut along the grain. But I am making fabric ties from scrap fabric, so I can get more by cutting with the grain. (Here is a great blog post about bias tape, if you want to know more from a quilter’s perspective.)

To make the ties, I fold the single fold bias tape in half to make double fold bias tape (it is nice when nomenclature makes sense). I then sew along the edge to finish the tie. I do tuck in the ends so they are neat. The mask pattern I’m using has a pocket for the ties (or elastic if you have it), which I really like because it means I can have ties that slide and can be changed out for different ties.