Following along with our posts, you will have noticed that we love taking existing tools and finding unique ways to use them. Most everyone reading this will have heard of bias tape, having purchased it or made it themselves for garment trims and quilt binding.
Bias tape maker… surely there had to be other uses for a tool that made fab strips of fabric that totally encased any fraying edges of fabric. It was during this last holiday season we stumbled onto a solution almost by accident.
Shannon’s grandmother and great aunts had, many years ago, made small holiday ornaments to be hung around the house in garlands and on their tree. Small stars made from folded, waxed paper. These stars are a staple of our holiday décor coming out every December. We’ve always wanted to make more, but alas those makers passed over years ago taking their folding technique with them. Or so we thought.
A bit of detective work on google and we stumbled on to a series of photos of a similar star ornament, just folded out of fabric strips instead of waxed paper. Scandinavian Folded Stars…bright and colorful, perfect for any and all holidays or festivities. Eureka!
The stars we saw were made from fabric tubes that were ironed flat then folded, but we surmised that with the use of a bias tape maker the edges would be hidden and fraying edges not a worry.
We tried the technique a few times and within 30 minutes were making beautiful folded stars.
This is a perfect project for someone with access to few fat quarters, as you can get 4 strips easily out of one fat quarter. Also this is a FAB project for kids (or adults, obviously) as there is no sewing involved at all… Just use the bias tape maker to make the strips, and fold away! Instant gratification.
NOTE:
Not Bias Tape…
Bias cut fabric is cut on a 45º angle from selvage to selvage. This provides a great amount of stretch in the cut fabric strips making them perfect for tight curves and intricate applique designs. But stretchy bias strips were not what we needed for these stars. We needed our strips to have less stretch in them to hold their fold better. The fabric strips for the Scandinavian Fabric Stars are cut with the grain of the fabric (parallel to the selvage) to give them maximum stability and to keep them from stretching as work.
What you’ll need:
Notions and Tools
- Bias Tape Maker (50mm) – Art. No 464/50
- Curved Tailor’s Awl – Art. No 4880
Fabric
4 Fabric Strips Per Star
Strips can be all one color, or alternating colors. Try different patterns and colors for different effects. Think all white, or red and green or blue and white for seasonal holiday stars, orange and black for Halloween… the sky is the limit here. If you don’t like the way the final star looks, take it apart and use another color combination.
Suggested:
Cuts
Squares
4 fabric strips 3 7/8″ x 14″
1 fat quarter has enough fabric to make one star.
And now you’re ready to go! The video will show you step-by-step how to fold these strips into FAB Scandinavian Fabric Stars!
Watch the video tutorial here:
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