Simplicity Bias Tape Maker

This is the third of a three-step, three-part review of Simplicity’s Rotary Cutting Machine, Bias Tape Maker and the new bias tape winding machine called the Winder.  Individually, each of these products is a useful standalone tool, but when used together the three tools make creating quilt binding and bias tape a breeze.

Test Project: Create 12’ of Single Fold Quilt Binding

Step 3:

In parts one and two of this review, I successfully cut strips of fabric with Simplicity’s Rotary Cutting Machine and after piecing the strips together, I wound the continuous strip onto the spindle of the Winder to prepare it for use with Simplicity’s Bias Tape Maker.

Setup for the Bias Tape Maker is simple.  As with the Rotary Cutting Machine and the Winder, the Bias Tape Maker comes out of the handy carry box practically ready to plug and play and includes a 1” single fold bias tape making tip and one Winding Buddy. It has multiple heat settings for different types of fabric and a ten minute automatic shutoff safety feature.

After attaching the power cord, I removed the heat plate cover. Then, with my fabric wound nicely on the Winding Buddy, I set the spindle in place, pulled the end of the fabric over the guide bar, and gently fed the end of my bias strip into a 1 ¼”  tip for creating quilt binding.

I then snapped the tip in place and pulled the bias strip across the heat plate and over the roller.  At this point I could have replaced the heat plate cover and moved on to the next step in creating my binding but I wanted to see how well the Bias Tape Maker worked with the Winder. So I set up the Winder to the left of the Bias Tape Maker and fed the end of the bias strip through the Winder guide and clipped it to another Winding Buddy spindle. When everything was lined up, I replaced the heat plate cover, turned on the machine, and set the heat setting dial to the cotton setting. I only had to a wait a few short minutes before the green ready light came on. I then pressed the run buttons simultaneously on both the Winder and the Bias Tape Maker.

Magically, the roller on the Bias Tape Maker pulled the bias strip across the heat plate pressing it in half. As the Winding Buddy turned on the Winder, it pulled the bias strip onto the spindle. The whole process took about 60 seconds and I was left with 12’ of perfectly pressed quilt binding wound onto a Winding Buddy spindle. You might think the versatility of these gadgets ends here but you would be mistaken. After removing the Winding Buddy from the Winder, a ribbon or Simplicity’s Winding Buddy Hanger can be attached to the ends of the spindle. Whether attaching the binding to your quilt by machine or hand, the spindle hangs around your neck and feeds directly onto your project. No more piles of binding sitting in your lap.

The Bias Tape Maker is lightweight and portable so you can take it with you to quilt retreats or classes.  The auto shutoff feature and the heat plate cover give you peace of mind and no more burnt fingers! As I mentioned before, the Rotary Cutting Machine, Winder and Bias Tape Maker are great stand alone tools, but used together they make the tedious chores of creating quilt binding and bias tape fun, easy projects.

For more information, please visit the Simplicity Creative Group website.
This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.

---

Disclaimer – Sample product(s) were provided for testing and reviewing purposes.
Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.