We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
DIY

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What does It Mean to be Cut on the Bias?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 78,729
Share

In the fashion industry, a garment that is cut on the bias is produced from fabric that has been cut against the grain. A true bias cut is very difficult to make and work with, and many home sewers do not attempt it. A garment cut this way has a distinctive look and feel, and it tends to flow more, feel more elastic, and cling to the body. This type of cut is often used on women's clothing, such as skirts and lingerie, and is associated with flirty or sexy garments.

When fabric is cut normally, the pattern is laid out along the grain of the weaving. The weaving lines run straight up and down, providing minimal elasticity and a very even garment. To cut on the bias, the the fabric is rotated and the cut is made at a 45° angle to the warp and weft of the weaving. Technically, there are two bias cuts, one slanting to the right, and one to the left. Since the weaving is rarely perfectly square, a seamstress must be careful about how she makes bias cuts, as each cut will behave differently.

Since the fabric is cut along the diagonal, it is much more stretchy. With lightweight slippery fabrics like silk, the garment will float and flow, rather than hanging stiffly. Heavier materials will have more elasticity than those that are conventionally cut, and the clothing will have more of a flowing look as well. In addition, fabric cut on the bias can be used to create distinctive patterns, such as stripes meeting in a “V” shape.

Because the fabric is so stretchy when cut this way, it is difficult to work with. It cannot be pulled as it runs through a sewing machine, or it will bunch and clump. Often, a seamstress will pin a garment and hang it out overnight to allow the fabric to relax before sewing it. A burst sewing technique is also sometimes used to keep the fabric relaxed while the garment is sewn. If sewed properly, a bias cut garment will be curvy, floaty, and stretchy.

For people who are beginning to learn to cut on the bias, simple garments are highly recommended. Fabrics like cotton, linen, wool challis, and broadcloth are good choices for beginners, because the fabric has a bit of a bite, and the layers will grab each other while sewing. Once a sewer has mastered cutting and sewing on the bias with these materials, more slippery and exotic material can be used. Heavy fabrics, like duck and tweed, often do not to perform well when cut this way because they are too stiff to have much flexibility.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By KoiwiGal — On Oct 12, 2012

@pleonasm - It's good to know how much you don't know. I don't know a lot about the fashion industry, but I have a couple of friends who went through design school and they've definitely kept me up to date on how much I don't know about it.

I thought it was just a matter of cutting up different fabrics and combining them, but there is a lot to know about how they work and how they can be attached and different stress points and so forth. It's one of the reasons that you get what you pay for when it comes to clothes. If you buy a handmade $500 dress from someone who knows what they are doing (for example, how to cut fabric on the bias) it can last a lifetime and look extraordinarily good on you without trying.

If you buy a $100 dress off the rack it will probably never look entirely right and will only last a couple of years if you're lucky.

By pleonasm — On Oct 11, 2012

I had no idea there was such a technical side to sewing. I guess I thought you just follow a pattern and that's all there is to it. The funny thing is, I've noticed when dresses are cut on the bias without knowing what it was. They might be made out of the exact same kind of fabric and behave completely differently to the same style of dress that wasn't cut on the bias.

I can definitely see why you'd want your lingerie to work like that, but I'm not sure I'd like all my dresses to do that. Sometimes you want them to be a tiny bit stiff and not floating around.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-cut-on-the-bias.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.