3D printed bias tape makers!
3D printed bias tape maker at left
Mass-manufactured metal/plastic bias tape maker at right
When the shortages of PPE began to get press back in March, like so many other costumers caught without work due to theatre closings, the PlayMakers Repertory Company costumers began sewing masks, surgical caps and other stitched fabric PPE. We got a bit of press notice for donating a number of masks in adult and childrens sizes to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service here in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Our colleague in the scene shop, Kyle Spens, read about our humanitarian sewing efforts and wanted to help out. Although he couldn't sew, Kyle has a 3D printer and asked whether there was any way that could be of use. He brainstormed with one of us and began by printing the "Ear Savers" accessories for healthcare workers. Maybe a week later one of the graduate students mentioned the need for bias tape makers to help create the style of mask with fabric ties and wondered whether Kyle could print those. Turns out there are many designs for them on the Thingiverse filesharing forum.
Kyle offered to print bias tape makers for any of us who needed them, in any size. I had a set of bias tape makers, but unfortunately not one in the 1" size I needed, so I took him up on the offer. I honestly didn't have high hopes for it, as some of the designs i'd seen for them on Thingiverse looked like they were designed by someone who understood the basic concept but didn't actually use them.
I was pleasantly surprised when I picked mine up from a bin on Kyle's porch: it was basically just like my Dritz tape makers, but all plastic! (See above photo.) You have to be careful about getting the iron or its jetting steam too close to the tool since it's made of thermoplastic and can deform, and the fact that the pull loop is not metal makes it more fragile than a traditional metal tool, but if you adjust your usage to accommodate its properties, the 3D print tool works great!
If you have access to a printer and need a bias tape maker, the file Kyle used is here:
Two thumbs up from La Bricoleuse!
Wow - what a time saver! Great job, people!!!
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