Once done, this is how the stitches look like now:
Step 5: This step is not mandatory although I like to reduce some bulk by trimming off about half of the just sewn seam allowance. This will come in handy when sewing with knits as knit fabric is much thicker and reducing the seam allowance will help to get a nicer finish.
Step 6: Now the fun party comes! Flip your fabric over and fold the bias tape around the bottom edge towards the front. You will now be encasing the raw edges. Pin the bias tape in place and at the same time, cover the stitches. So fold slightly over the stitches.
Step 7: Continue to pin the entire area and straight stitch along the upper folded edge of the bias tape.
If you will be sewing bias tape soon, share some pictures in our facebook group! We’d love to see them!
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Your tutorial makes working with bias tape look simple! Thanks for sharing with us at Creatively Crafty! I’ll be sure to pin this. I’m sure it will be helpful for many people.
Great tips on working with tape. Thanks for sharing!
Just realized I had been using bias tape the hard way all this time. This was a great, easy to understand tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
I have avoided at all costs using biased tape! I always did it a much harder (much more aggravating and unpolished) way. This is a simple commonsense way to use it thank you!
Great tutorial but a tad confusing when calling the tape bias when clearly the fabric of the tape had not been cut on the bias. I accept that you used a sample piece of fabrics however could be very misleading to sewing beginners.
Yes, you are right! I never mentioned that my “bias” tape was not cut on the bias. I amended the post. Thank you!
I also suffer through ugly, wrong side bias tape issues! Thank you for this! I’ll be trying it you way very soon.
This finally makes it so clear! I’m saving this link for the next time I’ve got to use bias tape.
Great tips! Just with the last step, what seam allowance do you topstitch with? Or does it not matter because you will always catch the underside?
Thanks
Thank you for visiting today, Jen! I use about 1/8″ seam allowance just to be sure to “cover” the stitches underneath well enough 😉
Well. This is so perfect and easy to understand! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Nancy! I appreciate your visit!
Please forgive me from interfering – I am so old school, i.e. early 1960’s (if not late 50’s). I was not only taught to sew by hand, with the rare treat of taking a turn to use the single hand sewing machine. We had to line up the tape/bias tape right sides together. The complete reverse of your picture. Sew along the crease, fold the tape under and then slip stitch. This had to be under the line of machine stitching. No hand stitches were allowed to show on the front of the garment . Slow I know but a perfect finish for that special garment. Sorry not “techy” enough to demonstrate with examples.
That is the way this task was taught, I believe it! I remotely remember that from my mom actually. Thanks so much for visiting today!
The problem with sewing along the crease is you have left nothing for turn of the cloth, which can leave a rather messy looking turn. I sewed bias tape (or non bias on straight edges) exactly the way it was demonstrated here until sewing machine companies came out with bias tape feet. With these feet there is no need to pin and your machine will catch both the top and bottom layers at the same time. The only problem is that those feet are pricey, so unless you have sufficient disposable income and/or sew a lot of bias tape, they may not be worth the money.
Thanks for your comment! I agree that sewing directly along the crease won’t leave any room for turning. That’s why I tried to showcase how to sew slightly next to the crease. I have yet to check out the bias tape feet! 😉
Me too! I love having a bias tape foot as it makes the project take half as long and results in a well sewn project!
Thank you for explaining why you don’t sew along the crease. I was looking for this in the text above. I was reading the comments hoping it would be mentioned. I teach kids to sew and didn’t know this, They often want to know “why” they have to do something, and I admit I do too.
Thank you for reading this post! That is a very good question that I need to add in there. The reason to NOT sew along the crease is that you will have a little bit of extra room once you fold the binding over. Otherwise, if sewn along the crease, your binding fold may not allow for the necessary room to cover the stitches on the other side. I like to even trim off some of the seam allowance to achieve less bulk as well. This step helps me to get a nice and neat looking binding.
This method from the wrong side is great if you want to show the contrast fabric however often times bias tape is used as a hidden finish. You do the same technique right side to right side and finish on the wrong side concealing the bias tape from the right side.
Yes, correct! So happy you stopped by!!
Glad you like this tutorial and I agree, great for finishing hems by concealing the bias tape! This might be my next binding tutorial 😉
Love your pictures and detailed tutorial that makes it look so pretty and easy! Can I ask what pattern the beautiful dress was made from. Love it and want to try it out with a pattern like that.
Sorry , saw the name of the pattern after writing my comments.
Hey, no problem! Thank you for reading this post! I’m glad you like the tutorial and pattern!
Thank you