sewing on bias tape

[sewingrandma]

Does anyone have any hints for easy application of bias tape with or without a specialty foot?
I watched some YouTube videos using the specialty foot and a couple of them look pretty simple but one looks to be more difficult to start the tape. I question the thickness of the fabric (multiple layers) going thru these feet too. Any comments?

[LeapFrog Libby]

Brockie, I sew a lot of bias tape with all the crafting that I do. I never use a specialty foot. Here is what I do.
Start by looking at the tape very carefully. You will find that the fold is never exactly in the center. one side is slightly longer that the other. The longer side should always go on the backside of what you are sewing. That way, you never have to worry about catching the backside while you are stitching the front. One of my early mentors taught me that so many years ago, I cannot remember doing it any other way. I never have a failure unless I get distracted into not paying attention to what I am doing. When we were all making all those pillowcase dresses I made dozens with bound armholes and never had a failure. I know a lot of people open out the tape and sew oneside and then fold it back into shape and stitch the other side, but I like the look of the stitching very close to the edge of the top side. So I do this one step method all the time. Those special feet are more trouble than they are worth to me. And they take far too long to sew binding on.

[sewingrandma]

Thanks Libby. That is how I sew on my bias tape but it never seems to look very nice. I am putting it on two layers of flannel for bibs and the narrow tape just doesn't want to wrap those edges evenly so I can catch both edges in my seam and the wider (1/2 inch) just won't go around the curves without puckering (even with pressing to shape it). Plus the wider tape just looks too massive for a tiny bib.

[MartySews2]

Brockie, sewing on bias tape is when a glue stick becomes my best friend. Like Libby, I put the longer side on the back but I use a glue stick to dab it in place on both sides, press to set the glue, then stitch. I don't seem to have any puckers that way. I do have a bias binding foot and have used it some but when I'm in a hurry, this is the way that I do it. Hope this helps.
Marty

[sewingrandma]

Marty, thanks for the glue suggestion. Do you use plain old school type glue stick? Does it make your needle sticky? I might get some bibs done quicker with these suggestions.

[MartySews2]

Yes, I just use a glue stick. It doesn't gum up my needle as I just put dabs of glue where it is needed.
Marty

[vickki]

Thanks Marty,will definately try the glue,great tip of the day we should start a new thread.....

[dmoses]

I can never get a nice neat finish. I cheat whenever possible by using a wide decorative stitch, which always catches the back side.

[Skye]

I like my adjustable bias binder foot http://babylock.com/accessories/feet/?Product_ID=ESG-ABB.

I have an Elna 7200 and it works fine on my machine - I love it for sewing on fold over elastic.

I usually use my coverstich binders to apply the bias that I make myself because they do all the folding - lazy me - just like finding the quick and easy

[sewingrandma]

Skye, that is the foot that I've been looking at for my machine since it appears to be the easier of the 2 types of bias tape feet I've seen used. I watched many YouTube videos the other day trying to make up my mind. Didn't know if 2 layers of flannel would go thru it or not though as the videos only showed single layers of fabric being covered.