Lesson 6: Attach Bias Binding to Neck of Daygown

Today we are going to bind the raw edge of the daygown neck with a strip of bias.  This technique is known as Bias Binding.   Follow the directions on your pattern instruction sheet under Daygown View 2.  We will be using  Step  4. Neck Edge in our Lesson today (we are saving Step 3 for next time).  We have previously cut out our neck binding.

  Click on pictures to enlarge.

Spray starch bias strip and gently press into a curve. 

Press the neck bias into a curve.  This will help the fabric lie smoothly around the neck edge. 

Use plenty of pins to keep the raw edge of the bias binding even with the daygown neck edge.

Neck Bias is pinned to the neck edge of the daygown  (right sides together and raw edges even) with 1/4" extending on either side of the neck edge.

 

Use the Straight Stitch Foot for more control.

Stitch the bias binding to the neck, removing pins as you stitch.  The seam allowance for the neck is 1/4".  Use a short straight stitch (L 2.0).  Stitch another straight stitch 1/8" away (toward raw neck edge).  This second stitching line  will help to have an even neck binding.  Follow along and you will see how.

Trim away excess seam allowance along outside of second stitching line (toward raw neck edge). 

The extra stitching line is a guide for trimming the seam allowance evenly.  It is much more difficult to  omit this step and just try to eye-ball as you trim.

  

Press the bias up toward the neck edge.

View of the wrong side of garment after the bias has been pressed up.
Turn under the 1/4" of bias that was extending on either side of the front.

Fold the bias over the seam allowance, turning under the raw edge of bias and pin.

Fold the bias binding over the seam allowance to the back of the daygown, carefully turning under the raw edge of bias.   It might be a good idea to pin the bias at the center back and each front to keep bias from shifting.  If the bias shifts as you pin and stitch it, there will be ripples along the finished neck binding.

  Hold the pinned bias binding over your finger to stitch. See how it is held in place with your thumb and finger.

 

Take a nip of the white daygown fabric, then slip the needle under the bias binding.

To stitch the folded bias binding to the gown, take a nip of the daygown fabric, right where the machine stitches are  then move needle over slightly as you pick up a nip of the bias binding.  Pull the needle through the fabric snugly to your left.  Continue around the neck edge.

 

Perfecto!  Nice and even Bias Bound neck for Priscilla's Daygown!