Bindings consist of bias strips or bias tape that wrap a garment’s raw edge to prevent it from raveling. Learn how to apply bias binding, whether from strips or tape, in this video.

You can purchase bias tape packaged, precut, and prefolded. The longer side of the bias tape is sewn to the wrong side of the fabric and makes it easier to catch both sides in the stitching.

Tips for sewing bias tape

Get some pointers for applying bias tape.

• Cut off the seam allowances before you apply binding.

• Bind around curves rather than miter sharp corners.

• You can hand-sew the bias tape to the edge’s wrong side or use fusible interfacing to hold it in place until is it topstitched by machine.

• If making your own bias strips, cut them eight times the width of the finished binding strip.

Learn these and more details about binding in this video, part of the comprehensive, five-season Teach Yourself to Sew series.

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Teach Yourself to Sew

Garment sewing expert and series host Judith Neukam got her first taste of sewing when she took the free lessons that came with her mother’s sewing machine purchase. Judith was 9 at the time. Soon after, she was sewing her own clothes and feeding her passion for the craft. In her Teach Yourself to Sew series, Judith shares her enduring love of sewing and her invaluable years of sewing experience.

Getting started

She starts with discussing the equipment and the essential sewing notions for anyone who sews. You’ll learn about shopping for fabrics, choosing patterns (including selecting the correct size), and planning the perfect pattern layout. From machine-sewing simple seams to inserting zippers and stitching buttonholes, Judith demonstrates the key steps to making a custom garment.

Discover methods for clean-finishing seam allowances…