Bias edge

[Rita C.]

Help, I am working with a biased edge to put a strip on, it is puckering , I have sewn a thread down the edge, it is still not right

[Paula D.]

Can you take in the bias any? As an extreme measure, I would pin it to death, alternating pins on top and back to take up as much slack as poss. The stitching on the edge may have even stretched it out more, I'm afraid to say. Maybe take that out - carefully. Put in a zillion pins and let them do the work. Sew slowly over the pins. We've all been there!

[Hannelore N.]

Starch the fabric until it can stand up on it's own.

[Rita C.]

I agree with Lorchen, starch is the thing that will do it. And then sew with the bias on the bottom and the strip on the top.

[Lois B.]

Starch the fabric until it can stand up on it's own.

Are you saying as you starch and press the stretched bias will shrink? Or are you suggesting you starch and press prior to having cut the fabric on the bias in the first place?

[Hannelore N.]

Starch before you cut - if possible.

[Paula D.]

Yes, starching is nice beforehand, but the question was what to do if it is already stretched.

[E.M. T.]

I'm not sure you can put the geniei back in the bottle.......

[E.M. T.]

It is possible to ease the length back to where it should be.

Take your length of tape & mark the intended length on it with pins, also put a pin in the 1/2 way mark, 1/4 & 1/8. On the bias piece pin mark the 1/2, 1/4, 1/8. Match up the pins starting with the 2 ends then the centre. Once you have got the 1/8 sections pinned, continue finding the centre between 2 pins of both layers and pin them together. You will need to do this until your pins are about 1/8" apart (maybe 1/16" apart depending on the amount to be eased). At this point you could lay it on a flat surface, dampen it (with spray starch) and pat it back to flat (or iron it) or you could stitch on the tape, & remove the pins before you dampen & flatten it.

The technique (minus the starch) is used in couture dressmaking to tighten up necklines & armholes, & I have used it to great effect in this way, But there is no reason that it won't work for you - you just need 'millions' of pins and a bit of time & concentration.

[Rita C.]

Gingene, you might find this Sharon Shambers video useful. In it she shrinks a block. Might help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6apl...amp;lf=mh_lolz