Christine Sews

Attaching bias tape to knit fabric is easier if you can control the stretch of your knit.  In this example, I drop a high neckline to a more flattering V neckline with bias tape and stitch witchery. I came up with this technique of pressing the first side of the bias tape on to help stabilize the fabric.

How to apply bias tape to knit fabric:

1. Mark the position of your new neckline on your fabric with light colored water soluble marker or chalk.
2. Position stitch witchery on top of the marking on one leg of the V.
3. Place the inner edge of the bias tape on top of the stitch witchery and press.  The part of the tape that you will later fold over should be sticking into the V shape.
4. Position stitch witchery on top of the marking on the other leg of the V.
5. Put a finger on the tip of the V, holding the bias tape in place and position the currently unattached bias tape over the bare stitch witchery. You should have a little tent shape at the V if you lift up your finger.



6. Press.  Don’t worry that the little tent of fabric isn’t getting glued on.
7. Trim away the excess neckline fabric, up to the edge of your bias tape.
8. Cut a small notch in the tent shape so that when you wrap the bias tape fabric around it will lie flat.
9. Wrap bias tape over and stitch very close to the edge of bias tape on the right side of the blouse.  Use a small stitch and go slowly from the shoulder to the V point.  Stop when you reach the point of your V.  Back tack once.
10. Fold over the bias tape on other leg of the V.  You should be able to form a sharp little miter at the point.  If you need to, adjust the notch.  Stitch slowly from the point to the shoulder.

If you would like instructions for making the bias tape, see How to Make Bias Tape.

Tomorrow, the instructions for a matching skirt to this refashioned blouse.

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