Finishing the neck of a garment with bias tape

If you sew clothes, you have probably run into this problem: you finish the neck and it doesn’t look right, or it stretches way more than you expected and your clothes don’t look right anymore. Well here is an easy way to go about finishing the neck of a garment that will keep it from stretching and make your clothes look professionally done. The example I am using is a baby’s onesie, so the neck will look a little different than what you would make for an adult, but the process is the same.

Materials

Single fold bias tape

matching thread

clothing item that needs the neck finished

Directions

First, stitch along the neck about 1/4″ away from the edge of your fabric. This will help keep your fabric from fraying or stretching.

Now unfold one edge of the bias tape, gently line the tape up along your neckline on the right side of the fabric. The fold line should still be visible, and it should be at or just below the stitches you have already sewn. Make sure to leave an approximately one inch tail. Sew along the fold.

When you reach the tail of the bias tape, stop and fold the tail in and place it against your fabric. Lay the other piece of bias tape over the tail so there is a small overlap. Continue sewing until you have completed the neck.

Fold the bias tape in to the wrong side of the fabric and press

With the bias tape facing up, baste along the edge of the bias tape. Since you will be taking this out in just a few minutes, use a contrasting color. This way you can easily see to remove it.

Flip your fabric over and sew right next to your basted line.

Take out the baste stitches, and you are done! You can start finishing the neck of a garment for any sewing project you have.

If you are interested in learning more about sewing and patterns, I have a tutorial for that.