Using a bias tape attachment on your sewing machine simplifies the process of encasing raw fabric edges with bias tape, giving your projects a clean, professional finish. This handy tool folds the bias tape around the edge of the fabric and guides both layers under the needle for stitching, often in a single pass.
Understanding Bias Tape Attachments
Bias tape attachments, sometimes called bias binders or folders, are designed to feed pre-folded or unfolded bias tape and simultaneously feed the raw edge of your fabric into the bias tape channels. As the fabric and tape pass through, the attachment folds the tape precisely around the fabric edge before it reaches the needle, ensuring even coverage.
- Types: Attachments vary depending on your sewing machine model and brand. Some are universal, while others are specific. They can also differ based on the width of the bias tape they accommodate and whether they are designed for single-fold or double-fold tape.
- Purpose: They eliminate the need to manually fold and pin the bias tape multiple times, saving significant time and ensuring consistent results, particularly on curved edges where bias tape excels.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using a Bias Tape Attachment
While specific setup can vary slightly by machine and attachment type, the general process involves preparation, attachment setup, and sewing.
Preparation
- Prepare Your Bias Tape: You can purchase pre-made bias tape or make your own. Ensure the tape is the correct width for your attachment. For attachments that use unfolded tape, the tape is cut straight; for those using pre-folded tape, the tape is already folded.
- Prepare Your Fabric Edge: The edge you are binding should be clean and smooth. Trim away any excess threads. Ensure the edge is relatively straight or smoothly curved without abrupt corners that are difficult for the attachment to navigate.
Setting Up the Attachment
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Attach to Machine: Secure the bias tape attachment to your sewing machine according to your machine's or the attachment's instructions. This often involves screwing or clipping it into place near the needle area.
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Feed the Bias Tape: Thread the end of your bias tape into the entry point of the attachment. Guide it through the channels until it emerges from the other side, where the fabric edge will enter. You might need to use tweezers or a stiletto to help ease it through.
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Insert Fabric Edge: Carefully slide the raw edge of your fabric into the fabric slot of the attachment, positioning it so the bias tape will wrap around it correctly as you sew.
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Position Under Foot: Draw the fabric and bias tape ensemble forward, ensuring the bias tape is correctly folded around the fabric edge, and place it under the presser foot. Lower the presser foot.
- Practical Insight: When positioning the fabric and tape under the foot, it's crucial that the tape feeds smoothly through the attachment's channel. Sometimes, you might notice the tape isn't lying completely flat, and there's 'a little bit of poof coming out on this side' or it seems to be 'overflowing'. This indicates the tape isn't feeding evenly and needs adjustment. You might find that 'giving it a little tug from the back' of the attachment before putting the foot down helps to settle the tape correctly into the channel and reduce the 'poofing' before you begin sewing.
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Align Needle: Adjust your needle position so that it will stitch close to the inner folded edge of the bias tape, catching both the front and back layers of the tape and the fabric edge inside.
Sewing
- Select Stitch: A straight stitch is typically used, though you can experiment with decorative stitches. Set the stitch length appropriate for your fabric and tape.
- Start Sewing: Begin sewing slowly, guiding the fabric edge into the attachment. The attachment will automatically fold the bias tape around the fabric as you go.
- Guidance: Your primary job is to guide the fabric smoothly into the attachment, keeping the raw edge centered in the attachment's slot. Avoid pushing or pulling too hard, as this can distort the fabric or cause uneven feeding.
- Corners and Curves: Navigate curves by gently easing the fabric around. For corners, you may need to pause, clip the bias tape slightly, or manipulate the fabric more carefully depending on the type of corner and attachment.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Uneven Stitching: Check that your fabric is feeding evenly and that the needle position is correct. Ensure the bias tape is not twisted before entering the attachment.
- Tape Overflowing/Poofing: As mentioned from the reference, if there's 'a little bit of poof coming out on this side' or the tape is 'overflowing', the tape might be too wide for the attachment's channel, or it's not feeding smoothly. Try adjusting the feed or ensuring the tape is properly centered. 'Giving it a little tug from the back' before starting can help seat the tape correctly.
- Fabric Not Caught: If the stitching misses the back of the bias tape, the fabric edge might not be fully inserted, or the needle position needs to be adjusted closer to the folded edge.
Using a bias tape attachment takes a little practice, but once mastered, it becomes an invaluable tool for achieving beautiful finishes on quilts, garments, home decor, and more.
