Sewing a round neck casing for elastic - how do i do it.

[MrsWalton]

I'll try and explain my problem.

I have a round neck,(a full circle) I am trying to turn it under, then under again to create a casing for elastic.

I can just about turn it under once and iron it, but it is too taught to turn it under again for the casing.

Any advice would be extremely welcome.

TIA

you need to have a strip of material cut on the bias - 45 degree angle from the selvedge of the fabric.

the easiest thing to do is to buy some ready-made bias binding from a haberdashery shop, but mismatched fabric could give an interesting result.

the best thing to do is to get bias strips of the original fabric.

hope that makes sense - I'm better at showing rather than explaining!

Thanks greeneye I was trying to avoid making bias binding, as it wastes so much fabric. I was wondering if there was a way around it.

Thanks for your help though.

Bias binding is the best way to do it and easiest in the long run.
Just a tip - dont stretch the bias when sewing it along the neck edge as the other edge will have to stretch a bit to lay flat.

Why do you need to turn twice, can't you zig zag or overlock the edge then turn once?

I'd do a facing rather than bias binding, imo much easier

What's it for? Could you make a narrow facing for the neck, and encase the elastic in that? You can (obviously) use the neckline to make a pattern and it won't use as much fabric as bias binding.

Alternatively, snip the edge of the fabric before you turn it under the second time, as that will make it less taut.