First, let me explain to those new to corset making who don’t know; what bias binding is and where it goes. If you’re just learning how to make a corset, you may not have come across it yet but bias binding is the stuff that goes along the top and bottom edge of your corset. It encloses the raw edge and finishes the corset – in short it makes the corset look professional.
Now, again, if you’re new to corsetry you may be forgiven for thinking that all binding is created equal, but any seasoned seamstress will set you straight on that. Oh no, if you’ve ever seen a cheap website with those £20 – £50 corsets and wondered why the edging is rucked up and creases round the curves of the bust and under arm area, I can tell you now it’s because bias binding wasn’t used.
As the name suggests, it’s strips of material cut on the bias. The edges are then folded into the middle and the whole thing is folded in half again to enclose the raw edges. The important thing about cutting on the bias is the way the binding can stretch on the diagonal. This allows it to stretch round curved edges, leaving a smooth wrinkle-less finish. So when you make a corset don’t finish off your edges without it – make sure you use bias binding.
Some of My Bias Binding in Satins and Cottons
