▷ How to sew a beautiful cleaning strip?

The neckline is often used to sew a nice edge finish (necklines or armholes) because it covers the raw edge of the fabric. It is a long strip of fabric, about 4 cm wide, cut on the bias.

Installing a cleaning strip is very simple, plus it allows you to replace installing a bias tape, which is sometimes difficult to master when you’re new to sewing. For this reason we have two variations to offer you: a version with a hidden neckline and a version with a visible bias.

So, without further ado, we reveal our two techniques, appreciated by beginners and amateur seamstresses alike! We explain our Fago Mûroise fabric step by step!

Variation 1: I want the neck tape to be hidden!

This is the classic technique for applying a cleaning strip, the bias will then be folded towards the inside of the garment and will allow you to obtain a simple and elegant edge. Here’s how to do it:

1. Cut a long strip (4cm wide) on the bias tape of the fabric. To define the length to be cut, you can measure the length of your hem/neckline with a tape measure and add an extra ten centimeters

2. Wrong sides together, fold the strip in half lengthwise and press with an iron.

3. Position your garment place towards you.

4. Right sides together, starting from the shoulder seam, attach the strip along the edge. But leave at least 5 cm free at the beginning and end.

5. Sew 0.5 cm from the edge, leaving 5 cm free at the beginning and end.

We will sew the neck band junction, for this:

6. Visualize the junction of the two ends. For example, imagine that the two ends meet at the shoulder seam.

7. On each end of the strip, mark the location of the future seam with a pin.

8. Pin the two ends together at the marks.

9. Sew across the width at the pin.

10. Cut off the excess strip.

11. Open the seam with an iron.

12. Finish the stitching.

13. Trim the seam allowances.

14. Iron.

15. Fold the strip towardsinternal clothing. Hides the raw edge of the fabric.

16. Pin the folded strip.

17. In the direction towards you, sew as close to the folded edge as possible.

18. Iron the cleaning strip right side out and inside out.

Variation 2: I want the neck ribbon to be visible!

This technique replaces the stitching of a bias tape, which is often difficult to achieve, especially when it comes to a slightly fluid fabric such as viscose. This time the bias tape will be visible on the outside of the garment!

Note: This variant uses the same process as variant 1 but will require more care in execution as the cleaning strip must be the same size around the entire edge for a good result.

1. Cut a long strip (4cm wide) on the bias tape of the fabric. To define the length to be cut, you can measure the length of your hem/neckline with a tape measure and add an extra ten centimeters.

2. Wrong sides together, fold the strip in half lengthwise and press with an iron.

3. Position your garment in the direction towards you.

4. Right side of the strip against the wrong side of the garment, starting from the shoulder seam, pin the strip along the edge. But leave at least 5 cm free at the beginning and end.

5. Sew 0.5 cm from the edge, leaving 5 cm free at the beginning and end.

6. Sew the collar seam as in Variation 1.

7. Trim the seam allowances.

8. Iron.

9. Fold the strip towardsoutside clothing. Hides the raw edge of the fabric.

10. Pin the folded strip.

11. Place towards you, sew as close to the folded edge as possible.

12. Iron the cleaning strip right side out and inside out.

There you have it, the cleaning strip is visible on the right side of the garment.

Well done! You know how to apply tape two different ways!

Now it’s your turn to sew the variant that best suits you or that you prefer!