Have you ever spent hours creating a gorgeous sleeveless garment, only to be let down by the finish? You know the feeling. The armholes are puckered, wrinkly, or they refuse to lay flat, pulling awkwardly to the outside. It’s one of the most common frustrations in sewing, and it can make a project you love feel like a disappointment.
Many of us have been there. We follow the pattern, attach the bias tape, and still end up with a finish that just looks… a little bit off.
But what if I told you there are two simple secrets to getting a perfectly smooth, flat, and professional sleeveless armhole finish every single time? It has nothing to do with being a sewing expert. It’s all about understanding one key concept and remembering one tiny step. Today, we’re going to demystify sewing bias tape on an armhole and banish those puckers for good.
Why Do Armholes Pucker When Using Bias Tape?
Before we get to the solution, it helps to understand the problem. The issue happens because an armhole isn’t a straight line; it’s a deep curve.
Think about the bias tape. It has two long edges. When you pin it to the armhole, the inner edge of the tape follows the seam line. But the outer edge has to travel a longer distance to get around that same curve.
If both edges of the tape are the same length, the outer edge gets stretched tight as it tries to make the journey. This tension is what pulls on your fabric, causing the dreaded puckers and making the facing want to flip to the outside.
A long time ago, I used to make this problem even worse. I had read somewhere that you should stretch bias tape slightly as you sew. So, I would pull it taut around the armhole, thinking I was creating a snug fit. In reality, I was guaranteeing a wrinkled mess! The real secret is to do the exact opposite.
Secret #1: The Magic of Easing in Your Bias Tape
The first and most important secret to a flat armhole is easing in your bias tape.
“Easing” simply means you fit a slightly longer piece of fabric onto a shorter one without creating gathers or pleats. In this case, you need to sneak a little bit of extra bias tape into the curviest part of the armhole. This extra length gives the outer edge of the tape the room it needs to curve gracefully without pulling or stretching.
This is the key to how to stop bias tape from puckering. Let’s look at how to do it.
How to Gently Ease the Tape into the Curve
You can start by pinning the bias tape to the armhole at the top and bottom. On the straighter sections near the shoulder and side seam, you can pin it flat and normal. The magic happens in the deeply curved areas at the front and back of the armhole.
As you pin along the curve, instead of pulling the tape flat, gently push a tiny bit of extra tape between each pin. Use your finger to create just a little bit of slack along the seam line.
You will notice that the outer edge of the bias tape looks slightly wavy or ruffled. Don’t panic! This is exactly what you want to see. It’s a sign that you have successfully eased in that extra length. As long as the inner edge (where your seam will be) is smooth against the armhole, you’re doing it perfectly.
Take your time and use lots of pins. It might feel slow, but it’s absolutely worth the effort for a perfect result. Once pinned, you can sew the bias tape facing to the garment, stitching right in the crease of the tape.
Secret #2: Don’t Forget to Clip Your Curves!
You’ve eased in the tape and stitched it down. The seam looks great! But there’s one more crucial step before you turn the facing to the inside. You need to clip the curves.
If you were sewing a curved collar or a lined neckline, you would clip the seam allowance. This step is just as important when sewing bias tape on a curve.
Clipping the seam allowance means making small snips with your scissors from the raw edge toward your stitch line. Be very careful not to cut through your stitches! These clips allow the fabric of the seam allowance to spread apart when you turn the facing. Without them, the fabric would bunch up and create… you guessed it, more puckers.
Focus your clips on the tightest parts of the armhole curve. You may only need a few, or you might need to place them every half-inch or so.
Bringing It All Together: Finishing Your Flawless Armhole
With your two secrets in hand, finishing is the easy part.
First, press the seam allowance and the bias tape away from the bodice. Then, fold the bias tape to the inside of the garment, rolling the seam line so it sits perfectly on the edge. Give it a good press with your iron.
This is the moment of truth. Thanks to the easing and clipping, your bias tape facing should now lie perfectly flat against the inside of your garment. If you see any minor pulling, you can likely fix it by adding another clip or two in the tightest part of the curve.
Finally, you can secure the facing. For a casual look, you can topstitch it from the right side, about 1/4 inch from the edge. For an invisible finish, you can stitch it down by hand from the inside using a slip stitch.
Give it one last press, and you’re done! You’ve successfully created a smooth, beautiful, and completely pucker-free armhole.
Your New Rules for a Perfect Finish
It really comes down to ditching the old habits and embracing these two simple tricks.
| The Old, Frustrating Way | The New, Flawless Way |
|---|---|
| Stretching the bias tape on curves. | Easing extra tape into the curve. |
| Forgetting to treat it like a curved seam. | Clipping the seam allowance after sewing. |
| Result: Puckers, wrinkles, and pulling. | Result: A smooth, flat, professional finish. |
FAQs
How to finish armholes with bias tape?
First, you sew the bias tape to the armhole’s raw edge. Then, you clip the curved seam allowance. After that, you fold the tape to the inside of the garment. Finally, you stitch it down to create a clean finish.
How to keep bias tape from puckering?
Do not stretch the bias tape as you sew. Instead, you should gently ease a little extra tape into the curves. This gives the tape room to lay flat. Clipping the curves after sewing also helps stop puckers.
How to finish the ends of bias tape?
When you get back to where you started, overlap the tape ends. Fold the top raw end under by about a half-inch. Place this folded end over the starting end. Then stitch through all layers to create a clean join.
What are the methods of finishing armholes?
There are several ways to finish an armhole. Using bias tape is a popular method. You can also use a shaped facing or a full lining. Some simple tops use a folded hem or a band.
What is bias tape?
Bias tape is a strip of fabric. It is cut diagonally across the fabric’s weave. This diagonal cut is called the “bias.” It makes the fabric strip stretchy. This stretch helps it go around curves smoothly.
Enjoy Your Perfectly Smooth Armholes!
Now you have the knowledge to conquer what is often a tricky part of sewing. By understanding why armholes pucker and applying these two easy fixes, you can approach any sleeveless project with total confidence. No more fighting with your fabric or settling for a less-than-perfect finish.
Say goodbye to puckered armholes and hello to beautifully crafted garments you’ll be proud to wear.
What are your go-to sewing tricks? Have you ever struggled with this issue? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!
