Using Assembly Tab Braid on a Tee Shirt neckline

I added Assembly Tab Braid to a tee shirt neck. It’s binding had pulled away, and the colors worked OK with some fine bamboo that I had on hand.

I marked the quarters of both the neckline, and the edging, after measuring that the edging was the same length or a little bit shorter than the neckline.  Then I pinned the edging to the tee after matching the quarter marks.
If you are adding edging to an already sewn garment, the edging can cover up worn edges or stains.  The garter stitch section of the braid can be made deeper by casting on more stitches in that section.  Then I machine stitched through all layers.

I picked up and knit one stitch for ever set of holes the braid presented.

I just noodled some lacy-ness then rib on my neckline.  Would you believe it?  I have to re-sew over the place where the edging was pulling away, because I missed it when I added the braid by my sewing machine!

It’s a great idea to get a copy of some how to sew with knits books, the Stretch and Sew ones are really helpful, try your public library, as well as the internet.  The edgings on a cut edge don’t always go on at a one to one ratio.  The flat parts at the front and back of a neckline need to be stretched, the sides are more 1 to 1 in length.  If you are encasing a woven fabric, that fabric might need to be stay stitched so it keeps it’s shape, it might need to be overcast so it doesn’t fray also.

Some sewing considerations: it’s good to match fibers so that the piece can be laundered at home.  Make a test swatch/muslin so you know what will happen when you do you wash.  Try to include the shapes of whatever edge you are encasing; neckline, shirt tail hem or whatever so you see where you need to stretch your braid and where it needs to be added with ease.  This is where  your muslin/swatch comes in.  Better to know before cutting expensive yardage.

Of course, if you are extending the life of a worn garment, all that stress rolls away 😉