Thankyou Kay not sure I know about the tube method - could I see that on utube?
Irene1

Have you tried tube cutting the binding? It's great. no sewing on the bias end. It only takes two cuts and one seam to make oodles of bias. I also prefer the french fold method. I think it lays flatter better without the twisting problem people seem to have.

Video instructions were very helpful so will unpick and try Debbie,s way
irene1

Thankyou Marianne, Sue and Posy for your helpful replies to the above .
The Xmas stocking does have a nasty round corner on the ankle part of the front stocking and the foot - so bias it has to be -
I cut 2and half inches - fold and sew on the machine the raw edges first to the front of the stocking, and hand stitch to the back and try to be careful - as you mention I have unpicked and tried the other way, but perseverance is in my soul and I will try again.
These stockings are for under privileged children but they should still have the best even though sewing may not be on their agenda.
Thankyou all

There are many more Youtube videos on bias binding. Additionally, Show 1312 has a section on applying bias binding. Bias is only necessary on curves. Otherwise, use binding strips cut on grain. You are not alone, it is a challenge to get it right.

Adding to Rosemary's musing I will put my tuppence worth in here. You say you have used a double bias binding. Do you mean you have taken a bias strip and folded it then sewn on? If this is the case then I have had the same problem and it happens because the two raw edges does not necessarily follow each other when sewn down so you get a twist. Ways to avoid this is to heavily starch the fabric before cutting the strips, use a walking foot on the machine when sewing the strip onto the sandwich, pre-stitch the edge of the sandwich with a zig-zag stitch so the sandwich layers do not shift and finally you could use a basting tape when pressing the bias strip in half. That will keep the two layers together. It has taken me a long time to get this right and now I try to avoid bias strips unless I really, really need them.
Marianne

It is possibly getting over stretched (lengthways) when machining it on. Or not stretched enough, or is being pulled in the wrong direction ( and too much) when hand sewing. On consideration I think most likely pulled too tight and also it has rotated slightly on the second line of sewing - the hand stitching, this can be very easy to do, just pushing the fabric along a bit too far with each stitch so it ends up twisting the whole thing. Try unpicking the hand stitching and then re stitching but going in the opposite direction for a few inches to see if this helps.

Most of this is musing out aloud, it can be tricky to work out a problem without seeing it, but I hope my musings help you analyse where/how it is going wrong.

I have made some Xmas Stockings but am very disgusted with the way my double bias binding has turned out.
I try to be careful when sewing - Machine the binding to one side and hand stitch the other side - this is when it shows a wrinkles,

What am I doing wrong???

Irene 1