Osage_jingle

I hate to say this but I've gained weight. To accomidate my weight I have to make a new jingle dress. How much bias tape (meaning packages of 1/2")would I need for an x-large dress? I'm sticking with 300 jingles, so I will need some for the jingles as well. I'll only be making 5 rows and leave the top blank with just tons of applique on it. Also, I bought a bias tape maker from JoAnn's does this really work?

Singing Otter

Hey

I think it depends on your layout (straight rows, chevrons, funky patterns). I usually buy too much just in case I change my mind or mess something up.

As far as the bias makers, they work, it's just that I suck at it. Pretty bad.


hehe

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Czechy

One package has 4 yards so you can safely figure that one package will cover two rows of jingles all the way around. So in your case, 3 packages should suffice. You'll pobably have some left over for trim elsewhere on the dress like on sleeve cuffs and such.

WocusWoman

I did my daughters dress last year, and shes a large girl. I like the packages, and bought the 1/2 inch double fold. It took 7-8 packages, and I placed the jingles 1/2 inch apart. It turned out well and looks very full with over 350 cones on it.

Czechy

Oh, maybe I misunderstood.
I was thinking you were asking about the bias tape trim that goes over the top of the jingle tabs to cover them.

Now if you talking about how much tape to use to insert into the cones to make the hanging tabs, then that's a different story. That depends upon how long you make the tabs. If you make your tabs 1.25 inches long then I think one package will make enough tabs for 40-45 cones if you don't waste any. If you use a 1" tab, then I think you can get tabs for about 55-60 cones per package.

And yes, use the double fold tape for the tabs. Single fold is fine for the trim.

Jingling_In_Stars

Always by more than you actually need and make sure it's double fold. You never know what might happen. I made the mistake of making my first dress with single fold and the cones twisted to much and frayed. Remember that you have to tie the cone off somehow so don't forget to measure that in as well!! Hope the info helps :)

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Majii

You can make your own bias tape and it's much cheaper than buying single packages. Plus you are not restricted to the colours available, you can use any variety of colours and prints and this will also make your outfit unique.

What you do is get a yard/meter or two or three (what you need)of fabric of the colour you want to make bias out of and you can get these metal tape makers 1/4" to 2" width sizes. You also need a ruler, what works best for me is a quilters square and one of those cutter wheels (you need a special cutting mat to protect your table)

What you do is place the fabric, single thickness flat on the table and make a diagonal fold. Cut fabric on that fold, this is your bias. Then you measure out the widths of the strips you want cut. Example: 1/2" double fold, you need 2" widths.
Use a ruler and draw your lines with pencil or tailor chalk and cut your strips on the diagonal. If you want long strips you have to sew the strips together, this is good because you can make any length you want and not be restricted to the sizes the premade packages come in and less waste.

Then you use the metal bias maker, thread the bias through and iron the folds. The bias maker will fold the fabric inward to press (single fold) and then fold that in half and press the fold (double fold).
There is your bias tape and you can use it according to you dress design.

I've done this many times and jinglers have asked me about where I get the bias tape to make the dress, I just have to tell them that I made it.

It's a little bit more work, I like it because it give the dress a one of a kind look and with the turn over in fabric prints, it would be harder to duplicate it.

I hope this helps

Krystal