reinforcing neck on fleece poncho

Dear Doofy,

You can use grosgrain ribbon, matching bias binding, or twill tape to reinforce the neck. Sew it to the inside along the front and back neck. Or, you could put a hood on it....

Teri

I thought about the hood, but not sure that would reinforce the neck.

I'll check out the grosgrain, but I don't want anything too scratchy on my neck. I have some bias binding. Might try that.

Clear elastic is quite good: Use a double needle and sew from the top. If you stretch the ELASTIC very slightly as you sew it, but NOT the fabric, it won't show from thew outside, but gives the neck hole good recovery. You often see it used as a 'stay' like this on the better T shirt shoulder seams.

Lycra binding, aka edging tape:

If you're talking about the end of the shoulder seam next to the neckline, how about a nice patch over that very end... maybe a triangle of something fairly sturdy stitched over that pair of seam endings, somewhat like a reinforcement patch on a tent fly's tie points so it can spread stress across a wider area of fabric.

(step 13)Mumble years ago, crowsfoot and arrowhead tacks were used as reinforcements at the ends of seams and kick pleats and the like. A bar from ahook and eye is another choice -- sew it across the seam to help prevent tear outs.

I was thinking more of just the neck opening. I have bar tacks at the edge of the neck opening for stress points. I was just thinking of the neck hole itself stretching a bit.

If you used the selvage of the fabric, that's already pretty stable.

Kay

Not sure. These were pre-package throws, with serging around the edge. They were 50 x 70 inches each originally. Not sure if they came from a roll of fleece like that, or, if so, which border was the selvage.