Some of the techniques that Brian and Ron used were new to me, so I asked Brian if I could share them here. This is just one sample. To see more, head on over to Brian's Jenny blog. This link will show you most of the posts that pertain to fabric covering. You can search for more.
In my youth, when I learned fabric work, I was taught to use bias tapes around curved edges. All you had to do was pull on the tape and it flexed around the curve without much fuss. Quick and easy. The only bad part about a biased tape was when it shrunk around the curve, the tape width got thinner. So if you were laying a 2 inch tape, it would shrink to 1 3/4 in. Oh well. That's the way it was....
But Ron showed me a better way tonight.
He took a regular tape and glued the center line with some Poly Tack.
When the Poly Tack was dry, the tape was shrunk around the curve.
Start shrinking at the 250 degree mark, then final shrink at 320. Put a piece of thin cardboard under the tape to act as a heat sink.
Hey, wait a minute. Shrinking the tape at the curve. Doesn't that make it smaller? Might as well use bias tape, right?
No! Ron had us shrink the straight pieces too. Now the curve and the straight tape are all shrunk the same amount. The tapes are even. Pretty neat trick and much more professional looking.
No more bias tape for me.
After everything was shrunk, the tapes were Poly Brushed to the fabric.
