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  1. claireshaeffer

    claireshaeffer VFG Member

    Anyone familiar with term--Paris tape? Thanks, Claire
     
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  2. poppysvintageclothing

    poppysvintageclothing VFG Board Member Staff Member VFG Past President

    you certainly get some interesting results if you put in Paris tape on google!!!!

    I have never heard that term before, Claire.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2016
  3. Oh, MJ. You didn't google Paris tape? Oh, I can imagine.
     
  4. Retro Ruth

    Retro Ruth VFG Member Staff Member

    I'm giggling over this one.
     
  5. lkranieri

    lkranieri VFG Member

    Can you give us additional information about where you heard of or read about that? Any context in which it appeared?
     
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  6. claireshaeffer

    claireshaeffer VFG Member

    I have a student in England who teaches. One of her students asked her about it. She that her mother used it, but she didn't know what it was.

    My guess is that it was twill or plain weave tape used in tailoring.
     
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  7. Jonathan

    Jonathan VFG Member

    I think its bias tape - that term rings a faint bell with me and for some reason my mind goes to bias tape, not hem tape, but that bias cut tape that is folded over.

    Bias-Tape-Main.jpg
     
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  8. Retro Ruth

    Retro Ruth VFG Member Staff Member

  9. Rue_de_la_Paix

    Rue_de_la_Paix VFG Member

    In millinery, on certain hats (usually fabric hats) it was tradition to use what is called a French binding. This is a bias cut, narrow length of fabric folded under so it is double sided, which covered the raw edge of the stitched seam at the join, or covered the wire which was used along the outer brim's edge. I have seen the term French tape used in the old books, but not "Paris tape". So my first thought was this might be a type of that same stuff. Most milliners in the old days made their own "French tape" but it could be bought pre-made as well.
     
  10. Pinkcoke

    Pinkcoke Alumni

    It is an old fashioned term for straight woven tape - I have to say it's only the 1950's and earlier generations that know it by this term in England.
    I occasionally get the older customer asking for it on the haberdashery stall and it always throws me because I can never remember if it is bias or straight tape.
    backing that up, this article taken from a 1948 british newspaper lists bias and Paris binding for sale seperately:

    upload_2016-12-10_13-3-5.png

    another that lists both paris binding and twill stay tape, so it's not twill:
    upload_2016-12-10_13-47-3.png

    and this one describes it as a braid, which to me mean a finished edge on both sides, which bias binding wouldn't qualify as:
    upload_2016-12-10_13-31-50.png

    I found articles going back to the 1870s generally using the term paris binding, I think paris tape was used more in the 20thC.

    a few more examples of early 20thC use:
    upload_2016-12-10_13-35-32.png
    upload_2016-12-10_13-36-4.png

    ( I wouldn't call bias binding 'strong tape' as it distorts when pulled...)


    The more I look into it the more I wonder if Plaster of Paris Binding did not originate from Paris Plaster, but from Paris Binding being coated in plaster...
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2016
  11. Jonathan

    Jonathan VFG Member

    That sounds more like hem braid Melanie il_fullxfull.640205781_c2rj.jpg
     
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  12. bycinbyhand

    bycinbyhand VFG Member

    Used to finish edges of the dress seam's salvage... instead of a French seam, you would use your tape to finish off the edge.
     
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  13. claireshaeffer

    claireshaeffer VFG Member

    Many thanks--I'll relay all to Celia. C
     
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  14. OK, I want that skirt braid, Jonathan!
     
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  15. Rue_de_la_Paix

    Rue_de_la_Paix VFG Member

    I might wonder.... if it was used on a dress's seam selvage, as has been mentioned above, wouldn't it add too much bulk? Seems much too thick for that purpose. I am not familiar with using it for that, but I am not a dressmaker, so who knows. I can't recall seeing it on the selvages or seams of any dresses I have seen. Of course, on thick woolens and such, it makes sense.
     
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  16. claireshaeffer

    claireshaeffer VFG Member

    Barbara, Galanos used a silk binding on seams, but cotton bias you buy would be too thick.
     
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  17. Rosamund

    Rosamund Registered Guest

     
  18. Rosamund

    Rosamund Registered Guest

    an old thread I know ..but having some here on the roll would like to send a photo..it says on the reverse ...rayon cotton , wear well made in england ...my father used to use a similar for trouser hems ..being a specialist tailoring tape it was a little heavier .....this is more a home dressmakers weight , ive seen it on skirt hems and as a tweed seam binding ..it has a littlr give but not as much as bias ...only found your thread as searching for a wider cadis bindinding for some restoration work
     

    Attached Files:

  19. claireshaeffer

    claireshaeffer VFG Member

    I've reread the comments and think it might be seam binding which is about 1/2" wide and plain weave.
    It could be used to bind straight seams and finish hems (not bound). It is also strong.

    It's hard to tell from Rosamund's photo how heavy or thick it is. Is it ribbed like petersham? Can you fold it in half to bind a straight seam? How wide is it? Thx.
     

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