Sewing: Piping 101

Piping! This is my first attempt at piping – and let me tell you, it’s EASY!!

I have a list of about 20+ projects and when I get to one with piping, I used to skip it. Not any more. Here I’m sharing some of my tricks and a few tips – so learn up and enjoy piping 101.

What you need

cording – elastic cording (that’s what I used) or any cord…you can even use yarn!
bias tape
matching thread
machine
zipper foot
pins

How to Make Piping

First – make sure you know how much piping you need for your project and then add a little bit as a reserve – that’s how much bias tape and how much cording you’ll need.

The zipper foot is a must – this will help your tremendously.

For my project (tomorrow I’ll share the finished look) I was making modern dog beds, so I needed just over 600 inches of piping. Go big or go home, right?!

So – piping is cording inside of bias tape. It’s that simple. You can make your own bias tape if you like, or you can by the store made kind. I’ve also heard of people making piping by putting their own bias tape over store bought piping, that’s a waste – not only of material, but also money!

Line up the end of your bias tape and the end of the cording.

Install your zipper foot and have the needle on the left side.

You’re going to stitch as close to the cording as possible.

Sew up!

Done. You now have piping….but we still have some tricks and tips!

How to Use Piping

How to install the piping onto your project?? Keep reading.

Pin the piping to your project – right to the edge and piping to the right side of the fabric.

Now, with the piping on top (and right side of the fabric facing up) get ready to stitch it on – with the zipper foot still.

You are going to do the exact same thing you did when you were sewing the piping, except you’ll have the fabric under the piping. EASY.

Follow your stitch line and you’ll be right on.

When you get to the corner, clip the edge of the piping just a bit so it turns well. Keep following the stitch line.

Now, when you get to where you started you’ll want to make sure the transition is nice and neat. Leave an inch or two on what you have left to stitch to the fabric. Pull the seam out on part of the end piece of piping. Cut out some of the cording (just enough so the other piece can fit inside and it matches up). Fold back some of the ’empty’ bias tape to make a clean edge. Sandwich the beginning of the piping in to the ’empty’ end of the piping. Pin and stitch.

The first side is done!

Last step. Pin the other side of the project (right side to the piping) and keep your zipper foot in place. Now – this is the BEST trick – put the new side of the project on the bottom and the side you just stitched on top. The piping will be sandwiched between the two pieces of fabric, right sides facing each other, so wrong sides out. You want the one you’ve already stitched on the top so you can follow the stitch! This will guide you and create a perfect seam to keep your piping nice and tight.

Cool, eh? (yes, I’m Canadian).

This trick will save you lots of time and keep your project looking professional.