Piping is such a fun way to add a special touch to a garment. Today I’m walking you through step by step. If you haven’t played with it before, I’m going to make it super easy and give you all the tips and tricks to get a great finish!
I'm using my Amber Air S400 along with the piping foot from the Embellishment Feet Kit.
What you need
Piping
Piping foot
Your project
The Embellishment Feet Kit comes with both a ⅛ and 3/16 Piping foot so you choose the one that best fits the size of your piping. The groove in the foot firmly holds the piping in place so that it moves evenly under the foot as you sew - giving you a neat finish. The foot has a handy window so you can see that everything is aligned as you sew.
I’m using a standard size piping - the tape is 1cm wide and the cording inside is just under 3mm so I went with the ⅛ foot.
Time to Sew
The first step is to cut away 2-3cm of the tape. This makes it easier to feed the piping through the foot. Next, sandwich your piping between the two layers of your fabric, right sides together. Position the piping with the tape edge aligned to the raw edge of your fabric and the cording towards the inside.
Feed the corded edge through the groove in the foot and slide it forward until your fabric aligns with the upper knife.
All that’s left to do is sew!
When you open it up - your piping should pop - perfectly positioned between both pieces of fabric!
Corners What if you have to go around a corner? Maybe you’re sewing some piping into a collar or a cushion cover. You can just treat your piping like any curve when you’re sewing! Clip into the seam allowance to allow some extra ease and movement. Pin it in place and sew it as above. Use a short stitch length and keep the pace slow and steady for more control and a great result.
Thick Fabrics The hot tip for sewing piping into thick fabrics is to baste your piping and fabric in place to prevent it from shifting around. Otherwise sew it as per usual!
Sewing in the Round Piping can add interest to a neckline or around an armscye. But how do you join it up?! There are two ways to do it - the quick way and the neater way. Let’s start with the quick. Simply overlap the ends. The end should cross over so they both taper off after the overlap. Stitch in place and flip right side out. If you look closely you’ll notice the point where they join. This method is great for the bottom of an armscye or any areas that are less visible.
If you want a neater finish. There’s a simple way to achieve it and it just requires a few extra minutes. Start by seam ripping the stitching on one end of the piping so you can access the cord within. Trim that cord so you have approximately 2cm of tape without any cord. Fold the raw edge of the tape under to the wrong side. Align your piping with the edge of your fabric and so that the two ends of the cord butt against each other. Wrap the folded under end of the piping around the first end and stitch in place. When you flip it right side out, it should have a professional looking finish that you can barely spot!
Bulk seams What happens when you’ve got two layers of piping creating a needle-breaking bulky seam?! In order to get nice, flat seams, remove the cording at the beginning and end of the piping. First, put a pin through the cording to hold it in place. Pull the end of the cording out of the tape and cut. Smooth the fabric back into place and you’re all set to sew. For instance, with this pocket, the seam allowance is 1 cm wide. So I remove 1 cm from the cording, so it is not folded under creating that bulky seam.
There are so many ways you can use piping in your garments to add some fun. From collars, to pockets, to armscyes, princess seams, decorative seams… the list goes on! I used it around the armscye of this vest and love the little pop of colour it adds. How would you use piping in your projects?
Don’t forget to share your projects with us on Instagram, tagging @husqvarnvikingsewingaus and using the hashtags #husqvarnavikingaustralia #husqvarnavikingsewing #keepingtheworldsewing or our Facebook page Husqvarna Viking Australia.
Amy Watts: Creative enthusiast and fabric aficionado. With a penchant for intricate designs and a love for vibrant textiles, Amy weaves her passion for sewing into every stitch, turning fabrics into delightful creations that spark joy!
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