If you are using pre-made piping, cut off however much you need for your project, then click here to continue. If you are using pre-made bias tape, cut off however much you need, open it up, and iron it flat to remove the creases. Click here to continue.
You should still wash the fabric, even if the bolt says “pre-shrunk. " This will remove any coatings.
Cutting your fabric on the bias will make your piping more flexible in the end.
Cut as many strips as needed to outline the area that you will be piping. You will also need extra fabric for the seam allowances. Discard the strip from the folded edge, or cut it in half lengthwise to make 2 identical 1 1⁄2 in (3. 8 cm) wide strips.
If you are using solid-colored pattern, there is no right or wrong side. If you are using patterned fabric, the patterned side is the right side. Do not sew from the outside edge to the inside edge of the right angle.
Join more strips of bias tape as needed until you have enough to create your piping.
Make sure that the wrong side of the bias tape is facing you during this step. Skip this step if you are piping a straight seam that does not join together to form a circle or a square.
Choose cording that is between 4⁄32 and 5⁄32 inch (0. 32 and 0. 40 cm). If you did not fold the end of your bias tape, then both ends of the cording should match up with both ends of the bias tape.
If you have a piping foot, place the piping in the foot’s groove. Adjust the needle so that it is right on the piping’s stitching. How you replace the zipper foot depends on the type of sewing machine you have. Most sewing machines have a release clutch just behind the needle.
Your seam allowances should be about 1⁄2 inch (1. 3 cm). This may vary, however, depending on the thickness of your cording. If you folded in 1 of the narrow ends of the bias tape, stop sewing 1 inch (2. 5 cm) from the folded end. You need this end to be open.
Skip this step if you are using homemade piping, or if you just need to pipe a single, straight edge.
If you are piping the perimeter of an item, then leave 1 inch (2. 5 cm) at each end of the piping unpinned.
Skip this step if you are piping just a single, straight line and don’t need to join both ends.
If you are sewing piping that is joined together, begin and finish sewing at the folded seam.
Press the seams to either side of the piping for a nicer finish. You can go over the raw edges of the inside seams with a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying.
