DIY Custom Piping

Since I learned how to make my own piping, I'm obsessed! It's a great addition to sewing projects like pillows and hot pads, making them look more polished. You can definitely buy your own piping, but it's very easy to make yourself, giving you more control over what your finished piece looks like.

All you need is some piping chord (found at most craft stores), fabric and matching thread, some pins, and a zipper foot for your sewing machine. First, cut your piping chord. The chord needs to be long enough to go around the perimeter of your project, plus some extra. For example, say you're making a 10x10" pillow case. Your piping needs to be 10+10+10+10+2= 42", 10" for each side plus 2" so the end has some overlap.

Then, you need to cut your fabric. Turn your fabric so that you're cutting it on a bias, because that gives the material more stretch. Then, you'll cut out thin strips of fabric. Each strip needs to have a width of 1"+ size of your piping chord. So, if you're chord is 3/8" thick, you'll want each strip of fabric to be 1 3/8" wide. Cut several strips like this, then we'll sew them together to make a long strip of fabric.

Take two strips of fabric. If any of the ends are angled, trim them so that they are square. Lie your first strip vertically in front of you, top-side up (so, if there's a pattern, pattern-side up). Then, lie your second fabric strip horizontally over the first strip, top-side down. Arrange them so that the edges are squared. Pin the strips in place, then sew a short diagonal line across the square where the fabric intersects. You want the stitches to hold the fabric so that when you pull the strips apart, they fold into a straight line. After you've sewn the strips together and are sure that the stitches are in the correct direction, trim off the extra corner (see picture). Then, iron the seam flat. Continue using this method to attach strips to each other until your fabric strip is a few inches longer than your cut piping chord.

When your strip is finished, lie it out flat and top-side down. Then, stretch our your piping over it. Fold the fabric over so it encases the piping and the edges meet. Work in sections, pinning in place as you go. Then, using the zipper foot on your sewing machine, sew down the edge of your piping keeping your stitches as close to the chord as possible. Voila, custom piping to finish any project!

I did not use a zipper foot (bad Kara), but you should because it makes a big difference