MAKING PIPING
Piping can be flat or
corded, single or double. Cord for piping can be bought in many thicknesses,
and you should choose your thickness carefully; a very heavy piping can look
unwieldy on a light cotton cushion cover, for example. Join the strips of bias
fabric together on the straight grain. The width of bias-cut fabric should be
the circumference of your chosen cord plus two seam allowances. Check when you
buy that the cord is preshrunk. If not, wash it before use if it is to be
sewn on something you intend to launder. If you need to join the cord, unravel
a little from both raw ends and intertwine them for about 2.5 cm (1 in).
Press the length of bias
strip and wrap it around the piping cord, raw edges together. Hold in place
with pins. Using the zipper foot on the machine, sew close to the cord with a
similar colored thread. Lay the piping on the fabric, raw edges level. Pin and
machine stitch close to the piping, covering the original seam line. Sew around
comers as for welted borders. To join raw ends of piping, trim away the cord
and overlap the ends of the binding, curving those inwards. Sew through all
thicknesses. A quick method of applying piping to a square cushion is to fit
the piping straight along each edge so that the ends cross at each corner. Sew
through all the thicknesses and trim excess piping.
APPLYING CORD TRIM Pin the
cord in position, making sure the ends are not at a corner. Secure the thread
in the fabric and sew through the cord and into the fabric with tiny stitches.
Join the two ends of cord by unraveling a short length and inter- twining the
strands. Stitch the twisted ends to the fabric.
MITRI G BORDERS OR RIBBON
Cut a length of ribbon or
binding for each edge to be trimmed, allowing a good overlap at each end.
Attach the trimming to the right side of the fabric with pins along one edge.
Stitch up to the inside corner point where you intend to turn the corner (1).
Fold the trimming so you can stitch a diagonal line between the inner and outer
edges of trimming (2). Clip the seam, press the trimming flat or turn binding
to wrong side (3), and continue down the next edges of the fabric. it/ FRILLS
Ruffles or frills are used on cushions, curtains, bed drapes and loose covers.
A single frill needs hemming or binding, whereas a double frill is a piece of
fabric folded along its length and the right side of the fabric shows all the
time. A single frill is preferable if you are using bulky fabrics. Calculate
the depth of frill and either adds allowances for a double hem and the gathered
edge seam or double the required depth and seam allowance for a double frill.
Decide on the effect you
want, then measure up for the length of the frill: one and a half to three
times the length of the finished edge fullness. Sew two lines of gathering
stitch and gather up the fullness to fit the edge. Pin and stitch in place-
around the edge of a hem, for example, or inserted into a seam. For a frilled
edge to a round cushion, join the fabric strip into a circle, gather and
distribute the gathers evenly around the cushion piece. A double frill can be
bound on the outside edge and the folded edge overlapped on to the cushion or
curtain fabric. This frill can be applied after the rest of the sewing IS
completed.
A pleated frill gives a
crisp finish. To calculate the fabric length needed for the frill, measure
around the cushion piece or along the curtain edge and multiply by three for
the frill length. Include seam allowances for any joins. The frill can be
hemmed or double. Mark the fabric length into 3cm sections along its length.
Make 6 pleats and pin. Tack across the top of the pleats. Apply the frill as
before.
