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How-to

Piping adds a special touch to your sewing

Piping cord comes in a huge variety of types and sizes. It's important to choose the piping cord that's right for your task. Use stiffer cord for most home decor items and softer cord for garments so that the piping is flexible and moves with your body. Always preshrink your cord when you preshrink your fabric.

A versatile embellishment
Piping is one of the easiest embellishments out there, and for the time you spend and the results you get, it’s worth every minute. Piping can adorn the edge of a collar, pocket, hem or sleeve. It can be added between visible seams (such as princess seams), at the waistband for a pair of pants, or it can follow the outside contours of a jacket. In home décor items, it can embellish the edge of a pillow, valance or curtains. The sky’s the limit with piping. If there’s an edge or a seam, it can be jazzed up with piping. 

Piping can be applied using the same fabric, complementary fabric or fabric that’s totally contrasting to add some real zing. It can be thin and dainty or heavy and bold. You could use piping to embellish a dress or shirt in dozens of different ways, and each use would produce a completely different look. Play with it the next time you sew, and consider it when you create your entry in our linen contest. Linen is a great fabric for piping use!

How to make and apply it
Scroll through the photos here for some great tips and ideas on making piping. For more information about how to make and apply it, you’ll want to read an article that was published in issue #120 of Threads, “Ripple-free Piping Can’t Be Rushed” by Threads Contributing Editor, Susan Khalje. Click here for a preview of this Threads Insider article. If you don’t have access to the issue, you may purchase it from our customer service department or become an Insider. You’ll find other great information right on this website. Type the word “piping” in the search window.

What’s your favorite way to use piping? Don’t forget to post a photo or two of your piped creations in our Reader’s Closet

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  1. User avater
    Sewista | | #1

    I love piping and use it a great deal in my garments. I think the biggest contributor to ripple free piping is the type of fiber used. Inevitably a synthetic fiber gives me ripples and hassles while the all natural fibers cooperate wonderfully in their construction. I am going to my stash now to look up what appears to be a great article by Khalje. She is such a wonderful teacher and mentor.

  2. KelleyHighway | | #2

    Panty hose? Whodathunkit? Thanks for the wonderful tips!

  3. HatcherPass | | #3

    I altered a jacket pattern to make it reversible and instead of trimming the edges with binding that the pattern called for I used piping. Looks great but I have a problem. I left an opening for turning in the back, but the sleeve lining isn't inside the sleeve when I turn it right side out. Is there another place to leave and opening so it works right with the sleeves?

  4. User avater
    ICanSewThis | | #4

    Never tried piping before but looking forward to it! Thanks for the great tips!

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