Mastering Upholstery Piping: A Comprehensive Guide
Upholstery piping, also known as welting or cording, is a decorative and functional element that adds a professional, refined touch to upholstered furniture, cushions, and other fabric projects. It’s the perfect way to define edges, accentuate curves, and create a clean, tailored look. While it might seem intimidating to create your own piping, with the right tools, materials, and a little patience, you can easily master this technique and elevate your upholstery projects to the next level.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of the process, from choosing your materials to attaching the finished piping to your project. We’ll cover different types of piping, how to calculate your fabric needs, detailed sewing instructions, and troubleshooting tips to ensure a perfect finish.
## Why Use Upholstery Piping?
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s quickly explore why upholstery piping is such a valuable skill to have:
* **Professional Finish:** Piping instantly elevates the look of your projects, giving them a polished and professional appearance.
* **Edge Definition:** It clearly defines edges and seams, creating a crisp and clean line.
* **Durability:** Piping reinforces seams, making them more durable and resistant to wear and tear.
* **Customization:** You can create piping in any fabric, color, or pattern to perfectly match or complement your upholstery project.
* **Design Element:** Piping can be used as a design element to add visual interest, contrast, or a pop of color.
## Types of Upholstery Piping
There are two main types of upholstery piping:
* **Single Piping:** This is the most common type of piping, consisting of a single cord encased in fabric. It’s used for outlining edges and seams.
* **Double Piping:** Double piping features two cords encased in fabric, creating a bolder and more decorative effect. It’s often used on larger pieces of furniture or as a statement detail.
For this guide, we’ll focus on creating single piping, as the principles are the same for both types. Creating double piping simply involves using two cords instead of one.
## Materials You’ll Need
* **Fabric:** Choose a fabric that is suitable for your upholstery project. Consider the weight, durability, and color of the fabric. You’ll need fabric for both the piping itself and the project you’ll be attaching it to. Ensure that the fabric for the piping is wide enough to wrap around the cording you choose.
* **Cording:** Cotton cording is the most common choice for upholstery piping. It’s available in various sizes, from small (1/8 inch) to large (1/2 inch or more). Choose a size that is appropriate for your project. The larger the cord, the more pronounced the piping will be. Consider using a polyester cord if the item may get wet or be used outside.
* **Thread:** Select a thread that matches or complements your fabric. Use a high-quality thread that is strong and durable.
* **Sewing Machine:** A sewing machine with a zipper foot is essential for creating upholstery piping. A walking foot can also be helpful, especially when working with thick or slippery fabrics.
* **Zipper Foot:** A zipper foot allows you to sew close to the cording, creating a tight and secure seam. This foot usually can be adjusted to either the left or right to sew close to a zipper or cording.
* **Scissors or Rotary Cutter:** For cutting fabric accurately.
* **Ruler or Measuring Tape:** For measuring and marking fabric.
* **Pins or Fabric Clips:** For holding fabric in place while sewing.
* **Iron and Ironing Board:** For pressing seams and creating a crisp finish.
* **Seam Ripper:** For removing any mistakes.
## Calculating Fabric Needs
Calculating the amount of fabric you need for your piping is crucial to avoid running out of material mid-project. Here’s how to do it:
1. **Measure the Length of Piping Needed:** Use a flexible measuring tape to measure the total length of piping you’ll need for your project. Add a few extra inches for seam allowances and to account for any curves or corners.
2. **Determine the Width of the Fabric Strip:** The width of the fabric strip needed for the piping depends on the diameter of the cording you’re using. Here’s a simple formula:
* Width = (Cording Diameter x 2) + Seam Allowance (usually 1/2 inch)
* **Example:** If your cording diameter is 1/4 inch (0.25 inches), the width of the fabric strip would be:
* (0.25 inches x 2) + 0.5 inches = 1 inch
3. **Calculate the Total Fabric Needed:** Multiply the total length of piping needed by the width of the fabric strip. This will give you the total area of fabric required.
* **Example:** If you need 100 inches of piping and the fabric strip is 1 inch wide, you’ll need 100 square inches of fabric. To convert this to yards, divide by 36 (since there are 36 inches in a yard):
* 100 square inches / 36 inches/yard = 2.78 inches or a fraction over 1/16th of a yard. However, you will have to buy at least 1/8th of a yard. Therefore, calculate using the width of the fabric roll in inches. Assuming this is 45 inches, you will need a strip 100 inches long x 1 inch wide from a 45 inch wide roll of fabric. The amount of fabric you need is therefore 100/45 = 2.22 inches cut along the width of the fabric roll. But if you only needed 30 inches of piping, you would just cut a 30 inch strip from a 45 inch wide roll of fabric.
* **Important:** Always add extra fabric to account for mistakes, pattern matching (if applicable), and seam allowances.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Making Upholstery Piping
Now that you have your materials and have calculated your fabric needs, let’s get started with the step-by-step process of making upholstery piping:
**Step 1: Prepare the Fabric Strips**
1. **Cut the Fabric Strips:** Using a rotary cutter or scissors, cut the fabric into strips according to the width you calculated earlier. The length of the strips will depend on the total length of piping you need. If you need a long length of piping, you may need to join multiple strips together.
* **Bias vs. Straight Grain:** For curved edges, it’s best to cut the fabric strips on the bias (at a 45-degree angle to the fabric’s grain). This will allow the piping to curve smoothly without puckering. For straight edges, you can cut the strips along the straight grain of the fabric.
2. **Join the Strips (if necessary):** If you need to join multiple fabric strips to achieve the desired length, place two strips right sides together at a 90 degree angle. Sew diagonally across the corner, creating a seam. Trim the excess fabric and press the seam open. Repeat this process until you have one long continuous strip.
**Step 2: Encase the Cording**
1. **Fold the Fabric Strip:** Fold the fabric strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press with an iron. This will create a crease that will serve as a guide for encasing the cording.
2. **Insert the Cording:** Open the folded fabric strip and place the cording inside, aligning it with the crease. The cording should be centered along the length of the strip.
3. **Fold the Fabric Over the Cording:** Fold the fabric over the cording, encasing it completely. The raw edges of the fabric should meet or slightly overlap along the back of the cording.
**Step 3: Sew the Piping**
1. **Attach the Zipper Foot:** Attach the zipper foot to your sewing machine. Position the foot so that the needle will sew as close as possible to the cording.
2. **Sew Along the Cording:** Starting at one end of the fabric strip, begin sewing along the cording, keeping the needle as close to the cording as possible. Maintain a consistent seam allowance throughout the entire length of the piping. This is crucial for a professional finish. A seam allowance of 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch is standard. You want the needle to be as close to the cording as possible, so the actual seam allowance does not apply to the piping itself.
3. **Maintain Tension:** As you sew, maintain a consistent tension on the fabric and cording. Avoid pulling or stretching the fabric, as this can distort the shape of the piping.
4. **Sew Slowly and Steadily:** Sew slowly and steadily, guiding the fabric under the needle. If you’re working with curved edges, gently ease the fabric around the curves, taking your time to ensure a smooth and even seam.
5. **Backstitch at the Beginning and End:** Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam to secure the stitches and prevent unraveling.
**Step 4: Trim and Finish**
1. **Trim the Seam Allowance:** After sewing, trim the seam allowance close to the stitching line, being careful not to cut the stitching. This will reduce bulk and create a cleaner finish. Use sharp scissors or a rotary cutter for precise trimming.
2. **Press the Piping:** Press the finished piping with an iron to flatten the seam and create a crisp, professional look. Use a pressing cloth to protect the fabric from scorching, especially if you’re working with delicate materials.
**Step 5: Attaching the Piping to Your Project**
1. **Pin the Piping in Place:** Position the piping along the edge of your fabric project, with the raw edges of the piping aligned with the raw edges of the fabric. Pin the piping in place, easing it around any curves or corners. Ensure that the piping is facing inwards towards the project. The piping will be on the ‘inside’ of the seam, and only reveal itself once the project is turned right-side-out. The seam you are sewing should be as close as possible to the piping cord, but not so close that the sewing foot is riding on top of the piping cord.
2. **Sew the Piping to the Fabric:** Using a zipper foot or a walking foot, sew the piping to the fabric, stitching as close as possible to the cording. Use the same seam allowance that you used when creating the piping.
3. **Clip Curves (if necessary):** If you’re attaching the piping to a curved edge, clip the seam allowance along the curve to allow the fabric to ease and prevent puckering. Be careful not to cut the stitching.
4. **Attach the Second Layer of Fabric:** Place the second layer of fabric over the piping, right sides together, and pin in place. Sew along the same stitching line that you used to attach the piping, encasing the piping between the two layers of fabric.
5. **Turn Right Side Out and Press:** Turn the project right side out and press the seam. The piping should now be visible along the edge, creating a clean and professional finish.
## Tips and Tricks for Perfect Piping
* **Practice Makes Perfect:** Before starting your project, practice making piping on scrap fabric to get a feel for the technique.
* **Use a Walking Foot:** A walking foot can be helpful when sewing with thick or slippery fabrics, as it helps to feed the fabric evenly and prevent it from shifting.
* **Adjust Your Sewing Machine Settings:** Experiment with your sewing machine settings, such as stitch length and tension, to find the optimal settings for your fabric and cording.
* **Use a Piping Foot (Optional):** A piping foot is a specialized sewing machine foot that is designed specifically for making piping. It has a groove that guides the cording and ensures a consistent seam allowance. These feet can be purchased for most sewing machines.
* **Pre-Wash Your Fabric:** Pre-washing your fabric before making piping is essential to prevent shrinkage and ensure that the finished piping fits properly.
* **Use a Seam Gauge:** A seam gauge can help you maintain a consistent seam allowance when sewing the piping.
* **Be Patient:** Making upholstery piping takes time and patience. Don’t rush the process, and take your time to ensure a perfect finish.
* **Cutting Corners Neatly**: When you meet a corner, take the fabric with the covered piping, and clip the fabric at an angle up to the piping. This reduces the bulk in the corner, making it easier to sew around a corner. When sewing around the corner, ensure you keep the corner angled so the needle does not hit the cord. You may need to reduce your sewing speed to achieve this. Once around the corner, back-stitch, and then continue along the edge with the piping as usual.
* **Joining the Ends Neatly**: When the piping goes completely around a cushion or object, you will need to join the two ends neatly together. There are two methods of doing this. The first method is to carefully unravel the piping, cut the cord shorter, and butt the two ends of the cord up neatly together. Then fold the fabric over and sew as usual. The second method is to carefully overlap the ends, and slowly sew over the top of the piping. The needle may break if the cord is hit, so reduce the sewing speed and use the hand-wheel to slowly go over the cord.
## Troubleshooting
* **Puckering:** Puckering can occur if the fabric is too tight or if the seam allowance is too wide. Try easing the fabric around curves and trimming the seam allowance closer to the stitching line.
* **Uneven Seam:** An uneven seam can be caused by inconsistent tension or by not guiding the fabric properly. Pay attention to your sewing technique and maintain a consistent tension on the fabric and cording.
* **Stitching Too Close to the Cording:** If you’re stitching too close to the cording, the needle may hit the cording and break. Adjust the position of the zipper foot and sew slightly further away from the cording.
* **Stitching Too Far from the Cording:** If you’re stitching too far from the cording, the piping may not be secure. Move the zipper foot closer to the cording and sew again.
* **Fabric Slipping:** Fabric slipping can occur when sewing with slippery fabrics. Use a walking foot or pin the fabric in place to prevent it from shifting.
## Conclusion
Making upholstery piping is a rewarding skill that can significantly enhance the look and durability of your upholstery projects. By following these steps and tips, you can create professional-quality piping that adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to any piece of furniture or fabric project. So, gather your materials, fire up your sewing machine, and start creating beautiful upholstery piping today!