How to make a pillow or cushion with Piping attached
Cushion Cover with Piping – Sewing
On the WRONG side of the back pieces press over the inner edges by ¼ inch (6mm). Press them over again by ¾ inch (2cm) and stitch across the hems.
If you have a fabric design that is one-directional, then make sure they are both facing up and that you are pressing in the edges that face each other.
Overlap the hemmed edges so the back becomes the same width as the front and baste the top and bottom edges to hold it in place.
Take the front of the pillow and start pinning the piping to the edge. Start at least a couple of inches from one corner or in the center of one side. If your fabric has a directional print the piping join will be the least noticeable at the bottom of the cover.
The stitching on the piping should be in line with our seam allowance which is ½ inch from the edge. The edge of my piping (tape edge to the stitching) was ⅜ inch (1cm) so my piping was pinned ⅛ inch (3mm) from the edge of the fabric.
Stop 1 inch before you get to the first corner. Piping won’t completely bend around a corner so we need to work it in. Carefully clip into the edge of the piping to help it bend.
Make sure you don’t clip into the stitching line of the piping. Notice how the inner edge of the piping wrinkles slightly. This is normal and it will straighten once you turn the finished cover the right way out.
Keep pinning until you get back to where you started. Bend the first end down and then the second end down and over it as shown. Try to keep the ends at a gentle angle to get the neatest finish.
Stitch around the piping with your zipper foot on top of the piping stitching. Use a small stitch length around the curves for greater control.
You will stitch straight across your beginning point where the ends overlap. Once you have finished you can trim the ends.
3. Use your zipper foot to straight stitch around the edge of the piping. When you get to the corners, lower the needle and lift the foot to turn the cushion panel making it easier to sew in a curve. Snip into the piping cord’s seam allowance to help the piping cord lie flat.
Step 3 – Join the Front and Backs
Put your back on top of your front with the RIGHT sides together and pin around the edges.
Sew the back to the front all the way around close to the piping edge. You will need to use your zipper foot again to get nice and close to the piping.
If you sew on the front of the cover you can just sew on top of your previous stitching line for greatest accuracy.
Trim the corners and finish the raw edges with a zig-zag stitch or serger if you have a fabric that frays.
Turn your cushion cover with piping the RIGHT way out and give it a good press.