Semi Home-Made Piping
I needed some maroon/burgundy piping, and if you read my post yesterday, you can guess which room I will use it in. During my 31-day's series, I shared with you how to make custom piping. I also shared the wide assortment of ready-made piping that is available. Well, I forgot to mention another option, semi home-made piping. OK, I made the name up....but that's what it is! Here is what you need;
Several packages of wide bias tape (the less folds, the better)
Now, how to make it...
Press open all the bias tape. Note, be careful with your iron setting. There is a high polyester content, so keep it low.
To make one continuous length of piping, you will need to join all the strips together. Bias tape (hence the name) is cut on a bias, so you will need to sew the strips together on the bias. This will alow the strips to have some give and also keep your seams less bulky. With right sides together, and allowing an overhang on both pieces, sew along the white line (corner to corner)
Remember to take a few stitches backward so your stitches will be locked in place
Press it open
Place the cording inside the bias tape and fold over
Using a zipper foot, position the needle of the sewing machine as close to the cording as possible
Here is the trick to getting it tight; give a slight pull on the bias tape while sewing. You will need to pull from the top (behind the needle) as well as the bottom. This slight stretch of resistance will give you a nicer finished product.
13 yards later
You have piping the color and width you wanted. Now think of all the fun things you can do with contrast piping. Are you tackling any projects before the New Year?
***Linking to Addicted 2 Decorating***
Several packages of wide bias tape (the less folds, the better)
Cording the width and length you desire
Press open all the bias tape. Note, be careful with your iron setting. There is a high polyester content, so keep it low.
To make one continuous length of piping, you will need to join all the strips together. Bias tape (hence the name) is cut on a bias, so you will need to sew the strips together on the bias. This will alow the strips to have some give and also keep your seams less bulky. With right sides together, and allowing an overhang on both pieces, sew along the white line (corner to corner)
Remember to take a few stitches backward so your stitches will be locked in place
Go all the way to the corner, and back-stitch, again
Trim off the excess
Place the cording inside the bias tape and fold over
Using a zipper foot, position the needle of the sewing machine as close to the cording as possible
Here is the trick to getting it tight; give a slight pull on the bias tape while sewing. You will need to pull from the top (behind the needle) as well as the bottom. This slight stretch of resistance will give you a nicer finished product.
13 yards later
You have piping the color and width you wanted. Now think of all the fun things you can do with contrast piping. Are you tackling any projects before the New Year?
***Linking to Addicted 2 Decorating***
Upholstery 101 (week 10)
Hello, and welcome back...in case you are new here...this is an on-going upholstery series. To start at the beginning, go here.
Today will NOT be the last post....I don't know what I am doing I was not sure how to handle the arms, so this week was a lot of trial, and luckily not too many errors!
I decided to use Mackenzie-Childs as my upholstery influence for this chair. On the seat, and probably the back, I am using a camel colored velvet I had in my hoarding collection. Velvet fabric has a nap (a specific texture), and working with it is not hard, you just need to take the an extra step or two when you cut it. For more information on cutting fabrics with a nap, go here.
Jumping in...I placed a piece of the fabric loosely over the seat, tucking all around and making cuts like the lining
Using the piping that I made (now this is the part that I am experimenting...not sure how to finish the arms), I decided to staple it along the top inside edge of the chair. I started at the inside portion where the side fabric would also get stapled to the front side...
The staples do not need to be close together, this is only for holding the piping into position
Here goes the next part of my experiment, I placed the arm piece long that same edge, folding it over (right sides together) along the inside arm. It is how you would put the pieces together with the piping sandwiched between if you could magically sew them while on the chair
Using cardboard stripping (a common upholstery supply)
I placed the tack stripping along that seam (this is the magical sewing..only using staples) and stapled
...making sure that the staples are close together, like stitches. When the fabric is folded back over, it looks like this
Once I folded the fabric over, I felt it could use a thin layer of foam/fabric (sold at most craft stores). I lightly tacked it in place (maybe a staple every 3" very close to the edge). I trimmed it while it was on the chair
Now, back to the experiment...the rest of the arm. I could not keep applying the piping all the way around the arm in the same fashion....each piece covers the edges of the next piece...until you finish it with a gimp, double-welting, or fancy trim.
So I made a slit in the piping (careful not to cut into the finished roll) where the inside arm starts around the circle of the arm...I also slit the fabric at the same place
Now I am stapling the fabric and piping down the onto the side of the arm (no longer under).
When you examine these photos, you can see that it would not have been possible to tuck it all under, the way the inside piece was done
Also, note that the piping was tacked along the edge. Again, this is to hold it in place...more staples to come. Moving onto the seat....you have seen me do this many times....just like the seat in the Tobi Fairley chair...and then cutting when you are done
A few staples in the front to hold it
CORNERS ON THE FRONT.... This is the difficult part....I promise you will get better with practice!!! Remembering that the staples you put in may need to be re-positioned from time to time....working from the front center out....pull the fabric at a downward angle toward the arm....
At the arm, tuck under and trim off unseen bulky fabric and fold and tuck until you have a fold that you are happy with...I like this fold, and can adjust the rest of the front
So I tacked it into position
This is where you can see the nap of the fabric, it needs to be brushed out...the marks are not permanent. Here is the chair with a finished corner...you can predict how the other corner will get worked, and maybe re-worked!
I want to point out that the circular ends of the arms are charming, and commanding for your attention....I tried to cut the fabric for the arms with this in mind. I wanted both circles to have red berries and similar patterns on them. If you have a project that has a prominent feature, try to cut out your fabric with that feature in mind.
Hope to see you next Wednesday for what MUST be the Finale! Is anyone trying this at home?
Today will NOT be the last post....
I decided to use Mackenzie-Childs as my upholstery influence for this chair. On the seat, and probably the back, I am using a camel colored velvet I had in my
Jumping in...I placed a piece of the fabric loosely over the seat, tucking all around and making cuts like the lining
Using the piping that I made (now this is the part that I am experimenting...not sure how to finish the arms), I decided to staple it along the top inside edge of the chair. I started at the inside portion where the side fabric would also get stapled to the front side...
...I stopped at the top tassel
Here goes the next part of my experiment, I placed the arm piece long that same edge, folding it over (right sides together) along the inside arm. It is how you would put the pieces together with the piping sandwiched between if you could magically sew them while on the chair
Using cardboard stripping (a common upholstery supply)
I placed the tack stripping along that seam (this is the magical sewing..only using staples) and stapled
...making sure that the staples are close together, like stitches. When the fabric is folded back over, it looks like this
Once I folded the fabric over, I felt it could use a thin layer of foam/fabric (sold at most craft stores). I lightly tacked it in place (maybe a staple every 3" very close to the edge). I trimmed it while it was on the chair
Now, back to the experiment...the rest of the arm. I could not keep applying the piping all the way around the arm in the same fashion....each piece covers the edges of the next piece...until you finish it with a gimp, double-welting, or fancy trim.
So I made a slit in the piping (careful not to cut into the finished roll) where the inside arm starts around the circle of the arm...I also slit the fabric at the same place
Now I am stapling the fabric and piping down the onto the side of the arm (no longer under).
When you examine these photos, you can see that it would not have been possible to tuck it all under, the way the inside piece was done
Also, note that the piping was tacked along the edge. Again, this is to hold it in place...more staples to come. Moving onto the seat....you have seen me do this many times....just like the seat in the Tobi Fairley chair...and then cutting when you are done
CORNERS ON THE FRONT.... This is the difficult part....I promise you will get better with practice!!! Remembering that the staples you put in may need to be re-positioned from time to time....working from the front center out....pull the fabric at a downward angle toward the arm....
At the arm, tuck under and trim off unseen bulky fabric and fold and tuck until you have a fold that you are happy with...I like this fold, and can adjust the rest of the front
So I tacked it into position
Going back and removing (be careful not to scratch that painted frame) some of the previous staples, re-position and pull the fabric in the opposite direction to work out any wrinkles until it is smooth.
This is where you can see the nap of the fabric, it needs to be brushed out...the marks are not permanent. Here is the chair with a finished corner...you can predict how the other corner will get worked, and maybe re-worked!
I want to point out that the circular ends of the arms are charming, and commanding for your attention....I tried to cut the fabric for the arms with this in mind. I wanted both circles to have red berries and similar patterns on them. If you have a project that has a prominent feature, try to cut out your fabric with that feature in mind.
Hope to see you next Wednesday for what MUST be the Finale! Is anyone trying this at home?
Or, you can do this....
....continuing with the challenge, this is day 24 of 31....for all 31, go here
I have heard from a few of you that making piping for upholstery....is not easy. I think that is very accurate. It is NOT beyond your ability, though.
However, there is always another way. If you were not aware, ready-made piping is widely available in a rainbow of colors
So, you can do this
or this
This one makes me smile
Mod & hip
So glam, love this
Do they ever make a mistake?
I have heard from a few of you that making piping for upholstery....is not easy. I think that is very accurate. It is NOT beyond your ability, though.
However, there is always another way. If you were not aware, ready-made piping is widely available in a rainbow of colors
So, you can do this
 |
| Source |
or this
 |
| Source |
This one makes me smile
 |
| Source |
Mod & hip
 |
| Source |
So glam, love this
 |
| Source |
Do they ever make a mistake?
Making Piping
....continuing with the challenge, this is day 22 of 31....for all 31, go here
I don't believe in reinventing the wheel. There are so many good tutorials on how to make piping. This video series is my favorite. She is extremely thorough! She has over 100K views! She can do a much better job explaning all of it and showing you....If you prefer a step-by-step in pictures, go here
After making a perfect square, and one cut on the bias (if you don't know how to get to this point, go here), mark the fabric
Cut the fabric
Lay out the strips together
Join the strips together
I am extremely impressed with her speed. I am a much slower sewer. Did this help you? Would you try it?
I don't believe in reinventing the wheel. There are so many good tutorials on how to make piping. This video series is my favorite. She is extremely thorough! She has over 100K views! She can do a much better job explaning all of it and showing you....If you prefer a step-by-step in pictures, go here
After making a perfect square, and one cut on the bias (if you don't know how to get to this point, go here), mark the fabric
Cut the fabric
Lay out the strips together
Join the strips together
Insert the cording and sew the fabric. Note, I do not have a piping foot. I use a zipper foot...it works just fine!
I am extremely impressed with her speed. I am a much slower sewer. Did this help you? Would you try it?