I love to finish my garments with a piped and bound edge. I use it to add a subtle pop of color and to provide a professional finish.
A piped and bound edge is a simple way to finish an opening that doesn't have a lining and add a couture touch to any sewing project. It can be used to finish a sleeve, armhole, neckline or hem.
I used this technique to finish the edge of the sleeve on this little girl's dress. In this tutorial, I will walk you step by step through the process. I have also made a video showing the process so you can watch if you prefer. At the bottom of the post you will also find a video on 5 Fun Ways to use Piping!
1. Start with a 2 inch bias strip that has been pressed in half.
A 2" wide bias strip gives a finished binding of 3/8". Place the piping cord down the middle of the pressed bias strip and fold in half again.
2. Stitch the Piping Cord inside the Bias Strip.
Bring the raw edges to match the folded edges. Use a pintuck foot and normal stitch length. Place the piping cord in the grove of the foot and move the needle position over to hug the cord but still allow a little wiggle room. Stitch in place. Here is the piping cord that I use.
3. Trim the Raw Edges of the Sewn Strip.
Trim the two raw edges of the bias strip (not the folded edges) down to 1/8".
4. Pin Strip to Garment Edge.
Pin the bias strip to the garment matching the folded edge of the bias strip to the raw edge of the garment. The trimmed edges of the bias strip are against the right side of the garment.
5. Stitch the Bias Strip in Place.
Using a shortened stitch length (I used 2.0) and the piping foot, stitch the bias strip to the garment. Move the needle position over 1 click so you are stitching just inside the previous line of stitching.
6. Press to the Wrong Side.
Trim the garment fabric down to 1/8" and press the binding to the wrong side. The piping will show along the edge.
7. Stitch the Binding in Place.
Stitch the binding in place from the wrong side using an edge stitch foot, or for an invisible application, hand stitch the binding in place with a slip stitch.
I hope you give this technique a try. For more fun ways to using piping, check out this video:
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