How to make piping.

Piping is relatively

simple to make.  Clearly easier on your sewing machine; piping could be made by hand-stitching.  Used for all kinds of things in home decor and fashion, it's a must know technique in my book.  You can purchase your piping at your local fabric store.  In this instance, I'm using clothesline purchased at the hardware store.  I'm covering a couch, so I need a lot of it!  This is rather thin piping so I cut my strip of fabric about two inches wide.  The piping and the fabric have been cut to length for the cushion I'm covering.

Fold your fabric over the piping.  You can pin it or baste it if you prefer.

Using a zipper foot on the machine, run the stitch along the piping down the entire length of fabric.

I admit that I am a messy seamstress!  It allows me to work faster but I usually have more trimming and clean up to do!  In this case, I'm using a canvas tarp (similar to duckcloth but much less expensive) to cover this old couch.  The downside is that it unravels even when I use the pinking shears.

The piping piles up behind the machine as I sew.

I like to use contrasting fabric when making piping. 

You can see the piping on the chair cover and the piping on the pillow.  Not matching, but similar color schemes.

I haven't used this piping yet but I love the color!  Make piping ahead of time in different lengths for potential projects.

These two chairs are in the master bedroom.  I backed the pillows with the contrasting fabric from each chair but coordinated them by using the same piping on each.

Sewing doesn't have to be complicated.  Dust off your old machine and be creative!