I really like the look of scalloped piping. And it is very easy to make, not to mention quick and pretty inexpensive. I thought others may enjoy making their own scalloped piping....so I created this tutorial. All you need is fabric and a sewing machine.....let's get started!
First start with bias strips you have joined together to approximately the length you need. You really have to use bias strips here. The width doesn't matter so much. I make them wide enough so they go through the sewing machine well without getting hung up on the feed dogs. After the piping is finished you can trim the raw edges down to the width needed for the seam allowances on the item you are working on.
Fold the strip in half.
Set your machine to the blind hem stitch. On my machine I can reverse the stitch so that the little "v's" are on the right side and the straight stitches are on the left side. If you cannot reverse your stitch check your machine manual to see if you have a stitch like the one I just described. It may be called a "shell stitch." If not, you should still be able to do this with the regular blind hem stitch. You'll just put your fabric under the needle differently.
So...if you can reverse the blind hem stitch....then put your fabric in with the fold on the right side. If you can only do the regular blind hem stitch then put your fabric in with the fold on the left side. Make sure you are using a presser foot that can accommodate a zig zag stitch....I can't tell you how many needles I have broken from not checking the presser foot first.
Now we need to set some adjustments for the machine. Set the stitch width at 5.0. Set the stitch length at 2.0. And I have to increase my tension to 10. You may not have to alter the tension....check and see.
Position your fabric under the needle so that when the needle goes down it will go completely off the fold of the fabric and "into the air" so to speak. Then for the straight stitches it will swing back onto the fabric. Then start stitching.
Continue stitching in this manner....with the needle swinging off of the fabric and then back onto the fabric for the straight stitches.
After a few stitches take a look at the strip coming out of the machine to see if it looks like what you want. If not, make some more adjustments. If it looks correct...then keep stitching!
Continue to stitch for the length needed. When you are finished you can trim off the raw edges to the seam allowance needed for your project.
Here you can see the piping on the dress as it buttons on the shoulder.
I think the scalloped piping looks great anywhere!!! Try it and see if you like it. If you have any questions feel free to ask!!! I'm no expert....but I will definitely try to help!!!
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19 comments:
Thanks for the tutorial! That's a really cool technique. I can't wait to try it.
It's really cute and looks very easy to do. I've never put piping on anything, though, so the whole thing will be new to me. Could this go around the bottom edge of a short sleeve? Or around a collar?
Kelley....You're welcome!! I'd love to see what you make!!
Susan....Thanks!! You could definitely put it around the bottom edge of a short sleeve. When you were finished you'd have to decide if you wanted to finish the raw edges or if you needed to apply a bias facing to finish the edges(that is what I did with the dress shown on this post). Easy to do....harder to explain with only words. I may have to work up another tutorial to better explain it and show visuals.
Thanks for the info! I can't wait to get my new pattern and try this!
Now that is just the sweetest thing. I've never seen this done, and I have three little girls that are my friend's daughters that I'd love to do this for. Thanks for the tutorial!
Oh I love it! Thank you. I've just learned to do my own piping in the last couple of years and really enjoy using it in my sewing. You can check out my sewing blog if you like at www.xanga.com/Jude1_22
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing, I had seen the shoulder button picture and wondered how you had made the scalloped trim. Found you blog just a couple of days ago from Cheryl.- Erin
Cheryl M...you're welcome. I can't wait to see your creation!!
Karen...You'll have to post pics so we can all see!!!
candlebynight...love your blog!! You do beautiful smocking!!! Thanks so much for stopping by and saying "hi."
Erin...I'm glad you found me through Cheryl. And I'm thrilled you said "hi." If you have any questions just let me know.
This is such a cool technique...I have never seen it before! Thanks for sharing!
You're welcome Jessica!!!!
Cindy, this is my most favoritest =) trick of yours, ever! Thanks for sharing the instructions. It looks so neat.
Katie...thanks!!! I would love to see what you create using this technique!!! I love it too!
This is great. They were showing you how to do the shell stitch in Sew Beautiful as a hem, but this is great. I love it as a "piping" without the cord (always seem to run out of the cord and end up using yarn or whatever I can find around the house).
Hi, I have featured this lovely idea in a blog post called 20 ways with piping. Please check it out if you’d like.
http://sewandthecity.blogspot.com/2011/09/twenty-ways-with-piping.html
Best regards
Irina
Oh my!!! I am so happy you posted this Cindy. I've had that same dress cut out forever and never have finished it cause the scallop technique was going to take forever. But this is genious!!! Thank you.
Cindy, Tried it on a strip of fabric not bias with same settings, no luck, it really has to be a bias strip to work?
Will try again tomorrow & let you know Love this dress from Sew Beautiful #80-Pascale real similiar to Cherry Williams basic yoke dress, just with no smocking. I started y Heirloom sewing on Cherry Williams patterns, just love them & Sew Beautiful & Precious Martha Pullen!!
I loved learning about this technique! Thanks so much for sharing. I can't wait to try it.
I loved learning about this technique! Thanks so much for sharing. I can't wait to try it.
super cute - and so simple! I will definitely be trying this soon!
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