How to Add Piping Cord to an Inter Quilt Border

Piping cording may be used between quilt blocks as well as around the quilt border.

Handmade quilts are passed from generation to generation as family heirlooms. The origin of quilting is lost to antiquity, having developed independently in different cultures. Historically, quilting provided a way to use fabric scraps leftover from other sewing projects. Continuing the tradition, today's creative needleworker cuts fabric into shapes and sews them together to form blocks of various designs. Blocks are then sewn together to create a quilt top -- the uppermost layer in a quilt "sandwich" -- with backing on the bottom and batting in between. For added interest, piping cord may be sewn around the quilt top to set off the pieced blocks.

Things You'll Need

• Quilt top
• Batting
• Border fabric
• Piping cord
• Sewing machine
• Cording foot

Instructions

1. Press the quilt top. Lay it out on a large flat surface, such as a floor. The quilt top should be right side up.

2. Pin piping cord to one edge of the quilt, so that the piping cord is on the inside and the cut edge of the piping is on the same side as the cut edge of the quilt top. Place pins with their sharp ends pointing up toward the top of the side of the quilt. With pins placed in this manner, it is easier to remove them as you sew the piping in place on the sewing machine.

3. Install the cording foot on the sewing machine. Adjust the foot to sew with the cording to the left.

4. Stitch the cording in place using a loose stitch.

5. Repeat Steps 2 to 4 on the other three sides of the quilt.

6. Lay the quilt, right side up, on a flat surface once again. Place a border strip right side down on the quilt top, matching outside edges. Pin the border fabric in place.

7. Sew the border fabric to the quilt top that has piping cord in place. Sew close to the piping using a normal stitch. Repeat on the other three sides of the quilt.

8. Fold the border out on one side, and fold the border in on the adjacent side. Use a straight edge, and mark across the border pieces to continue the seam line on the quilt top -- across the border. Pin and sew. Repeat on the other three sides of the quilt.

9. Trim the seams to 1/4 inch. Fold the border out, and press the quilt top.

Tips & Warnings

• Piping cord may be used around individual quilt blocks to add emphasis. Piping cord may also be used to finish off the border edge of your quilt.

References

• Alternative Windows: Binding and Piping Instructions
• All People Quilt: Covered Cording
• Ask Penny Halgren: What is the Best Way to Add Piping to the Binding in Your Quilt?

Resources

• Quilt Bug: Quilt Tips, Tricks and Techniques