How to Apply Cording to Slipcovers

Cording that has been covered in bias strips cut from the slipcover fabric is often added to slipcovers at most of the visible seams. It adds a professional look to your slipcovers and also helps strengthen the seams.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Adjustable Zipper Presser Feet
• Dressmaker's Measuring Tapes
• Flat Work Surfaces
• Cording
• Dressmaker Pins
• Dressmaker Shears
• Fabric-marking Pens
• Home Decorator Fabrics
• Ironing Boards
• Irons
• Sewing Machine
• Sewing Machine Needles
• Threads
• Paper And Pencils
• Yardsticks
• Rulers

Measure for the Cording

1. Fit the slipcover to the furniture or cushion.

2. Use a tape measure to measure the length of all the seams that will be corded. Add all the length measurements together and divide the total inches by 36 to get the cording yardage needed.

Make the Covered Cording

1. Purchase the amount of cording calculated in step 2. Choose any color cording in your preferred width.

2. Take your slipcover fabric and lay it down on a flat work surface, wrong side up.

3. Fold one of the cut ends of the fabric piece up to meet either selvedge (the cut end should be as even as possible). The two edges should line up evenly. Use an iron to press the fold that is created.

4. Unfold the fabric and use a fabric marking pen and a yardstick to draw a line along the crease mark. This marks the true bias of the fabric. Fabric that is cut along the bias has a stretch to it that allows for its easy placement around curves.

5. Use a yardstick or ruler and a fabric marking pen to draw a second line that is parallel to the first. The distance between the two lines should be equal to the width of the cording plus 2 inches.

6. Repeat step 7 (on both sides of the first line drawn); use the last line drawn as your guide. Continue until no more lines will fit on the fabric.

7. Cut the bias strips from the fabric along the drawn lines.

8. Sew the bias strips together so that they form several pieces, each long enough to cover an entire seam on one of your slipcover sections.

9. Place the cording at the center of the bias strip (on the wrong side). Bring the edges of the bias strip up to meet. Line the edges up evenly and pin the edges into place. Also place pins in the fabric, next to the cording, to hold the cording in its centered position.

10. Use a sewing machine to stitch as close to the cording as possible.

Apply the Cording

1. Enclose the raw edges of the covered cording between the two layers of fabric that will be sewn.

2. Place the cording so that its raw edges face the same direction as the raw edges of the fabric pieces.

3. Make sure that the cording is positioned along the seam so that only the cord portion will be visible after the stitching is complete.

4. Trim any cord ends that will meet so that one end just touches the other. The ends should not overlap.

5. Trim one bias edge so that it is even with the cord end. Trim the other so that it extends approximately 1/2 inch from that cord end.

6. Fold the 1/2 inch piece of fabric under approximately 1/4 inch. Place the folded edge so that it rests on top of the fabric of the adjoining cord.

7. Topstitch as close to the cording as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep notes as to the length of the individual seams. You will need these numbers when it is time to cut and cover the cording.

• Purchase an additional 1 to 2 yards of your slipcover fabric if you will be using cording. The larger the furniture piece, the more cording needed.

• Choose cording for its width rather than its color. The color will not be visible anyway, as the fabric will cover it.

• Make sure that the yardage needed for making the bias strips is added into your estimate of the total yardage needed for the slipcover. Set this yardage aside.

• Use an adjustable zipper foot when you sew the cording. The foot should be set to the left of the needle.

• Find finishing options for the raw fabric edges of the cording in "Keep Raw Fabric Edges from Fraying," under Related eHows. Make sure that the bias fabric extends approximately 1 inch from each end of the cording.

• Cut the cording approximately 1 to 2 inches longer than the seam measurement.

• Position the cording so that, if two ends will be joined (such as is done with a cushion), the point at which they come together will be hidden from view.

• Baste the cording into place. Make any necessary placement adjustments, remove the basting stitches and then sew into place.

• Stop your stitching approximately 1/2 to 1 inch from each side of joined cords.