How to make and attach piping cord

Piping cord on its own is just a core — this is how you turn it into the clean, tailored edge you see on a finished cushion or chair.

1. Step 1

   Piping cord and a bias-cut fabric strip laid out flat, ready to sew

   Step 1

   Cut your fabric on the bias

   Cut a fabric strip on the bias (at 45° to the grain) — this lets it curve smoothly around corners without puckering. Width should be the cord's circumference plus two seam allowances, usually 4–5cm total for standard piping cord.

2. Step 2

   Fabric wrapped around the cord with raw edges aligned and pinned

   Step 2

   Wrap the cord and pin

   Fold the fabric strip around the cord, right side out, matching the raw edges. Pin every few centimetres to stop the cord shifting while you sew.

3. Step 3

   Close-up of a zipper or piping foot stitching close to the cord

   Step 3

   Stitch close to the cord

   Using a zipper or piping foot, stitch as close to the cord as you can without catching it. The foot's groove rides along the cord, keeping your line straight — this seam is what you'll later sew into the cushion cover.

4. Step 4

   The finished piped fabric strip, cord fully covered

   Step 4

   Check the finished piping

   You should now have a neat, firm strip with the cord fully enclosed and the stitch line snug against it. If the stitching sits too far from the cord, the piping will look loose once it's in the seam.

5. Step 5

   Piping pinned around a cushion cover edge, raw edges aligned, right sides together

   Step 5

   Pin it to the cushion

   Lay the piping onto the right side of your cushion panel, raw edges aligned with the panel's edge, and pin it in place all the way round.

6. Step 6

   Piping seam allowance being clipped at a corner to let it turn smoothly

   Step 6

   Clip corners and curves

   At corners, snip into the piping's seam allowance (not through the stitching) so it can pivot cleanly. On curves, small regular snips let the piping sit flat instead of pulling tight.

7. Step 7

   Two ends of piping cord joined together with the fabric folded to hide the join

   Step 7

   Join the ends invisibly

   Where the two ends of piping meet, unpick a few centimetres of covering fabric, overlap and trim the cord ends so they butt together (not overlap), then fold the fabric back over the join and finish stitching. Done well, the join disappears into the seam.

8. Step 8

   Finished cushion with a clean, defined piped edge

   Step 8

   Sew the seam

   With the piping pinned in place, stitch through all layers using the same zipper/piping foot, staying just inside your first stitch line so it doesn't show. Turn right side out for a clean, tailored edge.