• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Treasurie
  • FREE PATTERNS
  • Sewing
    • Techniques
    • How to Sew
    • Embroidery
    • Quilting
    • Face Mask
    • Fashion Types
    • Fabric Care
    • Fabric Types
    • Sewing Tools
  • Crochet
  • Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Tie Dye
    • Paper Crafts
    • Paper Mache
    • Cricut
    • Christmas
  • SHOP
menu icon
go to homepage
  • SEWING
  • PATTERNS
  • CROCHET
  • CRAFTS
  • SHOP
search icon
Homepage link
  • SEWING
  • PATTERNS
  • CROCHET
  • CRAFTS
  • SHOP
×
Home » Free Patterns

Cushion Cover with Piping - EASY Sewing Tutorial

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Print

Want to revamp your lounge room? A cushion cover with piping around the edge looks striking and beautiful and is easy to make. This tutorial uses the envelope back method so is suitable for beginners.

Cushion Cover with Piping, How to Sew a Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping, How to Sew a Cushion Cover with Piping

Cushion Cover with Piping

Learn how to sew professional-looking cushion covers with piping on the edges with this step by step tutorial.

Supplies to Sew a Cushion with Piping

You will need

  • Fabric – Use decorator fabric or cotton quilting fabrics suitable for a pillow cover. Weight should be medium.
  • Pillow Piping - You can use store-bought or make your own piping. Bias strips can be made into piping by adding cord.
  • Insert - Your square-shaped cushion insert. Purchase a new one or just recover one of your existing ones.
  • Feet - Regular machine presser foot (All-purpose foot) and Zipper foot
  • Basics - Sewing machine, ruler, scissors, pins, thread, universal sewing machine needle.
Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping, Cushion with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping, Cushion with Piping

Cushion Cover with Piping Sizing

Start by measuring your pillow insert’s dimensions. Measure around the curve of the pillow cover. Cut your fabric with the following dimensions:

FRONT – Cut 1 piece of cushion fabric this size

  • HEIGHT – Add 1 inch to the height of your pillow for the seam allowance.
  • WIDTH – Add 1 inch to the width of your pillow for the seam allowance.

BACK – Cut 2 pieces of fabric this size

  • HEIGHT – Add 1 inch to the height of your pillow for the seam allowance.
  • WIDTH – Divide the insert width by 2 and add 5 inches (12.7cm) to the width of your pillow

Here are the cutting sizes for some common pillow inserts.

PILLOW SIZE14 INCH (35.5CM)16 INCH (40.6CM)18 INCH (45.7CM)20 INCH (50.8CM)
FRONT

 Cut 1

15x15” (38x38cm)17x17” (43x43cm) 19x19” (48x48cm)21x21” (53x53cm)
BACK
Cut 2
H15xW12”

(H38xW30.5 cm)

H17x13” (H43xW33 cm) H19” x W14”

(H48xW35.5 cm)

H 21xW15”

(H53xW38 cm)

Cushion Cover with Piping - Cutting Instructions

If you have a non standard sized insert, here is what you will be cutting:

Cutting Chart for Cushion Cover with Piping
Cutting Chart for Cushion Cover with Piping

More About Piping

  • How to make your own piping cord
  • How to sew piping cord into a seam

Cushion Cover with Piping - Step by Step Sewing Instrucions

Here are the 3 steps for sewing piped cushions:

Step 1 - Piped Cushion Backs

On the WRONG side of the back pieces, press over the inner edges by ¼ inch (6mm). Press them over again by ¾ inch (2cm) and stitch across the hems.

If you have a fabric design that is one-directional, then make sure they are both facing up and that you are pressing in the edges that face each other.

Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping Backs

Overlap the hemmed edges so the back becomes the same width as the front and baste the top and bottom edges to hold it in place.

Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping Overlap
Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping Overlap

Step 2 - Cushion Cover Piping

Here is how to sew piping on a pillow:

Take the front piece of the pillow and start pinning the piping to the raw edge of the fabric. Start at least a couple of inches from one corner or in the center of one side. If your fabric has a directional print, the piping join will be the least noticeable at the bottom of the cover.

The stitching on the piping should be in line with our seam allowance, which is ½ inch from the edge. The edge of my piping (tape edge to the stitching) was ⅜ inch (1cm) so my piping was pinned ⅛ inch (3mm) from the edge of the fabric.

Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping

Stop 1 inch before you get to the first corner. Piping won’t completely bend around a corner, so we need to work it in. Carefully clip into the edge of the piping to help it bend into a 90 degree angle.

Make sure you don’t clip into the stitching line of the piping. Notice how the inner edge of the piping wrinkles slightly. This is normal, and it will straighten once you turn the finished cover the right way out.

Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping Corner

Keep pinning until you get back to where you started. Bend the first end down and then the second end down and over it, as shown. Try to keep the ends at a gentle angle to get the neatest finish.

Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping


Stitch around the piping with your zipper foot on top of the piping stitching. Use a small stitch length around the curves for greater control.

Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping

You will stitch straight across your beginning point where the ends overlap. Once you have finished you can trim the ends.

Step 3 - Join the Front and Backs

Put your back on top of your front with the RIGHT sides together and pin around the edges.

Sew the back to the front all the way around close to the piping edge. You will need to use your zipper foot again to get nice and close to the piping.

If you sew on the front of the cover you can just sew on top of your previous stitching line for the greatest accuracy.

Cushion Cover with Piping
Cushion Cover with Piping

Trim the corners and finish the raw edges with a zigzag stitch or serger if you have a fraying cushion fabric. This will give a professional finish.

Turn your cushion cover with piping the RIGHT way out and give it a good press. Now your piped pillow is ready for its insert.

How to Sew Pillows with Piping
How to Sew Pillows with Piping

Cushion Cover with Piping FAQs

What is the piping on a cushion called?

Piping on cushions is often called welting. It is sewing into the seam to give body to the shape of the cusion as well as longevity.

Do cushions look better with piping?

This question is a matter of personal opinion, but I think piping gives a pop of color as well as a professional look to your cusions.

Why do cushions have piping?

Cushions have piping to add color and texture as well as to make them more durable since the edges will wear better. It also ensures they keep their shape when placed on your couch.

Cushion Cover with Piping - In Conclusion

You now have a professional-looking cushion cover with piping that is sure to impress.

how to sew a pillow cover with piping
How to Sew a Pillow Cover with Piping

Here is a cushion cover with piping where I added a Christmas applique and pom-poms on the corners. Get the DIY Christmas pillow pattern.

Christmas Throw Pillow with Piping
Christmas Throw Pillow with Piping

More Cushion and Pillow Tutorials

How to Make a Cushion Cover
how to make cushion covers
Envelope Pillow
pillowcase pattern, how to make a pillowcase
Pillowslip Pattern
star pillow pattern
Star Pillow Pattern
  1. FRENCH SEAM STYLE – How to Make a Pillowcase with a French Seam
  2. ENVELOPE STYLE – How to Make a Cushion Cover – Envelope Style
  3. STAR SHAPE – Star Pillow Pattern
  4. DOLL PILLOWS – How to Make a Doll Pillowcase
  5. ZIPPER COVER – Zippered cushion covers
  6. COVER WITH PIPING – Make a Cushion Cover with Piping
  7. NECK PILLOW – Travel Pillow Pattern
  8. COVER WITH POM POMS – DIY Pom Pom Pillows
  9. CHRISTMAS COVER – Christmas Pillow
  10. PILLOW WITH BORDER – Pillowcase Pattern
  11. READING PILLOW - Reading Pillow Pattern
  12. PATCHWORK CUSHION - Patchwork Cushion Pattern
How to Sew a Pillow Cover with Piping

How to Sew a Cushion Cover with Piping

Learn how to sew a cushion cover with piping and an easy envelope style back with no zipper. Easy project for beginners.
4.9/5 - (26 votes)
Print Pin
Difficulty: Easy Beginner
Keyword: Sewing Patterns
Total Time: 1 hour hour

Tools

  • Sewing Basics Sewing machine, needle, thread, pins, iron

Materials

  • Fabric
  • Piping
  • Cushion Insert

Instructions

  • Measure the insert and cut the fabric according to the formul provided.
  • On the WRONG side of the back pieces press over the inner edges by ¼ inch (6mm). Press them over again by ¾ inch (2cm) and stitch across the hems.
    Cushion Cover with Piping
  • Overlap the hemmed edges so the back becomes the same width as the front and baste the top and bottom edges to hold it in place.
    Cushion Cover with Piping
  • Pin piping to front edge. Start at least a couple of inches from one corner or in the center of one side. The stitching on the piping should be in line with our seam allowance which is ½ inch from the edge. Clip the piping at the corners. Overlap ends. Stitch around the piping with your zipper foot on top of the piping stitching. 
    Cushion Cover with Piping
  • Put your back on top of your front with the RIGHT sides together and pin around the edges. Sew the back to the front all the way around close to the piping edge with a zipper foot.
    Cushion Cover with Piping
  • Clip corners and turn right way out. Insert cushion.
    Cushion Cover with Piping
4.9/5 - (26 votes)

More Free Sewing Patterns & Tutorials

  • Teddy bear sewing patterns featured image
    27 Free Teddy Bear Sewing Patterns to Make Today
  • how to make a tablecloth
    How to Make a Tablecloth - Any Size, Shape Pattern & Calculator
  • How to Make a Hood
    How to Make a Hood - Easiest Ever DIY Pattern
  • diy mask
    Face Mask Pattern - DIY Mask in 2 Styles {FREE Printable}

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary

    March 12, 2022 at 1:16 am

    Very helpful, thank you!

  2. oussum fashion

    July 13, 2017 at 7:25 am

    Bring loads of vibrancy to your home with these amazing and stylish cushion covers. Designed to excellence, they will surely lend a charismatic appeal to your living space.

  3. treasurie

    March 01, 2017 at 1:35 am

    Hi Helena, the piping would get in the way of sewing the french seams. When doing piping finish your seams with a simple zig-zag stitch for added durability. Thanks for reading! 🙂

  4. Helena

    March 01, 2017 at 1:14 am

    Very informative thanks.
    I want to make a baby pillowcase with french seams and piping, but can't work out how to do it!
    Can you help?
    Thank you

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Pattern Shop

Popular

  • Face Mask Pattern 
  • How to Make Cushion Covers 
  • Burp Cloth Pattern – 3 Styles
  • How to Make a Scrunchie {2 sizes}
  • How to Make a Pillowcase
  • 6 Best Seam Finishes for Fabric
  • How to Gather
  • How to Make Curtains
  • How to Make a Quilt
  • How to Tie Dye
  • Sewing Machine Brands
  • How to Make a Scrunchie
  • How to Sew a Rip
  • How to Make Tassels
  • Types of Skirts
  • Sewing Projects for Beginners
  • Fabric Names

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy/Copyright
  • Sewing Pattern Shop
  • Printing Help
  • Disclaimers/Affiliate/Advertising
  • Site Map

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Popular

  • How to Sew
  • How to Embroider
  • How to Crochet
  • Fashion Styles
  • How to Macrame
  • How to Knit
  • How to Tie Dye

Copyright © 2022 Treasurie. All rights reserved.