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.
Learn how to sew professional-looking cushion covers with piping on the edges with this step by step tutorial.
HOW TO SEW A CUSHION COVER WITH PIPING
Supplies
You will need
- Fabric – use decorator fabric or cotton quilting fabrics
- Piping – you can use store-bought or make your own piping
- Your square-shaped cushion insert. Purchase a new one or just recover one of your existing ones.
- Regular (All-purpose foot and Zipper foot
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Pins
Cushion Cover Sizing
Start by measuring your pillow insert’s dimensions. Measure around the curve of the pillow.
Cut your fabric with the following dimensions
FRONT – Cut 1 piece of 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 SIZE | 14 INCH (35.5CM) | 16 INCH (40.6CM) | 18 INCH (45.7CM) | 20 INCH (50.8CM) |
| FRONT
Cut 1 | 15” x 15”
(38 x 38 cm) | 17” x 17”
(43 x 43 cm) | 19” x 19”
(48.2 x 48.2 cm) | 21” x 21”
(53.3 x 53.3 cm) |
| BACK
Cut 2 | H 15” x W 12”
(H38 x W30.5 cm) | H 17” x 13”
(H43 x W33 cm) | H 19” x W 14”
(H48.2 x W35.5 cm) | H 21” x W 15”
(H53.3 x W38 cm) |
Cushion Cover with Piping | Sewing
On the WRONG side of the back pieces press over the inner edges by 1/4 inch (6mm). Press them over again by 3/4 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.
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.
Take the front of the pillow and start pinning the piping to the edge. 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 1/2 inch from the edge. The edge of my piping (tape edge to the stitching) was 3/8 inch (1cm) so my piping was pinned 1/8 inch (3mm) from the edge of the fabric.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You will stitch straight across your beginning point where the ends overlap. Once you have finished you can trim the ends.
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 greatest accuracy.
Trim the corners and finish the raw edges with a zig-zag stitch or serger if you have a fabric that frays.
Turn your cushion cover with piping the RIGHT way out and give it a good press.
You now have a professional-looking cushion cover with piping that is sure to impress.
Here is a cushion cover with piping where I added a Christmas applique and pom-poms on the corners.
PIN THIS IMAGE FOR LATER 🙂
More About Piping
More Cushion and Pillow Tutorials
How to Make a Cushion Cover 
Envelope Pillow 
Pillowslip Pattern 
Star Pillow Pattern
- FRENCH SEAM STYLE – How to Make a Pillowcase with a French Seam
- ENVELOPE STYLE – How to Make a Cushion Cover – Envelope Style
- STAR SHAPE – Star Pillow Pattern
- DOLL PILLOWS – How to Make a Doll Pillowcase
- ZIPPER COVER – Zippered cushion covers
- COVER WITH PIPING – Make a Cushion Cover with Piping
- NECK PILLOW – Travel Pillow Pattern
- COVER WITH POM POMS – DIY Pom Pom Pillows
- CHRISTMAS COVER – Christmas Pillow
- PILLOW WITH BORDER – Pillowcase Pattern
Helena says
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
treasurie says
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! 🙂
oussum fashion says
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.