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
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 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 SIZE | 14 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) |
If you have a non standard sized insert, here is what you will be cutting:
More About Piping
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More Cushion and Pillow Tutorials
- 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
- READING PILLOW - Reading Pillow Pattern
- PATCHWORK CUSHION - Patchwork Cushion Pattern
How to Sew a Cushion Cover with Piping
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Clip corners and turn right way out. Insert cushion.
Mary
Very helpful, thank you!
oussum fashion
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.
treasurie
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! 🙂
Helena
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