I’m still here!

No, I haven’t run off to join the circus.  Yes, life has gotten a little busy right now but it’s interesting that during all the commotion, I am still dreaming of my sewing projects – past, present and future!

What am I (still) working on?  My McCall’s M7055.  I am hoping it will look great with my Black & Blue Ocelot!

Although before I could finish, I ran out of piping!

You will be happy to hear that I did manage to go inside my local fabric shop and not come out with a hundred dollars worth of new fabric for my stash!  Instead I bought $13.00 worth of seam binding, single fold bias tape and PIPING!  (I bought just a little extra!)

You might also be happy to hear that I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW!  Never before have I had to join piping ends, so now’s the time.

Oh no! I’ve run out of piping!
So let’s get the seam ripper out and open up the ends.
Measure a point where I want to join the two ends.
Turn the two pieces on an angle at that point.

 

Sew them together on an angle.
Like so.
Looks messy, doesn’t it.
Trim.
Looks messy, doesn’t it.
Trim again.
Tuck the frayed ends in well (they overlap just a bit) and continue sewing the piping on.
How’s that?
Piping all done!

Next step?  I want seam binding on the inside of the armholes as when the cardigan falls open it looks too messy for me.  Almost done though!

Do you have any tips for working with piping that you would like to share?

Happy Sewing!

29 Responses to “I’m still here!”

  1. UtaC Avatar

    You have been busy too.. 🙂 I have never worked with piping before. Would know where to start,,lol You joined that like a pro.. ( You are a pro).. 🙂

  2. ellegeemakes Avatar

    I love adding piping to a project but can’t recall ever having to join piping ends before. How have I avoided that (LOL)? Thanks for showing me how it’s done! That cardigan is going to be amazing…

    1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!! Avatar

      Thanks! Glad to help! Notice a couple of commenters had some good tips too!

      1. ellegeemakes Avatar

        I did too and copied them into my file 🙂

  3. Thimberlina Avatar

    Cool! Nice explanation! Looking forward to seeing it finished and modelled 😀

  4. jendavismiller Avatar

    I haven’t a single piping tip, but I’m surely admiring the job you’ve done with yours! 😉

    1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!! Avatar

      Thank you! I can’t wait to actually finish my cardigan! I have so little left to do.

  5. jvandervlugt Avatar

    It looks like intricate work. Good job. It’s fun learning something new.

  6. CurlsnSkirls Avatar

    Lovely make, and how thorough of you to finish the inside seams. (Need to remember that option meself.) Thank you for the great step-by-step for splicing piping, too, and many happy wearings of your beautiful inside & out creation!

  7. mrsmole Avatar

    If the piping cord is cotton inside, I’d pre-shrink it before inserting unless you want it to pucker later. If you make your own, you can use nylon seine twine on a roll from the DIY section of the hardware store which never shrinks and is very smooth. I’ve been using it for 40 years and it comes in all thicknesses and very cheap.Great photos!

  8. Linda Wilson Avatar

    Perfectly done. Right sides together at a right angle and stitch across the bias. That amount of bias tape must have caused a great deal of pleasure for the cat helpers! Just like a good piece of string crawling slowly away from them? Or alternatively did you remove them from the room? Or sometimes I’ve found myself with the bias tape wrapped round my neck, to keep it out of paws way!!! Happy for you, you got it finished!

    1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!! Avatar

      Thank you! For some reason the “cat helpers” stay away from my machine when I’m using it. Perhaps it is the noise? So the piping was safe with me. Of course I still have the problem of trying to remove all those tiny cat hairs from my black fabric because they seem to love lying on this project when I am not looking!

      1. Linda Wilson Avatar

        Lucky you. One of mine continually head butts the threads of my overlocker and twists them!! Cat hair on fabric- a never ending story!!

  9. Naomi Avatar

    Piping like a boss there! Impressive.

  10. Fadanista Avatar

    Fabulous job with that piping! So glad you haven’t run away to the circus…

    1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!! Avatar

      Thank you! I’m afraid I wouldn’t qualify for the glamorous high wire jobs! I just might have to settle for being the “bearded lady”! (no offence to the bearded lady)