Of Piping Hot Importance

Some say the glass is half full, some say the glass is half empty.
I say "Are you gonna drink that?"
Anon

 

I'm working on a bag pattern to share. In the mean time you get to see a picture of this bag

which has a bit of every gorgeous oriental fabric thrown in, as well as a Chinese dress charm someone sent me, and lots of beading.

This is an over the shoulder diagonal number. My favourite to wear. I have such narrow shoulders that if I don't wear a bag diagonally it just keeps slipping off.

I have trimmed it with pink silk bias piping and a velvet ribbon with beading. The same pink fabric is used as binding to finish off both sides of of the straps which are interlined and padded so they won't loose their shape.

I love home-made bias bindings and pipings! I wouldn't make a bag without them. I also use them in quilting, clothes making and other sewing projects.  A contrasting bias binding is a great way to finish hems and waistbands of skirts. 

Piping is not a dark art. Look here for instructions on making continuous lengths of bias strips. Then fill these with piping cord following the directions here. Or you can read here for the whole shabang. You do not thread the piping cord in afterwards! That would be a nightmare! It gets sewn in, on the machine. It really is fast and easy with a piping/zipper foot!  I always have several spools of piping cord in different widths in my studio. And I keep a tin full of left over cut bias binding for using on projects.

If you want to follow my upcoming bag tutorial I would recommend whipping up some piping and bias binding. Stripes, checks and small patterns look great. I also like to use shot silks to contrast with cotton projects.  Make yourself 2-3 metres of piping in a contrasting fabric.

A reminder of some recent pipings:

From left to right: shot pink silk bias piping, checked cotton bias piping (made from lining fabric of old dress), stripped Kaffe Fassett shot cotton stripped bias piping. I have used a 1/8" cord. But a larger one would also be suitable.

I've just done a quick Internet search to try to find examples of nice bags to link to and I can't find much. Lots of kinda crappy bags and lots of badly designed web sites. I thought it would be easy to find good examples of uses of piping. No. Mine aren't perfect, but I'm not trying to sell them.

Today's inspiration: Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. I have an article in the March edition which some readers have let me know is available now. I haven't seen this issue of the magazine but I'm proud of my contribution and think it's a great magazine.

Likes: Piping. It's a great way to include MORE pattern and colour in sewing projects.

Dislikes: Spelling inspiration. Every time I include it, I spell it wrong and my spell check reminds me what a dolt I am, at spelling .

Comments

[fiberchick]

Beautiful bags Juju... Have you used Clover bias tape makers? They are brilliant...

[Kathie]

I'm a big fan of piping too--that extra detailing adds so much. Your blog is very inspiring.

[Vasilisa]

The Oriental bag is extremely lovely!

[mathea]

What a coincidence - I have just visited Kelly's blog to find that tutorial about continuous bias binding for my current project, spent some time watching Ricky Tim's great DVD "Grand Finale", the chapter about cording, and I get to your post and it's all about bias binding and piping:-)
Great bag, by the way!

[whitney-anne]

It does look good all that piping and I might just give it a try but I'm also interested in the photoshoped background youve used in the last little bag picture... any chance you could run through how you did that?

[Priscilla]

LOVE this bag - you are so talented, I'm looking forward to the tut :)

[Linda Harre]

You are such a tease with all these bags. My tongue is hanging out!!!! You could put one or two on Etsy or Ebay you know:) Can't wait to see the pattern. Although I don't have the skill to work with all the small beads.....I would love to make one! Thanks for all your sharing. It is always fun to come and see what you are up to:) hugs, Linda

[helle]

What a pretty bag.

I might even attempt the piping after seeing your fabulous bag.

[Angela Haselton]

Love, love, LOVE the bags in the last two posts! I am on a bag hunt and am thinking of making my own and love the idea of wearing it diagonally across the shoulders. I can't find any cool bags around here, so I am looking forward to your tutorial.
AAAgh! Beautiful!

[monica]

HOW BEAUTIFUL.

those fabrics... is it hard to work with silk? Looks so slippery...