My new vintage style bag (2) and piping tutorial

It can be worn as a shoulder bag or as a pochette for a trendy cocktail!

I am happy: I got good reactions from My new vintage style bag so I decided to design another version of it. This time, no metallic frame to make it more simple but instead a cute little flap. The fabric I used is silk, so that it can be a cool evening bag! I also used a contrasting peacock green (mmm I love this colour...) for the lining. And last but not least, my favourite detail: piping!!! 

Once again, it was too difficult finding interesting varieties (I think I give up for now...), so I decided to make my own with the same fabric as the lining. I had the instructions of this sewing bible on how to make tubing and after a few modifications, I came up with my own piping tutorial. It is great fun to make!

I mean the piping tape, because the tutorial was a bit of a disaster!!!! I am really not an internet (or a computer) geek; I thought that to do a tutorial on a pdf file, I could do it first on Illustrator and then convert it on pdf. But of course, after having spent a few hours making a nice presentation, my Illustrator application decided to bug and refused saving my document. So, as naive as I am, I copied everything on a Word document, thinking/hoping that I could just paste it on my blog... But no no no, it would work with the text but not with the photos! At the end, I had to download my photos one by one and re-organise them directly on the blog...

pfffiou, what an adventure!!! So,no French version for the moment for my French friends I am afraid ! I will try to make one very soon.

Anyway, after all those emotions, here is my tutorial, tataaam:

How to make your own piping tape:

1. Cut bias strips in your chosen fabric. To find the true bias, fold fabric at a 45 degree angle to selvage.

2.  I find it easier to trace a pattern, it avoids me to struggle with the fabric later:) You know how silky fabrics and lining have a mean tendency to slip in your hands when you’re trying to cut into them!!! In any case, measure the diameter of you piping cord (any cord you like, can be found in any haberdashery).  Then, add 1 cm on each side for the seam allowance.

It will make your life much more simple for when you sew!

3. Pin pattern on fabric and cut as much as you need.  Because bias stretches; cut your cord twice as long. If you don’t have enough fabric, cut two stripes and sew them together as in the photos. If you iron well and seams open, it won’t show once it is around the cord.

4. Place the bias strip around cord, wrong sides together (right side facing up). Pin the fabric to have it lay flat and nice…

5. Now for the fun bit, if you have a zipper foot, which I strongly recommend!(I tried with a normal foot and it is really a nightmare).The best is to get a double-sided zipper foot, so that you can use it either way! (if you live in the UK, check out this website). So, using a super zipper foot, stitch down the bias, as close as possible to cord.

Et voila, you get your nice personalised piping tape!!!

6. Now for the sewing: it’s going to be so easy... Just pin piping tape on your sewing project, matching seam allowances and, again using zipper foot, stitch along cord. 

Finally, add second layer on top (your piping will be then “sandwiched” in between, and follow the previous sewing lines.