How to Make Cording
Okay now that you have your back all pieced together
We are ready to start with the cording!
When slipping a piece of furniture you have a few options:
1. Finish your piece with out cording
2. Using the same fabric to cover the chair/sofa to make your cording
3. Use a contrasting fabric to make the cording
For this project I am going to use a contrasting cording.
I love to use a contrasting cording when the piece has really unique lines.
The contrast cording will help play up the shape of the chair.
Cording is created by cutting long strips of fabric on the bias.
Bias is anything cut t a 45degree angle
Most sewing rulers have line on them showing the correct angle for bias.
I have seen people fold their fabric all sorts of origami"ish" to get their bias strips
out of fat quarters. I seriously am challenged that way and can't seem to figure out
how they fold their fabric to get the correct cut.
For this reason the way I am showing you is a bit antiquated, but hey it works :)
First I clear a large space on my floor so I can spread out my fabric.
Then using my ruler I lay the 45 line along my selvage
I use fabric chalk, a pencil or even a sharpie marker
to draw my line.
I slide the ruler up the line I just created and draw.
Keep doing this until your line extends from one selvage side to the other.
I then use my marker to trace another line 1 3/4" below the line I just drew.
Do this repeatedly to create multiple 1 3/4" wide strips to be used for your bias cording.
Many people think you can create cording on the straight grain
but from my experience it never lays as nice as cording cut on the bias.
Cording comes in various sizes.
Choose the thickness that you feel will most complement your piece.
A thin delicate cording creates a more formal look while
a heavy one will give your piece a more casual feel.
I personally love the twisted cord in size 3/16"
Now that you have all your strips cut and have chosen your cording size
we are ready to head over to your machine and sew :)
Join your strips as shown above with 1/4" seam allowence.
You will want to set your the stitch length on your machine slightly smaller than normal.
This will help strengthen your seams.
Set your machine to a basting stitch,
put on your zipper foot attachment and we are ready to go...
Position the needle so that it creates a stitch line next to your cording.
At this point you do not need to sew right up against the cording just close
enough to secure the fabric around it.
Next week we will create a front panel and attach it to our back panel with the cording we just made.
If you missed last week here is the link
