Finishing Embroidery with Piping Trim
A trim of piping gives embroidery a nice simple frame without a lot of bulk or weight.
This is a nice finish for small pieces like Christmas ornaments, but it also works with larger stitching pieces.
See it All
Below you will find:
- supply list
- video tutorial
- step-by-step written tutorial with pictures
- pattern inspiration
Supplies and Tools
Everything you need to make this project
- Embroidery mounted on card
- Backing fabric mounted on card
- Piping (either packaged or custom made)
- glue
- clips
- regular sewing thread to match embroidery background fabric
Video
Subscribe to Epida Studio on YouTube
Tutorial
See each step in the process, with images to help guide you.
Glue baste the piping to the embroidery
Ensure that your embroidery has been mounted onto card with a smooth edge. (To see how, check out the tutorial for Finishing Embroidery with a Felt Backing, but don’t add the felt.)
My sample fabric is plain, so yours with embroidery will look a lot nicer!
Using small dots of glue and clips to hold it in place, lay the piping onto the back edge of the embroidery. You won’t need a lot of glue as this is just to hold it temporarily.
When you get all the way around the shape, clip the piping so that there is just a slight overlap of the ends.
The clips and glue together will help the piping stay in place
Check the front to make sure the piping is even and looks nice. Adjust if necessary.
Add the backing piece
Mount a piece of backing fabric onto card in the same way as the embroidery.
Place it onto the back and adjust the clips so that they hold all the layers together. If you want a loop to hang it, add that between the layers.
OPTION – Instead of a backing fabric, you could use another embroidery and have your finished piece be reversible. This is perfect for seasonal stitching.
Stitch the layers together
Thread a sharp needle with regular sewing thread and knot the end. Bury the knot between the layers and begin stitching the layers together.
On the front, take a stitch through the piping and then the edge of the backing piece.
From the back, stitch through the piping and then the edge of the embroidery piece.
Continue to stitch back and forth through the piping.
The stitches will be invisible unless you look very closely.
Finished piece
The piping gives a simple frame that doesn’t detract from your stitching.
Other finishing options
Finish with a felt backing
A felt backing leaves the embroidery frame-less. This is a beautiful minimalist option.