When I talk about how I do the piping for my quilts and garments, I’m always surprised that so many people have never heard of the Groovin’ Piping Trimming Tool. This device makes the task of creating piping with a consistent seam allowance quick and accurate. Basically a thick ruler with two deep grooves, the ruler by Susan Cleveland comes with a 16 page instruction book with wonderful illustrations and variations on how to use it. The ruler is available at your local Moore’s Sewing Center.

Susan Cleveland’s instruction book starts with how to prepare your quilt for binding, and the book ends with finishing the back side of your quilt – and virtually everything you need to know is in the book. Instructions are given for both right and left handed people.

Because complete instructions come with the ruler, I’m just going to show the highlights of how this ruler works to make piping with perfect seam allowances.

Supplies:
Groovin’ Piping Trimming Tool
Rotary Cutter
Cutting Mat
Fabric you want to use for piping

Create piping for narrow binding:

1. Cut fabric for piping 1 1/4”wide.
2. Press fabric strips wrong-sides together.
3. Tie an overhand knot at one end of the cording so it won’t pull through the casing.
4. Thread your machine with thread to match the piping fabric.
5. Note: Susan has instructions for many sewing machine brands and accessories. I use a piping foot on my machine. The piping foot is basically self-guiding, keeping the cord in place and creating uniform width piping.
6. The seam allowance of the piping needs to be trimmed to produce a smooth, accurate seam.
7. Lay the ruler over the piping with the cording in the ruler groove and the seam allowance protruding from the under side of the ruler.
8. Cut along the edge of the ruler with a rotary cutter.
9. Grasp the cording and gently pull it so the next section of piping slides under the ruler and into the groove. Cut again, and repeat until all the piping has been trimmed.
10. Now you have piping ready to install in your project.
11.  The photo below shows a typical seam with piping. Whether you use contrasting fabric for a color splash or the same fabric for dimensional accent, piping can jazz up your project.