TRIMMING THE SEAT
The piping is used to trim the seat edge and cover the gimp pins. The circumference of the edge of the padded seat is measured. A strip of fabric 6cm wide is cut on the bias (i.e. diagonal to the weave) to the required length. This is cut from excess fabric left on the width of the fabric, once the seat template has been cut out. A rotary cutter can be used to do this, or sharp scissors. Fabric strips are machine-sewn together if necessary. This is done with the right sides facing each other, making a ‘V’ shape to create a seam. The seams are then ironed open to avoid having a bump in the piping. The fabric is folded over a length of piping cord, encasing the cord in a long tube. Using a piping foot or a zipper foot on the sewing machine, a seam is sewn along the left-hand edge of the enclosure Once this is done, any excess fabric on the left edge is trimmed, leaving enough to place the second layer of piping on. The right edge of fabric is left untouched. The second layer of piping is laid alongside the tube encasing the first layer, on the right-hand piece of fabric so that the cords sit side by side The fabric is folded over the cord from right to left and then turned over and sewn face up, over the first line of stitching This is sewn with a normal foot on the sewing machine, as the stitches need to be tight. The excess fabric is trimmed. The first 0.5cm of cord is trimmed away. Starting at the back of the seat, the outer fabric of the piping is secured with a single gimp pin. Working clockwise, the piping is then attached using a glue gun. Adding the glue to the piping, not to the chair, avoids any mess. The trim is pressed into position using the fingertips. Alternatively, pre-made single-colour cording may be used. Pauline Keenoy worked for many years at the Leeds College of Art, where she taught upholstery and soft furnishing. Now a full-time craftswoman, she combines working on her own furniture restoration projects and running courses in upholstery and furniture restoration from Damside Mill in Haworth, West Yorkshire. For more information, visit www.damsidemill.com Stitching line