Back to the Basics Techniques

Do you know your feet?

by Mary Lou Nall

This is Lesson 2 in a series that will take you “Back to the Basics” of selecting presser feet. The technical details shared will include how the different presser feet available will save you time and produce professional results in any area of home sewing.

The presser feet lessons that will be shared during the upcoming months are as follows:

Lesson 1: Gathering Foot (featured in May 2007 SQE Professional™)
Lesson 2: Piping Foot (This issue of SQE Professional™)
Lesson 3: Flat Fell Seam Foot; small and large
Lesson 4: Quilting/Patchwork Foot
Lesson 5: Special Piping Foot

Lesson 2: Sew perfect piping with Bernina’s Unique #12 presser foot. The tunnell under the foot and the marking on the top guide the piping as you stitch. Sew straight lines, turn corners or curves.
Note: Cut piping fabric 1 1/4” plus the width of the cord. Cut on bias, cross grain or lengthwise grain.

Piping

1. Cut piping fabric 1 1/4” plus width of cord. Strips can be cut on the bias, cross-grain or lengthwise grain.

2. Fold fabric around cord. Position under piping foot with folded edge (around cord) to the left, cord under center of foot. Set the needle position to the far right (1630 – 4th dot from right). It will line up with the groove on the top of the foot. Stitch.

3. Stitch piping to the right side of one fabric section. Keep all raw edges even. The tunnel of the piping foot keeps the cord in place.

4. Place facing over the piping, right sides together, matching raw edges. Position cord under piping foot. The first stitching line is on the top (you need to see this stitching). This line of stitching is in line with the groove on top of the foot. Set the needle position to 1/2 right (1630 – 5th dot from right) and stitch again.

5. Perfect piping in half the time.

Square Corner Piping

1. Sew piping to right side of fabric. At corner, stop at seam allowance. Sink needle. Needle is in the far right position (1630 – 4th dot from right).

2. Turn the fabric so that the line you just stitched is facing you. Raise the presser foot (with your knee lifter, please). With sharp small scissors, snip the piping fabric to the stitching. The needle, groove on the foot and the scissors point will be in line.
Needle is in the far right position (1630 – 4th dot from right).

3. Turn the fabric. Turn the piping around the corner. The one slash allows the right angle turn you need.

Curved Piping

Prepare piping as shown on page 38.

1. Slash piping about every 1/2”

2. Stitch piping to curved edge. See how the slashes open up allowing the piping to lay perfectly smooth around the curve.

3. Place facing over the piping, right sides together. Turn work so that you can see the first row of stitching. Position the piping foot over the cord, move the needle to position needed and stitch. Trim seam.

4. Turn. You have a perfect curve whether your piping is cut on bias or straight of grain.

Mary Lou Nall, a Pensacola, FL, native has been working with Bernina for 35 years. She specializes in Bernina accessories and how the proper use of accessories can save time and give professional results. Mary Lou has worked with Bernina dealers all over the United States, including Hawaii. She is a popular teacher at Bernina University and The Martha Pullen School of Sewing in Huntsville, AL. Her three-hour sit and sew sessions are fun and educational. Her books and DVDs feature even more “back to the basics” information and show step-by-step how to use each foot in this series as well as close up teaching techniques. They can be purchased by e-mailing mltbooks@aol.com or by contacting Bernina of America.

Reprinted from SQE Professional, June 2007