Since I've also agreed not to purchase craft/sewing supplies until April 22nd, in an attempt to whittle down my stash, purchasing said presser foot was out of the question. But since I knew this pillow need something more, I thought I'd give the piping a try sans foot.
It turned out to be fabulously easy.
Cut and sew 2 inch strips of fabric just like you would if you were making bias binding for a quilt. (If you not sure how to do that, you can hop back to this post for a quick tute).
Once you're strips are sewn into one long strip, fold it over a length of cotton piping and pin closed (you want your pins just under the piping).
Now what you need to do, if you don't have a piping foot, is attach the zipper foot to your machine. Set your needle to the left hand position so your needle will be sewing just under where your pins are.
You want your piping to be snug inside the casing but there also needs to be space under the piping so this seam will not show once it's sewn into the pillow.
Now make your "pillow cover sandwich": right side up bottom fabric, piping (facing inside so the raw edge is sticking out), right side down top fabric. Make sure to "clip" the raw seam of the piping at the corners. This will allow the piping to curve more easily.
Pin in place, sew around using a 1/4 inch seam, making sure to back stitch at the beginning and end. Go slowly and make sure that your piping is caught in the seam, especially around the corners.
Leave about 3 inches unsewn so you can turn and stuff your pillow. Then hand stitch closed.
And there you have it. Piping achieved, no piping foot necessary.
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