Robe (mostly finished)

[fabric_addict]

Well, here's the result of the robe I made from the onion skin dyed cotton. I also pulled some stash to make bias piping for the edges. (I still need to finish off the belt tie and fix the hem, but that should go quickly) I was thinking about binding the seams inside, but mostly just folded on themselves and sewed them together. Around the areas I did piping, I just used a zig-zag stitch along the edge. That bit was so thick already I didn't really want to add binding.

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This is intended to be a gift. I made the pattern from an old robe of the recipient's that I took apart. The piping and edges of this were something that I came up with and perhaps I could have done it in a better way.


Piping tutorial:
Since I had difficulty figuring out how to make and add piping, I decided to document part of the process here in case other novice sewers want tips and experienced sewers can critique. Warning...this is not a fantastic tutorial. Some of the pictures are poor...and as far as technique goes...well, I have no idea if this is how it really should be done.

1. I used synthetic yarn for the core of my piping. I knew I wanted 1/4 in. seams, so I folded the yarn within my measuring tape to determine the width of bias fabric I was going to need to cut. In my case, I felt that 1 inch worked well.

2. I cut a bunch of 1 in bias strips and sewed them together to make a really long bias strip. Then I folded the yarn into the center of this strip and sewed it shut with a basting stitch on the machine (about halfway between the fabric edge and the fold with the yarn)

3. I sewed a line of stitching at 1/4 in (or slightly less) along the edge where I wanted piping.

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4. Then I placed the piping down on the front side of the fabric so that the edges of the fabric all lined up (the fold of the piping was towards the main part of the garment)

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5. I tacked this down with a basting stitch

6. I cut some fabric for the edge of my garment out of the main garment fabric. I folded this in half lengthwise with the front side of the fabric out. I then lay this on top of the piping with the edges again all lined up together. (Making a sandwich with the piping between the front parts of the two pieces of fabric). I pinned this together and turned this upside down so that I was sewing with the main part of the garment (i.e., the one described in #3 was the top layer).

The main part of the garment is on the wrong side, but on the bottom, I fipped over the garment so you can see the folded edge is being sewn to the main garment. the piping is not visible because it is sandwiched underneath the folded strip.

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7. I used a zipper foot to then sew above the basting lines that I'd created earlier. I held the fabric so that the foot presed against the yarn under the fabric. This seemed to work well for me.

There is a slight bulge to the left of the zipper foot...this is the piping that is underneath the fashion fabric. I'm sewing between the bulge and the stitching lines made previously

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[kaitlinnegan]

Wow, looks great! Thanks for the tutorial on piping. I'll add it to the list, if you don't mind?

[MartySews2]

Wow! Beautiful robe and I love the piping. Thanks for the tutorial.
Marty

[fabric_addict]

Thanks for the tutorial on piping. I'll add it to the list, if you don't mind?

Thanks. I'm honored.

[LeapFrog Libby]

Thanks, Fabric Addict--- for the tutorial... See , That proves you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.. I learned something from that tutorial.. THANKS ! !

[fabric_addict]

Oh. Thanks! That's great to know. I'm glad it helped you.

[esrun3]

nice robe and great tutorial-haven't done piping yet but just might have to now.