sewing basics series:: piping

Piping can give a great completed look to pillows, headboards, bumper pads, etc.  But finding the perfect fabric in pre-made piping is often impossible.  That doesn't mean you can't get the piping that you want.  Here is a tutorial on how to create your own piping:

There are a few tricks for creating the perfect piping.  I used the following technique on Cash's bedding in the boys room.    

Materials:

• Cording (whatever length you need).  This can be purchased at Joanns or any sewing store.  There are many different sizes of cording depending on the look you want.

• Fabric to cover the cording.  A little goes a long way, so that is pretty nice.  It took me only about 1 yard of fabric to cover 4 yards of cording.  

 The trick to getting clean looking piping is how you piece the strips of fabric together.  When you pull your fabric straight across, you won't get much stretch.  But when you pull it on the bias (diagonal), you get a nice stretch.  You will need to utilize this stretch especially when sewing piping around corners.  If you were to cut straight across, you wouldn't get any stretch in the fabric, and that will cause puckering in the fabric especially when stitched around curves.

note: 1 1/2" strips covered my cording (mine wasn't very thick).  Test out how wide your strips of fabric need to be by wrapping the fabric around your cord and allow for 1/2" seam allowance.

note: when making this stitch, I would suggest not sewing the stitch too close to the cording.  Stitch about 1/8" away from the cording.  Then, when you sandwich the piping in between your fabrics, use the zipper foot again and stitch as closely as possible to the cording.  This way you wont have to worry about your first row of stitching being visible.

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Giveaway Winner

click here to see if you won the Wild About Jewelry giveaway!

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photo shoot sneak peek

I got to spend this past weekend with my dear friend Lauren from Lalas Lens Photography shooting the first few pieces in my clothing collection.  Production is going on as we speak and I am so excited.  I can't wait to show you all what I have been working on for the past few months!  If everything goes as planned (fingers crossed...) my first piece should be available for purchase in the next few weeks!

statement skirt + statement neckalce + giveaway

 blazer: Banana Republic top: Modbe, skirt: me, sandals: Old Navy, necklace: c/o Wild About Jewelry, watch: Michael Kors, bracelets: c/o A Beautiful Heart {here and here}

I bought some white knit a while back planning on making something....I just couldn't remember what.  But when I searched through H&M looking for a thick striped navy and white skirt with no luck, I knew just what to use it for.  I cut out a white pencil skirt and a navy one (just like this one).  I knew I wanted 5 thick stripes for the skirt, so I divided the length of the skirt (minus seam allowance) and cut up the two skirts into thick strips about 5 1/2" wide.  Then I serged each stripe together to create this skirt.  The nice thing is that I was left with the pieces to make a second skit just like this, with the stripes just opposite.

Today I'm happy to be giving away this gorgeous coral statement necklace from Wild about Jewelry!

Coral is one of my favorite colors to wear.  On our trip down to California this summer I packed 5 coral shirts....and wore all of them regularly.  I think of coral as a grown up pink.  This statement necklace adds the right amount of "grown up pink" to a look.

MUST BE A GFC FOLLOWER OF ELLE APPAREL TO ENTER

Entry Rules:

• Like Wild About Jewelry on facebook 

One Additional Entry:

• Post the link to this giveaway on your facebook

How to Leave Your Entry:

• Leave ONE comment letting me know you liked Wild about Jewelry
• Leave ONE additional comment if you followed the additional entry step
• In both comment please include your email spelled out (ex: contactelleapparel at gmail dot com) so we don't get spammed.

Only two entries per reader.  Giveaway will run through August 30th at midnight MST.
Giveaway closed.

The winner of the Wild About Jewelry coral statement necklace is:



Congrats Zoe!  Email me here to claim your necklace.
 

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I want to thank everyone who participated in the Leanne Barlow cardigan giveaway and donating to help a father of 5 who's wife just passed away (learn more about how you can help here). 

the winner is.....

Congratulations Amber!  Amber happens to be a life long friend of mine, so I was so excited to see her name as the random comment generated.  Shoot me over an email and I'll get you your cardi!

LeanneBarlow giveaway for a good cause

My heart was heavy when I heard the news that one of my close family friends lost his beloved wife, Sharla, early yesterday morning while they were on a family vacation to go to Disneyland.  She passed away suddenly in her sleep and her poor husband is now left with their five young children, 3 girls ages five and under, and twin baby boys only seven months old.  I can't begin to imagine the heartache and grief they are experiencing.  I couldn't stop thinking about what a huge void her passing is in this sweet family.

A memorial fundraiser has been set up on behalf of the family in order help with funeral costs and to try and ease the burden that is now on the shoulders of this young husband.  In order to help promote and raise funds for this important cause, I am doing a giveaway one of my Lavender Striped Boyfriend Cardigans.  

 

MUST BE AN ELLE APPAREL FOLLOWER TO ENTER

Entry Rules:

• Go to the Sharla Prior Memorial Fundraiser website  and donate whatever you can by clicking on the yellow "give" button on the right-hand side.  There is no minimum donation that needs to be met.  Even a donation as small as $5 can help.  You can pay via Pay Pal or credit card. 

• Help spread the word about this giveaway on your facebook or twitter.  The goal is to help raise as much money as possible so the more people we can get to donate, the more financial help this family can receive.

One Additional Entry:

• Post about this giveaway on your blog.

How to Leave Your Entry:

• Leave ONE comment letting me know you donated to the memorial and facebooked/tweeted about the giveaway.  Please don't say how much you donated.  Also, there isn't a way for me to verify that a donation was actually made, so please be honest about your entry.
• Leave ONE additional comment letting me know that you helped spread the word on your blog.
• In both comments please leave your email spelled out (ex: contactelleapparel at gmail dot com) so that we don't get spammed.

The giveaway will run through Thursday, August 23rd, and I will announce the winner the following Friday.

Please join me in helping this sweet family as best we can.  It won't take away the grief and pain of their loss, but hopefully can lessen their financial burdens.  

Mom's Best:: hot products event

Caroline, me, and Merrick with our swag

I had such a fun night last night at the Moms Best Hot Product Event!  When I got the invite, I grabbed Merrick and we headed over to check out some fun new mommy gear and help support a great cause.  I loved getting to mingle with so many talented bloggers and review some great new products.  I scored an unbelievably handy Camera Coat and won this amazing high chair in the raffle!  I was too busy stuffing my face when they called my number, I wasn't even sure what I had won.  I don't do the whole "win free stuff" very often, so it was a pleasant surprise!    

happiest place on earth

Sorry for a whole week of silence!  We are soaking up every last minute we can in California before we head back home.  We were down in San Diego earlier this week and are still recovering from an amazing trip to Disneyland for Bradley's third birthday.  He doesn't turn 3 for another week, so I am going to hold on to age 2 as much as I can for these next few days.  I can't believe how big he is getting!

now I need to get packing!  Utah here we come!

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Click here to see if you won the Glam Grab giveaway!

Glam Grab giveway!

Today I am teaming up with Glam Grab, a designer inspired jewelery company, to give away this amazing necklace I featured yesterday.

MUST BE A GFC FOLLOWER OF ELLE APPAREL TO ENTER

Entry Rules:

• Register with Glam Grab on their website
• Like Glam Grab on facebook

One Additional Entry:

• Post the link to this giveaway on your facebook

How to Leave Your Entry:

• Leave ONE comment letting me know you followed all the required steps
• Leave ONE additional comment if you followed the additional entry step
• In both comment please include your email spelled out (ex: contactelleapparel at gmail dot com) so we don't get spammed

Only two entries per reader.  Giveaway will run through August 9th at midnight MST.

Good luck!

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and the winner is.......



Congratulations Sarah! (no idea why it says Amanda! ) Shoot me over an email and we will get you your necklace!

tamed neon

top: Target, skirt: me, shoes: 9 West, sunnies: Forever 21 bag: Tory Burch, necklace and bangles: c/o Glam Grab, watch: Michael Kors, earrings: Franchesca Boutique, bracelet: JCrew

Currently loving my navy knit pencil skirt.  I made it nice and fitted up top with some darts in the back, but made sure it was wide enough at the bottom so that I didn't feel too constricted when walking.  It can be dressed up or down, and the fact that it is stretchy makes me love it even more.  It helps to balance out a plethora of neon.....which is mandatory for summer.