Tag Archives: cording

Sewing Glossary–C is for cutting

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Casing: Fabric sleeve which encloses elastic or a drawstring. Casings are made in several different ways and are used mostly at the waist of a garment, although they can also be used in a pants cuff or sleeve cuff.

Clip: Seam allowances are clipped so that the seams will curve inward or outward smoothly. Inward curves are snipped with a slight cut; outward curves should be notched. Be careful not to make the notches too large. Trimming the seam allowance with pinking shears is an easy, neat looking alternative to clipping and it also grades the seam allowance at the same time. Serging your seams is another way to eliminate the need for clipping.

Cording: Rope or string used for piping and as a drawstring. Cording is frequently covered with bias strips of a fabric.

Crotch: Seam which joins the two legs of pants; the body area this seam covers.

Covered Button: Button covered with fabric. A nice way to make your garment and buttons match.

Cutting Board: A cardboard or fiberboard surface to lay out and cut your fabric on. Most commercial cutting boards have measurement marks and fold up for storage. For rotary cutting, special vinyl cutting mats are available.

Cutting line: The dark, outer line of a commercial pattern that shows you where to cut.

Home Decor: To trim or not to trim, that is the question

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While we spend a lot of time talking about how to choose fabrics and paint colors, we do not often talk about the final detail–trim.

Trims can be found in many different forms: braid, gimp, tassles, fringe, cording, beading and ribbon are just a few of the many choices you have.  For the definition of many of these design terms please refer to my blog post on trim.  Once you understand what each trim is, the difficult but fun part is to decide where to use it to make the most impact in your rooms.

  • I love tassels.  They just add a fun and flirty touch of color and movement to pretty much any spot in your home.  Hang one from a lamp switch, doorknob or drawer pull.  They are also available as drapery tiebacks and will add interest to an ordinary pair of drapery panels.
  • Any throw pillow can be made more interesting through the addition of trim.  A thick and fluffy brush fringe in a coordinating or contrasting color will make an ordinary pillow look custom made; the thicker the fringe the better.
  • Cording and braid comes in many different sizes.  Use a very thin cord in between the ruffle and body of a pillow for a pop of unexpected color or use a thick and hefty cord as a border for a more contemporary look.
  • Buillion fringe is the large and bulky fringe you often see around the border of a sofa or chair.  This adds weight to any piece of furniture and is most often used in a more formal setting.  If you have cats you might want to rethink this idea.
  • Ribbon and gimp can be applied to pretty much any flat surface.  You can stripe a pair of drapery panels for a coordinated look in your room or add ribbon to a throw pillow to create a design. 
  • Don’t overlook the impact that nailhead trim can have on an ordinary chair or ottoman.  These are available in different sizes and finishes to complement any design.
  • Bead trim will add a touch of shine and glitz to a valance,cornice or drapery panel.  Today’s selection includes glass, wood and metal beads so there is something for everyone out there.

You will be surprised at all the compliments you receive when you take the time to add these small details to your home.

What’s new at Online Fabric Store? Part 1

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The inventory at onlinefabricstore.net is always changing.  We strive to bring in new items that reflect the current trends in sewing and home decor.  We have many exciting new items to share with you so take a look:

  • Clear and frosted vinyl–This fabric is perfect for use in an RV or boat as well as in your home.  Some uses might include shower curtain liners, window treatment liners, covers for outdoor furniture, seat cushion protectors, table cloth backing; any place you need to protect and/or preserve fabric, wood etc.
  • Patent leather vinyl–This fun and durable fabric is available in lots of bright colors for use in costumes, clothing and home decor.  Any child would love to have a bean bag chair in their own special color.  Consider upholstering a bar stool or game room chair in one of these shiny colors.
  • Monk cloth–Monk cloth is a heavy cotton fabric with a slight basketweave texture and is suitable for use in draperies and window treatments.  We offer several new colors to help you update your home.
  • Cotton lawn– This is a lightweight fabric often with a crisp finish.  We offer it in dozens of popular colors ranging from clean white to vibrant orange
  • Satin–Coral, magenta, teal, peach, mint green and aqua….these are just some of the colors available in our shiny satin fabric
  • Trims–featuring  braided elastic, buillion fringe, cording and cotton webbing to add that final detail to your projects.Discount Drapery and Upholstery Fabric

Glossary of Upholstery Trim

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nailhead trimThere are lots of funny words that are unique to any industry and the fabric and decorating industry is no exception.  Passamenterie is the word of art in the design industry referring to all types of trim and embellishment on fabrics and furniture.  This would include  buttons, braiding, beading and embroidery.  Hopefully, this glossary will help you understand the terminology, making it easier choose trim for all your home decorating projects.

  • Braid is just what it sounds like.  Several lengths of yarn ( in a single color or multiple colors) are braided together to create trim that is used for pillows, window treatments and furniture.  It often has a “lip” of fabric that makes it possible to sew directly into a seam.
  • Fringe can be found in several different lengths and is used as window treatment or pillow trim as well as on throws, around the frame of a chair, sofa or ottoman or on a lampshade.  Words like brush and buillion are used to describe the different fringes available.
  • Gimp is a flat braid that can be sewn onto the sides and hem of draperies or onto the face of a pillow to create a border.
  • Cording , piping or welting is a piece of rope that has been wrapped with a solid piece of fabric and may or may not have a lip.   It there is not lip it must be glued or hand stitched onto the fabric.  This works well when trying to embellish a lampshade or picture frame; anything that does not have a seam.
  • Nailhead trim are upholstery tacks that are hammered into the frame of the furniture on top of the fabric.  They are available in a brass, silver or bronze finish and add a sophisticated and sometimes masculine look to furniture.

This is just a sampling of some of the trim that is available.  You will also find tassels, buttons,  beading etc. that can be used to truly customize your upholstered and accent pieces.