Piping question

[Dunluce]

I have a question about using piping in a bag to join the gusset on to the front and back. I have never tried it before and I am wondering how you finish it at each end. Anything I have seen on the internet doesn’t address this. I would think it would look a bit bulky and untidy just to cut it off flush. Any info about how to use and finish piping would be much appreciated

 

[Tugadude]

Interesting question.  If bulk is an issue you can certainly skive the piping, the bag pieces or both.  Obviously you'd skive the piping on the inside.  It also depends upon the project I would think.  For instance are you using a rolled top edge?  

[Dunluce]

I don’t really know yet. Bags are new to me, I have only made one before, I want to design my own so what the bag will look like is a bit fluid at the minute and depends whether I can find out how certain things (like piping) are done. 

[RockyAussie]

4 hours ago, Dunluce said:

I have a question about using piping in a bag to join the gusset on to the front and back. I have never tried it before and I am wondering how you finish it at each end. Anything I have seen on the internet doesn’t address this. I would think it would look a bit bulky and untidy just to cut it off flush. Any info about how to use and finish piping would be much appreciated

 

If I understand this correctly.....What I do is start with the leather piping cover already skived and stuck in place and left in length over long. Start the stitching at least an inch from the end. When I have reached close to the other end I stop the stitch and take it away from the machine. I then cut the piping to the correct length and skive the end to match the meeting side and then finish my stitch on down. It is hard with some leathers to make it fully not be visible but picking the right place to start and finish helps.

[Dunluce]

13 hours ago, RockyAussie said:

If I understand this correctly.....What I do is start with the leather piping cover already skived and stuck in place and left in length over long. Start the stitching at least an inch from the end. When I have reached close to the other end I stop the stitch and take it away from the machine. I then cut the piping to the correct length and skive the end to match the meeting side and then finish my stitch on down. It is hard with some leathers to make it fully not be visible but picking the right place to start and finish helps.

Not sure I understand that fully. I don’t suppose you have a photo do you?

[Dunluce]

Here is a photo I found on the internet of the type of thing i am on about. Is there another way of terminating the piping that looks neater.

 

 

[fredk]

The only way I know is to skive the end of the piping until it is paper thin

[Tugadude]

Sometimes I think the final result you want to achieve involves a bit of compromise.  I will comment on the picture you posted after I share another pic with you.  I found this picture by googling "leather briefcase with piping".  It shows exactly what I wanted to convey in words.

So what I meant by compromise is that in order to pull this design off you will likely be limited to thinner leathers, much thinner than what is used on the bag you posted a picture of.  Even so, the maker likely skived the edges down to minimize any bulging that might occur when wrapping the leather over the edge.  I'm guessing that the result is similar to what you are after, a finished look to the termination of the piping at the opening of the bag.

 

Now, back to the picture you posted.  It looks like the piping, or welt was already skived down quite a bit.  Likely no more to be done there, but the leather on the bag itself is quite thick and does not appear to have been skived or thinned at all.  It basically represents a "raw" condition.

What might be done to make it look a little better is to edge bevel both sides of the "seam" and black and burnish the edge.  That process might lift it up to an acceptable result in your eyes.

We all have our own construct of the way things should be.  I know folks that don't like any raw edges and others that love them.  I know some will not make a wallet without turned edges because they can't stand the look of burnished edges.  To each his/her own when it comes to aesthetics.  Some projects cry out for a more refined look and therefore should have turned edges.  That doesn't mean there isn't a place for a rough-and-tumble messenger bag with raw, unfinished edges.  

Hope some of this helps!  Let us know what you come up with.

 

[Tugadude]

BTW, on the bag I posted, I wonder whether the leather at the very top could be "splayed" out similar to a French seam.  Seems like it would work since it is being covered by the rolled edge.  That way it would lie even flatter.  You would only have to do it on the last 1/2" or so.

[Dunluce]

Starting to get it now. I guess the only thing is to go and practise a few.