MAKING A FABRIC COVER FOR SMALLPIPES

1. Draw round a template* and cut out (arrow indicates direction of nap on fabric, if applicable). Also cut out
two rectangles for blowpipe and stock tubes.
*see end for measurements guide

2. Fold tube pieces wrong side out and pin. Measure from the fold for the seam line to make sure they are
parallel. Make sure the tubes won't be too tight on the stocks or there will be no leeway when you come to fit
the cover on the pipes. Sew seam twice.
Flatten tube seams and fold pieces in half with right side out. Tack over the raw edges if fraying - this also helps
to keep the edges together. These will be trimmed at a later stage.

3. Fold cover in half lengthways (wrong side out), pin and trim the edges so they match up.
Turn a single hem at the neck end of the cover. Sew the cover seam, starting at the neck edge. Don't stitch all
the way to the back - this allows for adjusting and hemming the back.
4. After sewing, trim back edges of cover if necessary, to even them up before hemming. Finish sewing the
main seam. Stitch round main seam again for extra strength. Overstitch edge if required to minimise fraying.
Finish hemming the back of the cover OR if not sure of size, leave until the tube holes are cut and you can do a
test fitting on the pipes. Likewise with the neck hem. Remember - the length of the cover at the neck and back
will be affected by the expansion and shape of the bag when the pipes are being played.

5. Place the pipes on the cover and press the drone stock and blowpipe into the fabric to make slight imprints
– perhaps best done on a surface with a bit of give, eg a cloth on a table. Place a pin through the centre of each
circular imprint. NB Even at this stage, I sometimes decide I need to make an adjustment to the main seam to
ensure a good fit - hence the chalk mark. This area was to be trimmed and re-stitched.

6. Now (important!), turn the cover over before marking so the tube holes will be on the correct side of the
cover. Make a star shape using the centre point marked by the pin. I use a line length of 6cms for the drone
stock and 4cms for the blowpipe stock.
7. When snipping the holes, err on the side of caution - they can be enlarged easily, but not made smaller! At
this stage you can do a test fit of the cover to make any adjustments to the general shape, and finish the
hemming at the back if sure of size.

8. Feed the right-side-out tube into the cover, bringing it up through the hole raw edge first. Make sure the
tube seam is facing down towards the bottom of the bag and slightly to the back. Do some slight snipping of
the hole as necessary to adjust the fit, then tack round with large stitches. It's just about possible to use a
machine to stitch the larger tube in, but I prefer to sew both tubes by hand, going round it twice in back stitch
a little way underneath the cuts.
Trim inside edge of tubes and over sew with blanket stitch.
Smallpipes Bag Cover Template (for Evans smallpipes)

Measurements and shape are approximate and not to scale.

Adjustment required depending on the bag the cover is being made for.
You will also need two rectangles for the tubes. Again, measurements are approximate, adjust as
required.
Drone stock: 20cm x 12cm
Blowpipe stock: 10cm x 8cm

Anita Evans, November 2019