How the sam-hay to you edge a pillow with cord? I've managed to do it to a few, and they're passable, but I KNOW I ain't doin' it right. What's the secret?

are you trying to edge an already made pillow, or one you are making? I think the only good results I've ever seen are done by edging during construction (or re-construction)

my mom taught me to sew the piping on to one side of the pillow first (while flat and unconstructed). Line up the seam allowances with the seam allowance of piping (or the flat part of the piping, not the round part), using either a piping foot or a zipper foot. Get as close to the piping as humanly possible, and press. Then sew the pillow together, wrong sides out, over the same line of stitching, and you should get a nice crisp edge.

Jen

Yes, I'm making the pillow from scratch. Does this work with braided, or twisted cord? That's what I want to use. In the past, I've stitched it on by hand, but then the end part looks crappy, and I end up feeling like there's a trick to it. I've seen that you're supposed to intertwine the ends in some way so it appears to be continuous. This isn't easy to explain, but thanks, Jen, that helped!

Anyone else?

Jen is right.
That is the best way I have found to use piping (or any trim with the seam allowance attached for sewing) and keeping it close to the pillow. I think the piping you see on manufactured stuff is the ideal but, alas, impossible to achieve.
The best way to get as close as possible is using the zipper foot and sew as close to that trim as possible.
Good luck!

OH!
Forgot about finishing- I know how to do this.
With covered trim (like piping), you can take the trim and unravel the fabric from the rope. Measure the amount you need and add an inch or so, then take that extra inch and cut the rope, but leave the fabric trim and re-rap that around the opposite end (the end you began with).
I hope that makes sense.
Obviously, you want to leave the ends unsewn and do this "joining" at the end of your project. If you need to close a pillow or something, it may have to be done by hand.

this is my first post in ages (think i have been having a quarterlife crisis)
are you making your own piping or using shop bought - if making own make sure to cut the casings on the bias so that it has sufficient give in it to move with the cord it covers - also when making own piping make sure to either use pre shrunk cord or to boil yr cord before covering it otherwise it will shrink when you wash the cushion the first time thus creating a generally unwanted gathered and wrinkly effect.
my other tip, as was said above, is to use a zipper foot and apply to one side first.
ros

Thanks so much! You've all given me some great tips. On to piping my pillows!