How To Make a Pillow With Zipper Closure

Have you entered the giveaway with Online Fabric Store?  There are so many beautiful fabrics to choose from and I just happen to be the lucky recipient of Braemore Gorgeous Pearl.  I have been wanting to add pillows to the banquette in our kitchen and this fabric was my first choice!  Of course I've been looking at pillows on-line, but decided to make them instead.  I usually let the fabric dictate which kind of closure the pillow has and in this case I went with a zipper closure.  Making a pillow with a zipper closure really is easy so I thought I would share this tutorial with you.

When working with a plain weave fabric, I measure the size that I need and simply pull a thread.  This provides a clean line as a guide for cutting.

Once two pieces are cut the same size I lay them together face to face.  By the way, my pillow is 20 x 20" and I cut the fabric this exact size for a snug fit.

Lay your zipper on the edge of the fabric, centered.  Place pins at the start and stop of the zipper.  You will use this guide for stitching later.

Next, use your normal stitch setting until you get to your pin marking where the zipper will begin (remember to safety stitch).  Now change your machine settings to the longest stitch count (I went from 4-5 to 8).  This gives you more of a basting stitch which will be easier to remove later.  Then continue on the other end with your normal stitch setting repeating the steps.

Iron the seam open so that it lays flat.

Place the zipper face down over the seam lining it up exactly.  Pin in place.

Be sure to use your zipper foot attachment which will allow you to get as close as possible to the zipper.  Begin at one end of the zipper and remember to safety stitch here.  When you get to the other end, you might need to unzip the zipper to allow the zipper foot to get as close as possible to the zipper.  Safety stitch at the end.

Remove the basting stitch and viola!  You have a zipper!  Now all you have to do is continue stitching around the other three sides of your pillow cover using a 1/2" seam allowance.

I always trim the corners so they open nicely when turned right side out.  Press your new pillow cover.

This project takes less than one hour.  When it comes to zippers, practice makes perfect.  Let me know if you try it.

The winner of the Online Fabric Store giveaway will be announced Thursday.  Don't miss it!