My First Zipper Pillow

I have made many pillows over the years.  However, being self-taught on the sewing machine, I never really figured out how to put a zipper in.  Last week I was reading through some of my favorite blogs and Janell from Isabella and Max Rooms did a tutorial on how to put in a zipper on a pillow.  I love reading blogs as much as I love writing this blog.  There are just so many talented people out there.  So, when I read a great tutorial, I want to try it.  The pillow and the welt I have done many times, but putting in a zipper, now that was a mystery to me.

First things first, I picked out fabric I had left over from my daughter's room.  The pink is a basket weave fabric that I had bought, but never used.  The aqua fabric matches the bedskirt and shams I made for my daughter's bed and I would use that for the welting.

I had a 12"x16" insert on hand, which worked out since Janell used that size (less math for me to do).

I cut out my fabric 13"x17" (one inch larger than the fabric).  I like to use a square to draw a light pencil line on the fabric and then cut my fabric.

Next I cut a strip of fabric that I would use for the welting around the pillow. I used cording I bought at JoAnn's Fabric.  I cut the fabric and the cording to a length equal to the length of all four sides added together plus one inch.  Technically you are supposed to cut the fabric on the bias when you make welting.  I didn't want to use up so much fabric so I just cut it one width.  A width of fabric is 54" and then there is some salvage (it was just white on this fabric) on both sides.  Since this is only being used for the welting, I used some of the salvage ends to make up my 57".  That way I really used very little fabric.

Taking the strip of fabric I fold it over the cording. I have a single welt cording foot attachment for my machine.  If you don't, you can also use a zipper foot.  I stitch the fabric over the cord.

After that, I attach the two ends to make one continuous loop.

I lay it on the right side of my fabric and pin it in place.  Remember I said that the pink fabric had a basket weave?  It reminded me so much of the material you use when you do cross stitching.  I thought it would be perfect to embroider my daughter's name on it.  So using a pencil, I drew out her name.

Using embroidery thread in aqua and green I started to do a running stitch following my pencil lines.  I used the aqua for the S and the green for the Y and alternated with each letter.

After I was done stitching the letters I still felt like it needed a little something.

I had these butterfly buttons in my sewing box.  I don't even know when I purchased these.  Must have been a while ago...but they would be perfect for this pillow.

I sewed the three butterfly buttons on and sewed a couple of stitches coming off each to show them in flight.

Once I was satisfied with the design, I sewed the welting to the right side of the fabric along the edges.

Once the welting was sewed on it was time for me to try to sew on a zipper.  I read through Janell's tutorial several times.

I followed Janell's directions exactly.  With right sides together I sewed from the edge a little bit and left enough for the zipper to fit.  I sewed the zipper to the "wrong" side of the fabric and then to the other side.  I was so excited I had just sewed my first zipper.  Now, it was 3pm and my kids had just gotten home from school.  Usually I end my projects before they get home - I really like to give them my undivided attention.  I was so close to finishing, I just thought I could sew the three remaining sides and be done.  But all I heard while I was trying to sew those last three sides was "MOM" and "MOM" - of course, everyone needed me at that moment.  So I rushed.  Let's just say I didn't think.  After sewing the zipper in and being so proud, I forgot to unzip the zipper before sewing the remaining three sides.  Honestly that's the equivalent of sewing all four sides shut.  UGH!!  First I tried to get the zipper open from the wrong side.  I tried that for a while...keep in mind I kept hearing "MOM"...one more minute kids...I promise.  Ultimately I had to get the seam ripper out and open up the seam enough for me to get the zipper open.  Then I re-sewed those seams.

Here is the finished product.  Except for that little glitch in the end, it came out great.  I have to thank Janell for giving such a great tutorial which gave me the confidence to try the zipper.

The perfect finishing touch for her chair.

Don't forget the Winter Blues Wednesday party.  The link will be open starting tonight at 8pm EST.  Hope to see you all there.
-Judy