How to Sew an Invisible Zipper in a Pillow Cover

An invisible zipper adds class to any garment or craft project. It makes a garment appear finished. In a pillow cover, it makes the whole thing look complete, while still giving you the option of switching out pillow covers and allowing you to always have the option of freshening your decor.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric for pillow cover
• Sewing machine
• Zipper foot
• Thread
• Pins
• Invisible zipper

1. Cut and prepare the fabric to create your pillow cover. You should have two fabric pieces of the same shape and size.

2. Take your zipper, which should be a few inches shorter than the edge of the fabric you will be sewing it onto, and center it along your fabric's edge.

3. Open the zipper, and pin one side of the open zipper to the right side of the fabric, lining it up against the edge of the fabric.

4. Put the zipper foot on your sewing machine and sew along the zipper's teeth until you hit the zipper stop. Backstitch at both ends. Take out the pins.

5. Pin the other half of your zipper tape to the right side edge of the fabric, and sew it down just as you did with the first side.

6. Stitch the unsewn edges around the zipper, making sure the new seam lines match up with the zipper's seam lines.

7. Close your zipper, and stitch the zipper tape along the seam allowance one more time. This will secure the tape in place. Test your zipper.

8. Open your zipper. Face right sides of the fabric together, and pin them down. Sew along the edge of the fabric, leaving a 5/8-inch seam allowance. When done, turn your pillow cover inside out, and place the pillow inside.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also add an invisible zipper to an existing pillow. Since an invisible zipper is inserted one piece at a time, it may be wisest to take the pillow apart, insert the zipper and sew it back together.

Resources

• Learn to Sew -- Invisible Zippers
• Tutorial : Pillow Cover with Invisible Zipper