How to Install a Zipper in a Pillow Cover

Adding a zipper to a pillow cover allows for a good way to wash your comfy home decor accessories. Here is an easy way to pull it off.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine
• Zipper
• Sewing machine zipper foot
• Seam ripper or small pair of scissors
• 1 spool of thread to match the pillow cover
• Pins
• Hand-sewing needle

Instructions

1. Remove the pillow. If the pillow cover does not already have an opening in one of the seams, use a seam ripper or small pair of scissors to remove the stitching along one side.

2. Purchase a zipper the length of one full side of the pillow cover. If you can't find a zipper this exact length, purchase a longer zipper, and then cut the zipper 1/2 inch longer than the desired length. Using a needle and thread, sew 5 or 6 times around the zipper teeth at the desired length to create a zipper stop. Creating a zipper stop will ensure that the zipper pull does not fall off of the zipper.

3. Turn the pillow cover inside out. Using an iron, turn both sides of the opening towards the wrong side of the pillow cover 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.

4. Use a seam ripper to remove either of the seams perpendicular to the pillow cover opening. This is necessary to keep the extra fabric from your pillow cover free of your needle while sewing in your zipper.

5. Turn your pillow cover right side out. Place the zipper along the inside of your opening, and lay the edge of the fold along the center of the zipper teeth. The top of the zipper teeth should be approximately 1/2 inch from the corner of the pillow cover. Pin the zipper to the pillow cover along the edge of the opening.

6. Attach the zipper foot to the sewing machine. Starting 1/2 inch from the corner of the pillow cover, sew as close as you can to the zipper teeth on the right side of the pillow cover. You may need to zip and unzip the zipper once or twice to get the presser foot around the zipper pull. Stop sewing 1/2 inch from the opposite corner from which you started. Use the opening you created by ripping out one side of the pillow cover to ensure that you don't catch any other layers of fabric while sewing the zipper to the pillow cover opening. Take the same steps to pin and sew the zipper to the other side of the pillow opening.

7. Unzip the zipper and turn the pillow cover inside out. Pin together the side of the pillow cover that was ripped out and re-sew this side together.

8. At the 1/2-inch opening left on either side of the zipper, sew together both layers of the opening, stopping approximately 1/2 inch from where you started.

9. Trim all extra loose threads. Turn the pillow cover right side out.

References

• Threads Magazine