How to make a Zippered Back for a Pillow

0 · Nov 28, 2017 ·

Today I’m going to show you how to adapt ANY pillow pattern to add a zippered back. Do not be afraid of the zipper! This is a very easy project that is suitable for a beginning seamstress.

Most of the time when you find pillow tutorials online or in stores, the pillows have a back that is sewn on. This presents a problem if the pillow is one that you think will need to be washed. For example, a pillow for a child, like my On the Go Reading Pillow Tutorial.

How to add a zipper to the back of a pillow:

You can easily make a zippered back for ANY size pillow!

Calculations:

Here is how to size it to your specific pillow, today’s tutorial assumes an 18″ x 18″ pillow form.

Take your pillow dimensions and divide by 2. So 18″ /2 = 9″.

Add 1″ to this measurement so 10″.

Cut both of your back panel pillow pieces to 10″ x 18″ (the width of your pillow).

You can change these up for other pillow sizes!

For example; a 16″ pillow would require two pieces each 9″ x 16″

Your zipper can be ANY length as long as it is polyester and LONGER than your pillow width.

Instructions:

Attach the zipper foot to your sewing machine.

Center the zipper over one 10ʺ x 18ʺ rectangle of fabric; depending on your zipper size, there will be 1ʺ or more of zipper extending past the ends.

Pin the right side of the fabric to the right side of the zipper; stitch in place.

Repeat for the second rectangle and the other side of the zipper.

Press the fabric seam allowances away from the zipper.

From the right side, edgestitch along the sides of the zipper.

Move the zipper pull so that it is in the center of the pillow.

Trim the pillow back to 18ʺ square (or whatever size of pillow you are working with), avoiding the zipper.

Assembly:

Pin the pillow back to the front, right sides together.

If your pillow front has piping attached, attach a piping foot to your machine (you may also be able to use a zipper foot).

Stitch the pillow front to the back, sewing over the stitching used to attach the piping.

Trim away the excess zipper.

Unzip the zipper and turn the pillow right side out.

That’s it! Now you have an easy to remove pillow cover!

If you’re wondering how I added the piping to the pillow front, then you can follow this tutorial teaching you How to Sew and work with Piping!

Melissa Mortenson

Melissa Mortenson is the author of the Polka Dot Chair blog which has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love”. Her work and designs have been featured on numerous websites including HuffPost, Today, Pioneer Woman & BuzzFeed. Her first fabric line “Derby Style” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs. It was followed by 7 other fabric lines in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

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Melissa Mortenson is a “creative mama”, published Author, Licensed Fabric Designer and the founder of the Polka Dot Chair blog. The Polka Dot Chair is a place for Creative Moms and Families to come to find simple and inspiring DIY projects for their home, sewing projects, Holiday crafts, and family recipes. Its mission is to make its readers WANT to create.

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