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    Home » Sewing » Tips & Techniques

    Sewing Lesson: How to Add a Zipper to a Pillow Back

    Updated: Jul 25, 2022 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads ·

    Learn how to add a zipper to the back of a pillow - a free sewing tutorial. So easy, you can do it for any size pillow!

    Today I will show you how to adapt ANY pillow pattern to add a zippered back. I prefer a zipper closure on my pillow instead of an envelope back. Do not be afraid of the zipper! This is a very easy project that is suitable for a beginning seamstress.

    close up of blue and white pillow with pink zipper

    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. 

    Table of Contents
    • What is the Best Way to Sew a Pillow Back?
    • Before You Start
    • How to Calculate Size of the Pattern Pieces
    • Video Instructions
    • Instruction Steps
    • Finishing
    back of christmas pillow on white table

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

    What is the Best Way to Sew a Pillow Back?

    There are 3 main ways to create the back of a pillow.

    • Sewn On Back
    • Envelope Back
    • Zippered Back

    Which one is best? It comes down to personal preference; however, howver since you’re here, I’ll tell you that my choice by FAR is the zippered back.

    Adding a zipper to the back of a pillow allows you to remove it quickly and easily. This is great when you are creating a seasonal pillow cover or a pillow sham for a child. You can also easily remove an envelope back for a pillow. However, I find that many envelope pillow backs do no hold the pillow tightly enough.

    When I use an envelope back on a pillow, I also secure it with a safety pin, contrary to what I want.

    Before You Start

    • This only works with a polyester zipper. You can not do it with a metal zipper.
    • You can use any length zipper as long is it is longer than the width of your pillow.
    • Use polyester thread, as it is stronger than cotton thread. This will help your pillow hold it’s shape as the form is taken on and off several times.
    • Zippers get hot when they are ironed. Use caution.

    How to Calculate Size of the Pattern Pieces

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

    • Take note of your sewn pillow dimensions and divide by 2. So if you’re using an 18″ pillow, half of that is 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.

    Video Instructions

    Instruction Steps

    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 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.

    blue fabric with aqua 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.

    Finishing

    blue fabric with aqua zipper

    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. When you sew over the part with the zipper, backstitch several times. This “weak point” in the seam needs to be reinforced.

    Trim away the excess zipper.

    Pillow wrong side out with sewn sides on white table

    Unzip the zipper and turn the pillow right side out.

    Back of navy pillow with pink piping, and aqua zipper

    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, you can follow this tutorial that teaches you How to Sew and work with Piping!

    How to make and sew piping

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and 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 HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

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    Hello! It’s nice to meet you.

    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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