Easy Tutorial on How to Sew a Zipper in a Pillow (With Pictures)

Learn how to sew a zipper in a pillow to make affordable and beautiful home décor accessories.

A zipper is a great way to finish off a pillow cover. You can save money by getting supplies from your local craft store or buying everything online for convenience.

If you sew it the right way, sewing a zipper in a pillow will be easy and simple. The key is to plan to avoid problems later on while you’re working on the project!

Want to keep your cushion covers looking professional and elegant? Then this article on “how to sew a zipper in a pillow” is perfect for you.

Let us walk you through the process. 

How to Sew a Pillow Cover With Zipper: Supplies Needed

If you’re ready to try this project on “how to sew a pillow cover with zipper,” here’s what you’ll need:

    • Pillow cover of your choice (or an old one you want to cover) 
    • Zipper that matches the color of your pillow cover 
    • Thread that matches the color of your zipper
    • Scissors
    • Pins
    • A pencil or marker
    • Needle and thread (or sewing machine)

Step by Step Instructions for How to Sew Cushion Covers With Zippers

Once you have gathered your sewing kit essentials, it’s time to start sewing a zipper on a cushion.

If you’re looking for the perfect way to sew cushion covers with zippers, then you’ve come to the best place. This tutorial will help you get started on learning how to sew cushion covers with zippers to your home decor. 

How to sew a zipper in a pillow

Image Source: Standard Textile

In this section, we’ll take you through all the steps of how to make a pillow cover with a zipper.  From choosing your fabric and cutting it down to attaching your zipper and making sure it stays in place, we’ve covered everything. 

Step 1: Inside Out

If you know “how to make clothes,” you will know this first popular step. Turn the pillow cover inside out and pin the zipper to the edge of any types of fabric you have chosen. 

Make sure you pin both sides of your zipper together, so it doesn’t shift when you sew it on. Remember to pin your zipper pull on the backside of your fabric! 

Step 2: Measure Your Zipper

If your zipper is too short for your fabric, attach extra length. Using a zipper foot, start sewing the new zipper to one end of the first side of the fabric. 

Sewing a zipper on a pillow tutorial

Image Source: WeAllSew

Make sure you are sewing with the right sides together so that when you flip over the two pieces and look at them from above, they will be lined up in the right way.

Unzip this new piece and press it open on a pressing cloth or ironing board. This will make sure there are no marks from sewing on both sides!

Add an inch or more than you think will be needed onto this. Then fold down about 1/4″ from the top edge of this new piece. Pin in place if desired, and then sew across where your initial seam ended. 

Step 3: Set Up Your Sewing Machine With a Regular Presser Foot

For this step of the “How to sew cushion covers with zippers” tutorial, first pull out the lever on the front of your machine until it clicks into place. 

The needle should be down and in a position to sew when you push it back down again. 

Step 4: Place the Zipper Onto the Seam

The zipper should be centered about 4 inches from where the seams start. Make sure its teeth are spaced around its opening and not offset one way or another before proceeding!

How to sew a zipper in a pillowcase

Image Source: Make It and Love It

Trim all your loose threads that are hanging down below. Both sides of each layer should be pressed flat before beginning this step of “how to sew a zipper in a cushion”. 

There should not be any wrinkles or folds hiding under them! They can get caught up in something else while you sew them together by hand. 

Step 5: Put Your Needle in the Down Position and Change Your Stitch Settings

Change your stitch settings to either a basting stitch or an embroidery stitch. 

For example, If you’re using cotton fabric with polyester batting as insulation for your pillow, choose an embroidery setting with a larger length and lower density. There should be plenty of room between each row of stitches when sewing onto one side of the zipper. 

Switch back over to regular straight stitches before stitching onto another side of the zipper. That way both sides will be secure without interfering with one another’s rows of stitching! 

Step 6: Turn on Your Machine Again, and Get Ready for Some Fun!

A similar thread shade should be used if you want the zipper to blend into the fabric rather than stand out.

How to sew cushion covers with zippers

Image Source: Cottonbro Studio On Pexels

Tip: Keep in mind that lighter threads may be harder to see on darker fabrics and vice versa! 

Step 7: Start Stitching as Close to One Zipper Coil as You Can

The first step of sewing a zipper in a pillow is to start stitching as close to one zipper coil as possible. 

This will help keep your seam allowance consistent and make it easier to sew the zipper in place. Use a seam ripper to remove the few stitches closest to your endpoint and try again. 

Step 8: Take Your Time While Sewing

While you learn to sew, you’ll be moving your needle and fabric back and forth. This can result in a lot of heat being generated, which could melt the zipper tape. 

If you start noticing the tape getting sticky or melting onto itself, stop sewing and let it cool down before trying again. 

Sewing a pillow cover with zippers

Image Source: Brittany Goldwyn

Step 9: Avoid Any Puckers or Gaps Until You Get to the End of the First Piece of Fabric

Leaving a 2-inch opening at one side of your zipper opening, stitch over it and backstitch several times to reinforce the stitches. Then cut off the excess thread with scissors or by pulling on it with your fingers until it breaks close to where you started stitching. 

Step 10: Lined Up Your Zipper

Flip over each piece of fabric so that they are now wrong-side out again; then align them together. 

If you had looked down from above before cutting off its edges along those edges’ your perimeters would show as distinct lines running in a vertical direction near each other.

Make sure these two pieces are lined up by pinning them together along their top edges using straight pins. 

Zipper in a pillow cover how to

Image Source: Brittany Goldwyn

Step 11: Test Your Seam With Your Hand to See if It Feels Smooth and Even

Once you have sewn your zipper, use your hand to feel the seam. It should be smooth and even. If it isn’t, you need to adjust your machine settings as described below.

    • If the seam is not smooth or even, don’t panic! You can use a seam ripper to pull the stitches and start over.
    • Pin the second piece of fabric to the other side of the zipper tape so that it overlaps in the middle about 1/4 inch.
    • Pin the second piece of fabric to the other side of the zipper tape so that it overlaps in the middle about 1/4 inch.

Sew across the length of your zipper twice, making sure to backstitch at either end. This helps secure your stitches and keep them from coming loose once you start using your pillow. 

How to sew a zipper in a cushion

Image Source: Quilting Digest

Step 12: Finishing Off!

With this step, you have finished your tutorial on “how to sew a pillowcase.” You’ve just made your zippered cushion cover with the best fabric, and now it’s time to finish it off with the perfect labels.

Super Label Store has a wide range of clothing labels for you to choose from. Our labels are super customizable and easy to use, and they’ll make your handmade products look like they came from a professional store.

Our woven labels, hang tags, and care labels come in all styles, shapes, and sizes so that you can find an excellent label for your project.

They can also be used on clothing, shoes, handbags, hats, or other items that need labeling. Explore our clothing labels today! 

Superlabelstore custom clothing labels

Easy to Follow Steps for How to Sew an Invisible Zipper in a Pillow Tutorial

Learning how to make a pillow cover with an invisible zipper is not just easy. 

How to sew invisible zippers on cushions

Image Source: MadamSew

This guide will show you how to sew an invisible zipper in a pillow in just five easy steps. It is also an affordable and effective way to update your decor.

Invisible zippers in a pillowcase

Image Source: The Homes I Have Made

Step 1: Cut the seam of the pillow using a seam ripper.

Step 2: Take out the stuffing from the pillow.

Step 3: Start sewing a zipper in cushions following the above mentioned steps for “how to sew a zipper pillow.” 

Use a zipper foot to sew over the teeth of the zipper and press down on top of them to ensure they don’t get caught in your needle or thread as you learn how to sew.

Step 4: Sew back together what was once a seam but now has an invisible zipper! 

Use a straight stitch or zig-zag stitch as needed to finish your sewing project on how to sew an invisible zipper in a pillow.

Sewing invisible zippers in a cushion cover

Image Source: Baby Lock

Step 5: Stuff your pillow with new stuffing and enjoy! 

Conclusion

Stitching a zipper into fabric can be challenging, but it’s doable with enough patience and practice.

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to complete this task in no time and get an idea of how to start a pillow business.

Happy sewing!