Do It Yourself: Easy pillow cover with zipper

Source: Craftynest

I’m redecorating my living room. Red has been lovely, but the colors of the sea are calling me. (I’ll post a before and after when my living room is done.) I like Ikea’s Fjädrar inner cushions, but none of Ikea’s pillow covers go with my new color scheme. So, using a cover that I bought in the As-Is section for a couple bucks, I figured out how to make my own. Plus I decided I was due an easy project after last week’s marathon.

Easy pillow cover with zipper

*Disclaimer: This may not be the proper way to install a zipper, but it worked for me.

Supplies

3/4 of a yard of 45-inch fabric
18-inch zipper

Tools

sewing machine
thread
scissors
rotary cutter, mat, and metal straight edge (optional)
straight pins
water-erasable marker
tape measure
sewing gauge or small ruler
iron and ironing board

1. Preshrink and iron your fabric.

2. Cut one piece of fabric these dimensions: 42 inches x 21-1/2 inches. Fold your fabric in half, lining up the selvages. Measure 21 inches from the fold, and cut. Then cut the left edge, measure 21-1/2 inches and cut the right edge.

3. In each corner opposite the fold, mark a line that is 3/4 inches from the top and 1-3/4 inches long. Sew along this line, backstitching at the ends.

4. Fold over at the seam and press each side down.

5. It will look like this.

6. Place the zipper upside-down on top of the seam, about 1 inch from the edge. Pin in place.

7. Lock down one side by sewing perpendicular to the zipper, about 1/2 inch long, just before the zipper stop. Sew back and forth a few times.

8. Unzip the zipper. Using your zipper foot on the left side, sew along the left side of the zipper, 1/4 inch from the edge, lining up the edge of the teeth with the edge of the fabric. When you get close to the end, put your needle in the down position, lift the presser foot, and zip the zipper closed. Then put the presser foot back down, and keep sewing to the end.

9. Move your zipper foot to the right side, and repeat step #8 for the right side of the zipper. Then lock down the opposite end in place by repeating step #7.