Sewing an Invisible Zipper {tutorial}

 

 

First off, I am loving my fabric from xo.gigifabrics.  This fabric is called Tulips in Fern by Westminster Fabrics.  Love the colors!

I got together with my friend, Jennifer (Jennifer Sews Again) for some serious sewing instruction: Mastering the invisible zipper.  Oh yeah, I bet you can't think of a funner way to spend the day!!  It's not really that hard.  In fact, I sewed 3 pillows with invisible zippers in one afternoon!  Are you ready?  Put on your thinking caps.

Preparation: Decide what size pillow you are making.  I usually measure my pillow form and add 1 inch.  My form was 18" so I cut two 19" squares. 

Zipper - I like to buy my zippers longer than I need so I can cut off the extra and not worry about how it will fit.   I did not use the special invisible zipper foot - I don't own one. 

This instruction will show you how to sew the zipper in the bottom seam of your pillow.

 Make sure to start and stop at the 2 1/2" mark.  Now, pin the other side of the zipper to your other square of fabric.

This next step can seem tricky.  You are going to put on your zipper foot  and sew a seam that will close up that 2 1/2" space on both sides of the zipper.  Below I have shown exactly where your seam should be and where it should start.  Notice it starts about 1/2 inch from where the first seam ends.  It is ok that the seams don't meet up.  When you press the pieces, it will lay really flat.  In fact, the closer you get to the first seam, the more pucker-y it will be.