Sewing Pillows: Welting with a Zipper

17 years ago

I'm having a hard time trying to sew a zipper into a pillow now that I've got the welting attached to one side of the pillow fabric. I made the welting out of the same fabric, using polyester cording. Alone, that's not a problem to sew into a pillow. Sewing a zipper into a pillow isn't a problem either. But COMBINING those two has been a nightmare.

How on earth do you sew in a zipper with all that bulk in the way? Normally I close the zipper once it's tacked in place and sew it to the fabric but I can't make this technique work with the cording in the way. So do you unzip the zipper and sew each side on separately? I've checked several books and wouldn't you know it they all chicken out and avoid this topic.

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Comments (7)

jaybird
17 years ago
I always put the zipper in the back piece before I attach the back to the front with the welting sandwiched in between.
Am I missing your point???? (I can read something over and over and still be confused :^)....talk me through this and maybe I can help...I make jillions of pillows.
kathi_mdgd
17 years ago
I always put my zippers in while it's still in it's flat state,before sewing front to back.Does that make sense??
Kathi
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Oy. OK, I get it. This is why it takes so long to get a road built, I guess. Me? I'd have had the cushions cut, piped and finished last week, and they'd be perfect! I do have a lot more sewing experience than you guys do, but, still, it seems to me there comes a time when you actually have to DO it. (I understand having life and other projects take precedence) I always read and reread instructions before I begin, even for things I've made before. I refer to the instructions as I go, and sometimes get puzzled. But, to be trite (and not snotty), I don't reinvent the wheel. Anyway, I think of sewing projects as pleasant things I love doing, with results I am proud of. I do get vexed, even now, but for me it's the hands-on doing - going into production - that helps me understand the project. I often make muslins (prototypes) before I make the actual garment, so I understand that function. You were right to try the cording methods you did, but, for me, I'd have to get to the project before I lost my enthusiasm (or the season passed!) I have a gown in my sewing room right now that I have to alter because the bridesmaid gained weight, and I'm stalling because I don't like that kind of work, but I promised. I have no idea yet how I'm going to make the garment bigger! I really, really hope you enjoy your experience. I am visualizing you fretting, measuring, stewing, rethinking, measuring again, reconsidering your first thoughts, agonizing over the outcome.....I'm waaay overthinking your situation! For me, it's creative and enjoyable. I hope it is for you, too. Sherry
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As a professional, I have sewn throw pillows for more than 10 years. Usually they were needlepoint tops, which needed blocking before sewing. If I had to add a zipper (difficult with ANY sort of trim), I'd add at least $10 per pillow, and more if they wanted it in the outside edge seam of the pillow. First question - why do you want a zipper? Do you want to be able to clean the cover? If so, an overlap closure with buttons or velcro in the center back of the pillow is a better solution - less bulk than a zip. Zippers are also damned difficut to put in a seam with trims. Second question - does the pillow need to be reversible? If not, the overlap closure with a zipper is possible. If yes, the the overlap is best done with decorative buttons and button holes. I can't even begin to tell you how many customers wanted their needlepointed pillows with the two or three fancy trims who wanted me to insert a zipper into the seam. I charged at least $10/trim piece plus the $10/zipper. With loopy or ribbon fringe - PLEASE do not rip out the chain stitch holding the loops in place! If you do, I will seriously charge another $10 per pillow, because I have to groom the stuff every single inch to make sure your lovely fringey bits aren't stuck in a seam. With rope type cording with a lip, I still have to unravel 2 inches on each end of the cord, and weave them together, and resew. You will not see the tape, but you don't want a zipper in that seam either. It's bulky and difficult to open and close, and it will eventually snag that lovely trim. There really isn't a way to incorporate a zipper into a seam with these heavy trims, and have it look good, at least not for a reversible pillow. Do a nicely finished overlapped closure with decorative buttons, or velcro, or even a zipper with a deep overlap to cover it. You'll get a better pric if you simply opt for a sewn-up pillow. Just like your sofa or other upholstered furniture, they can be cleaned. All that said, you are getting a good price on those pillows. I'm retired now, but I'd have charged you at least that.
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flyingflower
Original Author
17 years ago
How I normally sew in a zipper (without welting) is to put the two sides together, fronts facing and then mark where the zipper goes. Then I sew from the edge up to that mark on both ends. I baste stitch closed the area between the two marks. That's to make it easier to line the zipper teeth up with the seem and to remove the stitches after the zipper has been sewn in place.

With this method you sew the pieces together before you put in the zipper. That means if any welting is going in it has to be included before this stage. I'll take the front piece of fabric and sew the welting all the way around it and THEN proceed as I described above for inserting the zipper. I don't see how you can avoid putting the zipper in first before the welting as been sewn to the fabric. Yet when it's in place it's so close to the seem the bulk makes it very cumbersome to sew in one side of the zipper tape.

What's making this so frustrating is that books don't show you can to do this. The authors must be shying away from this, maybe it's too confusing to describe. They show you have to sew in welting, they show you how to sew a zipper into a pillow but they chicken out when it comes to sewing the two together.
shadylady2u
17 years ago
The book Sandra Betzina Sews for Your Home has instructions for this. You can buy it used for a few bucks at Amazon.

Here is a link that might be useful: Book
kathi_mdgd
17 years ago
For those of you that baste in zippers,you may be interested to know that in the quilt notions dept they have a 1/4 " basting tape.It's double sided and this is what i use for zippers.A lot easier than using pins.The zippers go in so much easier and it's water soluable.
kathi
joansews4u
17 years ago
I also put my zippers in the back piece before construction. I put it close to one edge with an overlap. The fabric that is at the edge where welting will be is just a single layer. I have used the invisible zippers about an inch inside the seam where the welting will be.
cathysobeck
17 years ago
I make zillions of pillows for an interior designer and will swear by using invisible zippers. I attach zipper first and then wrong sides together, sew other seams.

Have applied zippers with welting, braid, ruffles, beading, etc. .. once you get the knack of it you will LOVE it.

Her clients are impressed that you can't tell a zipper is there.

Sewing Pillows: Welting with a Zipper

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jaybird

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Sewing Pillows: Welting with a Zipper

Comments (7)

jaybird

kathi_mdgd

Related Discussions

flyingflowerOriginal Author

shadylady2u

kathi_mdgd

joansews4u

cathysobeck

COMPANY

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GET HELP

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flyingflower
Original Author