14" Pillow with Contrasting Inset and Zipper Back
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Debbie Colgrove Dateline: 09/29/04 Pillows are a quick way to change the look of a room and add color. Adding a zipper allows you to launder the pillow cover and re-use the same pillow form. This 14" pillow that has a contrasting inset in the front and a zipper in the back. |
Materials:
- 1/2 yard of main fabric
- 1/2 yard of contrasting fabric
- Cording
- 14" Zipper
- Thread
- 14" pillow form
Cutting
Main Fabric - 2 - 7 1/2"X15" (front panels)
- 1 - 15"X9 1/2" (back panel)
- 1 -15"X10 1/2" (back panel)
Contrasting Fabric - 1 - 7"X15" (front panel)
- Piping (see more information here)
- 24" of 2" wide bias (ties)
Construction:
Note: All seams are 1/2"
Pillow Front - Fold the 24"X2" wide bias in half lengthwise. Press. Fold each raw edge in towards the fold line. Fold the ends in to enclose the raw edges. Stitch along the edges. Cut the strip in half.
- Pin the raw edge of each strip to the 7"X15" piece of contrasting fabric, in the center of a 15" side on each panel.
- Placing the wrong side together, place one of the 7 1/2"X15" main fabric pieces on the 7"X15" contrasting fabric matching one 15" edge. Stitch using a 1/2" seam.
- Repeat with the other 7 1/2"X15" main fabric piece, so that the contrasting fabric is centered between the main fabric.
- Press the seams towards the contrasting center panel. Stitch in the ditch to hold the seam allowance on the contrasting fabric.
- Mark the center of the contrasting fabric. Using a ruler, place the mark at 7 1/2". Bring both edges in to create a 15" edge. Fold the fabric on the seam line and pleat into the center as shown in the picture.
- Baste the pleats into place. Tie the centered strings into a bow to prevent them from getting caught in seams as you make the pillow.
- Attach cording to the edges.
- Set aside.
Pillow Back - Place the zipper, pull side down, along the right side of the 15" edge of the 15"X9 1/2" piece of main fabric. Stitch the zipper to the fabric.
- Press the fabric back to expose the pull side of the zipper. Stitch along the edge of the fabric, to hold the fabric and zipper tape back from the zipper.
- Place the wrong side of the other 15"X9 1/2" piece of main fabric along the opposite edge of zipper tape on the 15" edge. Baste.
- Using a ruler, place one end of the long edge of the joined piece at a 15" mark. Fold back the last section that you attached the zipper to, creating a lap which will cover the zipper. Repeat on the other long edge. Press the lap into place.
- Using the zipper tape as a guide, stitch the lap into place as shown in the photo.
Joining the front and back
- Lay the front section on the back section, right sides together.
- Stitch the edge that has the zipper pull from corner to corner.
- Open the zipper by a few inches.
- Line up the other edges of the pillow and stitch them into place.
- Zig zag or serge the seam edges.
- Turn right side out. Press and un-tie the bow.
- Fill with a 14" pillow form.
- Tie the strings and "puff" the center section. More Pillows
Silk Flowers, ruffles and zipper pillow - Shadow Applique adds a new twist to using flowers to decorate your room.
Pillows - Economical solutions to create your own pillows for your home
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