How to Insert a Lapped Zipper in a Pillow Seam
1. Use a zipper 2″ (5 cm) shorter than length of finished pillow. Pin pillow front to back with ride sides together. Position zipper along pinned seam, leaving equal distance at each edge. Mark ends of zipper coil on seam.
2. Stitch 3/4″ (2 cm) seam at each end of zipper opening; backstitch at marks. I basted the rest of the seam to help make it easier to press. Press under 3/4″ (2 cm) seam allowances.
3. Open zipper. Place one side face down on seam allowance of pillow front with zipper coil on seamline. Secure with pins, glue stick or basting tape. Using zipper foot, stitch tape to seam allowance only.
4. Close zipper. Spread pillow flat with right side up. Pin the zipper in place from right side catching the zipper tape underneath.
5. Place 1/2″ (1.3 cm) transparent tape (I only had 3/4″ tape so I moved the tape over a bit) along seamline as stitching guide. Starting at seamline, stitch across bottom of zipper. Pivot and continue stitching. At top of zipper, pivot and stitch to seamline. Pull threads to wrong side and tie.
6. Open zipper. With a seam ripper, take the basting out. Turn pillow wrong side out and pin front to back on remaining three sides. Stitch 1/2″ (1.3 cm) seam. Turn pillow right side out and insert pillow form or liner.
