Projects

Reversible Zippered Pillow

Created By:

Melanie Call

Skill Level: Intermediate

Hi Janome Friends! I'm Melanie from A Bit of Scrap Stuff (Blog) (Instagram) and I love creating projects with my Janome M7.  Today I'm excited to share a tutorial for a Reversible Zippered Pillow that you can sew in 15 minutes, which includes installing a zipper! Don't worry if zippers make you nervous ... this method is super easy!

I absolutely LOVE to sew pillows for my home! A pillow is an easy and affordable home decor project. Plus this reversible pillow can be made in 15 minutes - hooray! 

 

The Reversible Zippered Pillow is perfect for your fabric stash of panels, cheater prints, or large-scale prints that you don't want to cut into tiny pieces! Today I'm using the Flea Market Fabric collection designed by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs. I just LOVE this cheater print!!!

Installing a zipper into my pillow cover is a must sew detail for me. My pillows are used by my three kids so I need to be able to remove the pillow cover and wash it.   Apparently, Mom's handmade pillows are the best for laying on while relaxing ;). 

 

It Tutorial Time .....  

PS - Adding optional details of quilting your pillow exterior fabric and/or overcasting your seams may add a bit of extra time.

Janome Supplies Required

Supplies:

  • (2) 18" x 18" Exterior Fabric Squares
  • (2) 18" x 18" Pellon Fusible Fleece Squares
  • (1) 20" or longer nylon zipper
  • Janome Needle plate (with large opening)
  • Janome 1/4" Foot - O
  • Janome Zipper Foot - E
  • Janome 80/12 needle

Optional Feet:

  • Janome AcuFeed Single Foot holder 9mm VD
  • Janome AcuFeed Zipper Foot (single) 9mm ED
  • Janome Overcasting Foot - M
  • Janome Free Motion/ Darning Foot

Note: You may choose to assemble your pillow using the Janome 1/4" O foot and Zipper E Foot OR the AcuFeed Single Foot Holder VD and Zipper ED Foot. I would recommend using the AcuFeed foot for bulky fabrics or if you like the extra control with the AcuFeed system. I will be using the Janome 1/4" O foot and Zipper E Foot for the tutorial as they are common feet for all Janome Machines.

Instructions

Reversible Zippered Pillow Tutorial

 

Step 1: Fuse Pellon Fusible Fleece to wrong side of exterior fabric per manufacturer instructions. 

 

OPTIONAL: Free motion quilt with Janome Free Motion/Darning Foot OR use the AcuFeed Flex VD Foot to quilt straight lines on Exterior Fabrics.

 

Step 2: Place zipper right side down along bottom edge of Pillow Front Exterior Fabric. Use Wonder Clips or pins to hold zipper in place.  

Hint: As zipper is oversized and nylon, you may have zipper ends overhang one or both side(s) of the pillow edge. Be sure that the metal zipper stops are not within 1/2" of pillow edge or you may accidentally sew over the metal zipper stops, which will make you are your machine unhappy.

Step 3: Attach Janome Zipper Foot E and move needle position to left. I like to use Stitch 4 on my Janome M7.  Line edge of zipper foot along edge of zipper tape and sew zipper to Pillow Exterior Front. Seam allowance is 1/4" - 3/8" (may vary based on width of zipper foot and/or how far left needle is)

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4: Place Pillow Exterior (front and back) RIGHT sides together. Align bottom edge of Pillow Exterior Back to unattached zipper side. Make sure Pillow Exterior right and left sides are aligned. Use Wonder Clips or pins to hold zipper in place.  

 

 

 

 

Step 5: Line edge of zipper foot along edge of zipper tape and sew zipper to Pillow Exterior Back. (Refer to Janome M7 setting in Step 3.

 

 

 

The zipper should now be installed along the bottom edge of Pillow Exterior Front and Back.

OPTIONAL Step 6: Attach Overcasting M Foot. Overcast both seams along zipper tape edge. This optional step takes just a few minutes, but makes your pillow interior look much nicer and prevents fraying of Exterior Fabric. I used Overcasting Stitch 16 factory settings on my Janome M7.

 

 

 

 

 

Step 7:  With Pillow Exterior Fabrics RIGHT sides together, place pillow with Pillow Exterior Back Fabric on top. Make sure zipper is laying down completely flat. Open zipper half-way. Use Wonder Clips to hold Pillow Exterior Fabrics together to avoid shifting when sewing exterior sides together.

Note: If Pillow Exterior Back top edge of fabric is slightly longer than Pillow Exterior Front when zipper is laying flat on pillow backing - trim off excess fabric (there should not be more than 1/4" of excess fabric)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 8: Attach 1/4" O Foot. Move needle position to 1/4" (Quilt Menu - Stitch 2). Sew 1/4" seam allowance along pillow right/left sides and top. Be sure to backstitch when starting and stopping.  

Hint: I like to start stitching where the zipper is so when I back stitch, I am also securing the edge of my zipper closed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPTIONAL Step 9: Attach Overcasting M Foot. Overcast side and top seams. This optional step takes just a few minutes, but makes your pillow interior look much nicer and prevents fraying of Exterior Fabric. I used Overcasting Stitch 16 factory settings on my Janome M7. See image in Step 6.

 

 

 

 

 

Step 10: Clip excess fabric from top corners of pillow. Do not cut through sewn line. 

Turn pillow inside out and enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you choose your favorite fabrics and make yourself (or a friend) a new pillow to enjoy!

 

 

 

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @ABitofScrapStuff and on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog for more fabric fun!

 

Happy Sewing!

 

Melanie Call

 

 

 

 

Everyone is Talking about Reversible Zippered Pillow
Reviews


Tako
Beautiful
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

cpindzola
Around the Table Dresden Placemats
Saturday, December 17, 2016

I like the concept, but the directions are "sloppy." Nowhere in the supply list does it mention the felt or the batting (how much?). Also, I would never use a high loft batting in a placemat, or a table runner, as I think that it would be too unstable for a glass. The next time I make these, I will cut out the batting (I use flannel) and spray baste it to the wrong side of the Dresden plate before I put the Dresden plate on the felt to cut out. I have not yet washed the finished placemat, and am hoping that the single layer of felt does not curl up, or become distorted after washing/drying.
Txmaid
Fun Great Gift!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MargieARK
Teatime Quilted Tablecloth
Friday, February 24, 2017

I made this today but your cutting directions need to be changed. You only need 4 of color 1 and color 3 4.5 squares for the triangles. Also the inner border, you only need 2 cuts as WOF is long enough to cut each in half to fit the sides.
MickelSews
Great Machine
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've had this machine for only a week now. I bought it used from a lady who makes her own clothes, but she no longer needed the machine. During the purchase, she noted that she is almost sad that it's better to give it away because of how well the machine performed. (I also bought it along side a computerized machine of another brand.} She demoed the machine for us, showing it worked and gave us everything (including the box it came in!) She took amazing care of this machine. I have used it a few times now, and the directions for threading were easy to follow (albeit my hands are quite large so the lower looper was a pain, but that is no fault to the machine or brand.) And I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to learn to serge and wants a machine that can grow with them. I will happily use this machine time and time again.
rvstan
S9 Review
Sunday, February 25, 2018

I love, love, love my S9! It's sews and embroiders beautifully and it's simplicity of use amazes me. I would recommend this machine for both a beginner and an experienced seamstress. If I would ask anything of Janome it would be to upgrade the programming to run a larger hoop size. I understand that it can't get much wider but there is most definitely room for it to go longer. That is the only limitation of this machine.
pjmnana
PJMNana
Monday, February 26, 2018

I purchased a Memorycraft 15000 a few years ago and it was the best purchase I ever made! This machine can do just about anything you would would ever want! I love the capability of using the Acuedit app to set up my embroidery pattern on my Ipad and then download it to the machine! I love how my embroidery looks upon completion and I love all the good lighting it has to light up your workspace. That way you don’t need to worry about where to set up your machine. It also has plenty of room to do machine embroidery on any size quilts! There are many decorative stitches from which to choose that are outstanding! It’s hard to choose which one to use! There are so many great features it is hard to decide what I love the most. If you want to buy only one machine to last a lifetime, I would recommend this one!
KLWash
S9 Review
Sunday, February 24, 2019

The S9 is amazing. I learned to sew by hand when I was just 5 and in my grandmothers way as she was quilting. I took seeing classes in high school until they would no longer let me sign up. The S9 makes me appreciate my current skills as well as motivate me to want to learn more. This machine is awesome.
SewSueMe2002
Horizon Memory Craft 15000
Thursday, November 19, 2020

My Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000 is fantastic! I love, love, love this machine! When I came across the Eye for and Eye embroidery design today, I wanted to make it. However, the embroidery file is missing. Nothing downloads when I select the download button. Please help!
Jillfmischo
Treat Bag fun!
Monday, August 16, 2021

I made the Halloween treat bag for my new granddaughter and I’m sure it will last for years. No embroidery machine so I appliquéd the lettering. Need a little more skirt fabric for a better gathered look, and I used thin double-bias tape for the skirt hem, over edge stitch on skirt sides. I’m pleased with my results!
elenaz
Very helpful tutorial
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I want to say thank you for teaching me this method of applique. I was able to do it with a small letters. This method is the best so far from all of those I've seen and tried.
plonkar
So useful
Thursday, November 30, 2023

I'd like to express my gratitude for teaching me this appliqué method. I successfully applied it with small letters, and, so far, it's the most effective among all the methods I've seen and tried.

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