DIY Velvet Pillow Case with a Zipper

If you're ever looking for a quick way to change up the decor in your home, the easiest and cheapest way is with pillow cases! You can add new colors, and even new textures, into the space to give it vibrancy and dimension. As the temperatures drop, soft fabrics like velvet and faux fur create a cozy atmosphere that is made for movie nights and Sunday morning coffee. The velvet texture of this pillow gives it a luxurious look that brings a soft warmth to the living space.
As for the construction of the pillow with the zipper closure, it's is easier than you might think. In order to get the sleekest look possible, this tutorial teaches you how to install a zipper with ease that makes sure the zipper is completely hidden away and lined up perfectly every time. You start by sewing one side of the pillow case closed, then pinning down the zipper and sewing around it. Once you flip the pillow case over, you can rip out some of the threads, and the zipper will be exposed for use while still being perfectly hidden away. Sew up the other three sides and you're done!
All it takes is an afternoon - this pillow case was made in only 1-2 hours! With 40 colors of stretch velvet available, most of your time will be spent deciding which color to choose, but this pillow case was made with gold stretch velvet for reference.

Supplies: 

1. 1 yard of Stretch Velvet
2. Matching Thread
3. 18" Matching Zipper
4. Sewing Machine
5. Zipper Pressure Foot
6. Scissors
7. Ruler
8. Pins
9. Pencil

Time:

1-2 hours

Difficulty: 

Easy

LET'S GET STARTED!

1. Start off by cutting out two squares of fabric that are 21" x 21". Line up the squares with the velvet sides of the fabric touching one another, making sure that the grain of the velvet is in one direction. Pin one edge of the fabric together and lay the zipper down in the center. Mark with a pencil where the zipper starts and ends. Sew along this side of the squares about 1/2" from the edge of the fabric with short stitches on the ends and a long basting stitch in the middle where the zipper will be.
   
   
   
   
2. Take your fabric and unfold the two squares so that the wrong side of the fabric is facing up. Lay the zipper face down in the center of the seam you just made lining up with the pencil markings. Pin the zipper down and change the presser foot on the machine to a zipper foot.
   
   
   
   
3. Begin by sewing at the end of the zipper without the pull. Sew along the edge of the zipper until you get close to the other end. With the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot and drag the zipper pull away from the end to move it out of the way. Put the presser foot down again and sew to the end of the zipper. Sew across the ends and back down the other side of the zipper. Again, once you reach the zipper pull, you will have to move it back to the end. You can do this by hooking a seam ripper into the zipper pull and pulling it back closed. Continue sewing along the zipper to attach it to the pillow.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Once the zipper has been attached, flip the fabric over to the right side and use a seam ripper to rip out the seams along the zipper, leaving the seams at the ends of the pillow in tact. Unzip the zipper and fold the pillow back to having the right sides of the fabric touching.
   
   
   
   
5. Complete the pillow by pinning the other three sides of the pillow together and sewing along the edges about 1/2" from the edge of the fabric. Clip the corners of the pillow slightly so that they do not add bulk to the pillow when it is flipped right side out.
   
   Turn out the pillow case, insert your 22" pillow, and zip it closed.
   
   
   

YOU ARE ALL DONE NOW!

This Tutorial was created by Julia Bleck of Bunny Baubles Blog