A Bit of Scrap Stuff - Sewing, Quilting, and Fabric Fun: JANOME TUTORIAL - Reversible Zippered Pillow in 15 minutes!

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Hi Sewing Friends! 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'll be making my Reversible Zippered Pillow with my fabulous Janome M7 sewing machine.

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!!!

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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's Tutorial Time .....

PS - Adding optional details of quilting your pillow exterior fabric and/or overcasting your seams may add a bit of extra time, but so worth it!

Reversible Zippered Pillow Tutorial

Supplies:

(2) 18" x 18" Exterior Fabric Squares - Flea Market designed by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
(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.

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 and 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.