A zipper makes your pillow removable for washing

A zipper pillow has the closure built into one seam so you can open it, remove the stuffing or inner pillow, and wash the cover. You sew three sides of the pillow closed, insert a zipper into the fourth side, then sew that side shut with the zipper in place. The zipper ends up hidden inside the seam, invisible from the outside.

This method works best with a centered zipper — the most common approach for home sewers. The zipper sits in the middle of one seam, and fabric covers both sides of it. You will need a regular sewing machine (no special presser foot required, though a zipper foot makes the work easier), a zipper slightly shorter than your pillow side, and basic sewing supplies.

Key Takeaways

  • Cut two fabric pieces the same size, mark the zipper placement on one seam, and baste the zipper to the wrong side of one piece before sewing the seam.
  • A centered zipper requires you to sew one line down the center of the zipper, then two lines on either side, creating a box shape around it.
  • Sew the other three sides of the pillow closed before inserting stuffing, then open the zipper and turn the pillow right-side out through the zipper opening.
  • Test the zipper by opening and closing it before you stuff the pillow, because fixing a stuck zipper after stuffing is much harder.
  • Use a zipper 1 to 2 inches shorter than your pillow side to leave room for seam allowances at the corners.

Measure and cut your fabric pieces

Start with two rectangles of fabric cut to the same size. If you want a finished pillow that is 16 inches by 16 inches, cut each piece 17 inches by 17 inches — the extra half inch on each side is your seam allowance. Write these measurements on a piece of paper and keep it nearby; you will refer to them as you work.

Lay both pieces on a flat surface with the right sides facing up (the pretty side you want to see on the finished pillow). Use a ruler and a fabric pencil or chalk to mark a line on one piece where the zipper will go. For a pillow, this is usually one of the four sides. Mark the line lightly — you will sew along it later, and the marks should disappear or be covered by thread.

Prepare and baste the zipper

Lay one fabric piece with the wrong side (the back) facing up. Place your closed zipper face-down on top of it, with the zipper teeth running parallel to the marked line. The zipper should be centered on the line, with equal space on either side. If your zipper is 14 inches long and your seam is 17 inches, you will have about 1.5 inches of fabric on each end.

Use a needle and thread to hand-baste the zipper to the fabric — make long, loose stitches about half an inch long that hold the zipper in place but are straightforward to remove later. Baste along both long edges of the zipper tape (the flat fabric part, not the teeth). This keeps the zipper from shifting while you sew the seam.

Lay the second fabric piece on top, right sides together (the pretty sides facing each other), so the zipper is now sandwiched between the two pieces. The marked line on the top piece should line up with the zipper. Pin the two fabric pieces together along all four sides.

Sew the centered zipper seam

Thread your machine and set it to a straight stitch with a stitch length of 2.5 to 3 millimeters — this is standard for seaming. If you have a zipper foot, attach it now; it is narrower than a regular presser foot and lets you sew close to the zipper teeth without hitting them. If you do not have one, a regular foot works, but you may need to sew slightly farther from the teeth.

Start at one end of the zipper. Sew down the center of the zipper, directly over your marked line, using a backstitch at the beginning and end to lock the thread. Sew slowly and keep the line straight. Stop when you reach the other end of the zipper and backstitch again. Remove the basting stitches with a seam ripper or small scissors.

Now sew a second line about half an inch to the left of the center line, running the full length of the zipper. Backstitch at both ends. Then sew a third line about half an inch to the right of the center line. You now have three parallel lines of stitching, creating a box shape around the zipper. This is the centered zipper method.

Sew the remaining three sides

With the zipper seam complete, you now have a fabric sandwich with the zipper sewn into one side. Sew the other three sides of the pillow closed. Start at a corner and sew along one side using a half-inch seam allowance (the standard distance from the edge of the fabric to your thread line). Backstitch at the start and end of each seam.

At each corner, stop with the needle down, raise the presser foot, rotate the fabric 90 degrees, lower the foot, and continue sewing. This creates a sharp corner. Sew all three remaining sides, leaving the zipper side open.

Trim the corners diagonally about a quarter inch from the stitching, cutting away the excess fabric at each corner. This reduces bulk when you turn the pillow right-side out and makes the corners look sharper. Be careful not to cut through your stitches.

Turn the pillow right-side out and test the zipper

Open the zipper about halfway. Reach into the opening and gently pull the fabric through the zipper opening, turning the pillow inside out as you go. Work slowly and use your fingers to push the corners out from the inside. Once the pillow is right-side out, use a point turner or the blunt end of a chopstick to push each corner out fully from the inside.

Before you stuff the pillow, open and close the zipper several times. Make sure it moves smoothly and does not stick or jam. If the zipper is stuck, try rubbing the teeth lightly with a graphite pencil — the graphite acts as a lubricant. Do this now, while the pillow is empty and straightforward to work with. A stuck zipper in a stuffed pillow is very difficult to fix.

Stuff the pillow and close it

Use polyester fiberfill, down, or another pillow stuffing. Open the zipper fully and fill the pillow through the opening, adding stuffing a handful at a time. Distribute it evenly so no lumps form. Add stuffing until the pillow feels as full as you want — some people prefer a firm pillow, others like it softer. Close the zipper slowly, making sure the fabric does not catch in the teeth.

Once the zipper is closed, the pillow is finished. The zipper is hidden inside the seam and invisible from the outside. You can now wash the cover by opening the zipper, removing the stuffing or inner pillow, and washing the fabric cover in the machine.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is sewing the zipper in crooked, which makes the seam pucker and the zipper hard to use. Prevent this by basting carefully and sewing slowly, checking that your line is straight as you go. If the seam does pucker, you can remove the stitches with a seam ripper and try again.

Another frequent problem is sewing too close to the zipper teeth with a regular presser foot, which can break the needle or damage the zipper. A zipper foot solves this, but if you do not have one, mark a line half an inch away from the teeth and sew along that line instead of trying to sew right next to them.

Forgetting to open the zipper before turning the pillow right-side out is a frustrating mistake — you will get stuck halfway through. Always open the zipper at least halfway before you start turning the pillow. Finally, do not stuff the pillow too tightly, or the zipper will strain and may break. Fill it until it feels comfortable to the touch, not rock-hard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size zipper do I need?

Use a zipper that is 1 to 2 inches shorter than the side where it will go. For a 16-inch pillow, a 14-inch zipper works well. This leaves room for seam allowances at the corners and prevents the zipper from extending all the way to the edges, where it could be damaged or hard to use.

Can I use an invisible zipper instead of a centered one?

Yes, but it requires an invisible zipper foot and more practice. An invisible zipper is sewn into the seam so the stitching does not show on top, making it completely hidden. A centered zipper is easier for beginners because the stitching is visible but the zipper itself is still hidden inside the seam.

What if my zipper gets stuck while I am stuffing the pillow?

Stop when ready and do not force it. Open the zipper back to where it moves freely, then rub the stuck section lightly with a graphite pencil. Try closing it again slowly. If it is still stuck, remove the pillow from the zipper and lay it flat to see what fabric is caught, then gently work it free by hand.

Do I need a special presser foot to sew a zipper?

A zipper foot makes the work easier and gives better results, but it is not required. A regular presser foot works if you sew slightly farther from the zipper teeth. A zipper foot costs $5 to $15 and fits most machines, so many sewers find it worth buying if they plan to make more than one zippered pillow.

Can I wash the pillow cover with the zipper closed?

Yes, but opening the zipper partway before washing reduces stress on it. A fully closed zipper can strain if the cover shrinks slightly in the wash. Open it about a quarter of the way, then close it again after the cover dries.