Girls, this is not the place to find a sewing tutorial. Let's just say that right now!
However, I recently wanted to make some pillows for my new family room. And I wanted them to have zippers, because, you know. Kids. Husband. Barf. Me=Klutz. Hello, washing machine!
I felt relatively confident to try and make zippered pillowcases because this blue material was probably $4 at a garage sale. Love it! (And I washed it on a steaming hot cycle first, don't worry!) So if I completely messed it up, no harm done.
I think you'll agree that these zippers are not pretty. No one will be asking me to make their wedding dress anytime soon. 
The houndstooth fabric was a little pricier. We bought extra when we got our new chairs covered in the same fabric. It was a little scary to sew it, but at the end of the day, what good does it do me if the fabric just sits in my closet? The zippers are far from perfect, but......who cares? They get the job done, and now I have pretty pillows in my pretty new family room! So if you're thinking about tackling a project, but are afraid to "mess it up," I say go for it. You know what The Nester says (and it is so true): It Doesn't Have To Be Perfect To Be Beautiful. Amen girl!
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27 comments:
Personally Carrie...I'm very impressed...I don't even attempt zippers/buttons/any other sort of closure. Too timid. Sigh. I love the houndstooth fabric...where did you find it?
You go girl.....zippers can be very challenging, and I admire your spunk to just give it a go. And you did it, and who cares if they are perfect? Great job in my book!
Suzanne
Good for you - zippers make functional pillows, that's for sure. Love your fabric.
I've done worse than that, sugar, trust me! But they look perfect if the zipper side is down. I think they look beautiful, chickee!
xoxo,
Connie
Fabulous! Love that houndstooth... can't get enough of it and the warm color looks so rich.
Those are great and with the zippers down on the bottom no one will even see that. Perfect to be able to use them and wash when needed!!! Great job!
You're good - they look beautiful.
Love that blue fabric.
Carrie,
They look great. I hate zippers.... I will NOT buy a pattern for my girl's that uses a zipper... I'm sure I'll have to get over it at some point....There is an alternative to making zippered pillows....you can make them that overlap in the back like a sham. This link is a fabulous pillow calculator with simple instructions.... I have used this pattern to cover tiny pillows up to Euro Shams....Easy peasy....
http://www.jcarolinecreative.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=JC&Screen=BASPILLOW
:)Lou
Great job! Many people are so intimidated by zippers that they wouldn't even try to begin with. They are beautiful and functional. You go girl! I am an old pro at zippers but I still avoid them whenever possible.
I too am scared to death of doing a zipper! I say turn that pillow with zipper to the bottom and voila! :) Looks great!
or...you could just use hot glue! oh yes I do!...over pillow forms or other pillows I have, then when I am done, I can undo the glue, and off the fabric/cover come...they look great and no one ever knows!
Carrie -- those turned out beautiful! Back in sewing 101 (that I took twice!), zippers scared me and they still scare me!
Hope you have a fun weekend!
Janet
I think they look fantastic!!!
I would hire you to do mine! Mine are "hot glued"-seriously! Yours would be a step up.... LOL
I am totally impressed, Carrie. To my eye, they look perfect. I would be scared to death to attempt a zipper. Nice job! The pillows look fantastic! Both fabrics are beautiful!
I think they look great! And I love the idea of a zipper pillow. When I get to work on my pillows (someday when I can get the fabric I really want) I think I just might try this solution too. It is so true that it is nice to be able to take off the cover and wash it! I just love your taste in things!
Carrie, those look so much better than anything I have attempted to sew. If you look at store bought stuff they almost never have perfect lines. Keep up the neat ideas, its so much fun to see everyones fun new additions!
I think they look pretty great! I will soon be making some new pillow covers for the same reason. I have decided to do an envelope style cover instead of the zipper b/c I'm a little too nervous of my sewing capabilities.
I think they look great! I don't sew at all, but I need to take your advice and just tackle it... and not worry so much about messin' up! :)
You did good! Love both the fabrics, too.
P.S. I have the same curtains in my office (but I purchased mine off eBay 7 years ago). Maybe one day I'll attempt sewing. Yours look great in your family room!
OH...my goodness...I think those pillows look amazing...AMAZING!
sandy toe
Carrie- I'm so impressed!! I've always been to chicken to even try the zipper. You've given me the courage to at least give it a shot!
Oh, how I LOVE you!
I am sitting right here with a pillow CUT OUT...trying to decide how to make it so that I can wash the darn thing...button up, snap up??
By golly, I CAN do a zipper...I'll try it right now! ;)
Thank you, friend!
I am so proud of you...but still too scared to try this. I was following along with you when you used the grommets for the pillows. Now, you lost me at zippers. YOu did a great job though!
I try to avoid sewing in zippers too... but for the life of me I can't figure out what you did for it to turn out that way?!?!?!? I've been staring at both of them for a while now - and I can't imagine how you did it!
Because it looks like you were on the right track - surmizing from the seam prior to where the zipper begins... AND both pillows turned out the same way?!! I don't get it.
Believe me - I'm not criticizing... I'm just trying to figure it out because I'm putting off making the two pillows I offered for my boyfriend's sofa - because I'm having zipper anxiety myself!
Nice work though.. they're beautiful!
I love the hounds tooth fabric. It's so classy and comfortable. Your pillows looks great--beautiful!
Amen! Life is way to short to always be worried about being perfect : ) Just shoot for happiness! That is what I say!
Hey! Great job! Your right, it's worth it to be able to take them off & wash them.
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