If you are looking to become adept at upholstering furniture, you will want to learn more about how to work with upholstery zippers. Large couch cushions, slipcovers, duvet covers and decorative pillows are encased with fabric that features upholstery zippers. This is because zipping in or unzipping the foam insides of the cushion or pillow is much easier and less time-consuming than trying to sew fabric around foam. The following information should provide guidance for using upholstery zippers and make you more informed about the upholstery process.
Use Zippers When Reupholstering a Couch Cushion
Zippers need to be placed on the back boxing strip of a couch cushion. Once you have finished attaching the boxing strip, you will have a new seam. Place your zipper on the seam. You may want to secure it with pins. Then, sew the zipper to the backing strip in a rectangular shape. At the end of the zipper, include some vertical stitches. When you turn the fabric over, cut the seam and your new zipper will come into view.
Utilize Zippers When Making a Slipcover
After you’ve sewn together the back portion of your slip cover, you should leave 3/4 of one side seam open at the point where the inside and outside back pieces come together. In this area, insert the zipper. If you are making a larger slipcover, for a couch or loveseat, think about using two zippers along these seams.
Employ Zippers When Creating a Duvet Cover
In a duvet cover, you insert a zipper to close one chosen end of the cover. Doing so allows you to remove the cover easily when you want to clean it. Most people install the zipper on the bottom of the duvet cover. Just make sure that you do this before you seam the cover’s three sides. Also, you must choose a sturdy upholstery zipper that is equal in length to your duvet cover for easily removal, otherwise you will defeat the purpose of including the zipper.
Install Zippers When Stitching Together a Decorative Pillow
Your upholstery zipper length should be about 1 to 2 inches from pillow plate corners. Insert the slide, then fold some of the pillow fabric. Sew across it, but leave room to make a small pocket. Then, sew an additional fabric tab on the zipper’s opposite end. Your next step is to fold your pillow fabric 1/2" and stitch the pillow plate to your zipper and make sure that you are covering about half of the zipper’s teeth.
Work with Zippers When Upholstering a Car Seat
Similarly to duvet covers, slipcovers, pillows and couch cushions, zippers will help you easily place or remove a new car seat cover. They are needed to attach the cover to the seat’s frame. There are many ways that you can add upholstery zippers when revamping household items or the interior of your vehicle. Hopefully, this new skill will prove useful in similar future projects as well.