Zipper Pillow - Finished!

I finished the zipper paper pieced pillow cover for my friend! Just in time too, her birthday party is tonight.

Zipper Pillow!

I had fun with this cover. I tried out some new quilting techniques, and I made a lapped invisible zipper for the first time!

I tried out the negative space quilting I learned from Jacquie Gering's Creative Quilting with your Walking Foot class through Craftsy. It was fairly straightforward, but with my clunky old machine I decided to outline the letters as well. I'm not sure I like the result, but that's why it's fun to practice new things on gifts for other people!

Matchstick Quilting with letters. 

I wanted to do a zipper closure, and usually I just put them in along one edge. This time I decided to do it under the cassette piece, with a tab to cover the zipper. I didn't like the tutorials I saw, so I made up a method, which I liked a lot. I also used an invisible zipper, which I installed per the instructions on the package. It totally worked - invisible! The lapped part just helps with the transition between the two 'fabric zones'.

Detail of the zipper closure. The lap is folded up. Meow!

I did minimal quilting on the cat panel, matchstick with letters around the cassette, and minimal around the zipper. I wanted the designs to really shine.

Side A and Side B. Both patters free from Sewing Under Rainbow. 

And, of course, a stamped label.

One of my favorite parts. Except I almost always forget and have to add it after I finish!

I think she'll like it, and it'll make up for the pillow she bought from me that keeps having seams pop open! In my defense they're all handsewn, and I didn't reinforce them or anything. This one should hold up much better!

Linking up at Finish it up Friday with Crazy Mom Quilts!