Master Sewing: Invisible Zipper & Welt Cord Techniques with Donna Cash | Creative Sewing Guide

[@robertdobay6927]

So tidy and clean work! It is a real joy to watch and learn from you. Thanks!

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

Hello Robert. Thanks for watching the video. I'm glad you found it helpful! Be well.

[@sandreawhite7534]

I’ve wAtched several videos. This is the best.

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Thank you for watching the video, Sandrea! I'm glad you found the video helpful. Happy sewing & creating!

[@aok1951]

Great tutorial. Thank you so much for great easy-to-follow demonstration.

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

Hello Ann. Thanks for watching the video! I'm glad you found it easy to follow. Happy sewing and creating! Be well.

[@missdottinntrottin]

Thank you so much this tutorial has helped me so much with some velvet piped cushions

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Hi Sarah. thanks for watching the video! I'm glad the video tutorial was helpful for you. Be well!

[@flavielechat7303]

Thank you so much for posting this Donna! Helped up so much at our workshop!

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Hello Flavie. Thanks for watching the video! I'm glad you found this helpful. Be well!

[@tinaturnersage3826]

Beautiful job, This was looking so intimidating, I’m so glad I found your video!

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

Hello Tina. Thanks for watching the video. I'm glad you found it helpful! Be well.

[@denisecanney3579]

I will definitely be taking the class!! Great video, thank youDonna

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Thanks for watching the video, Denise! And it was great to talk with you today. Happy sewing and creating. Be well!

[@barbrahpaul250]

Thank you for this. It was very helpful. I learned to sew at age 12. Only recently started doing pillows and cushions this has been great.

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

Hello and thank you for watching the video! I'm glad you found the information helpful. Be well and always be creative!

[@alisoncoombes4838]

I am a bit late to the party! But just wanted to say thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am about to insert my first invisible zip next to welt cord. So glad I found your videos.⭐⭐⭐

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

Thank you for watching the video! Best of luck with your invisible zippers. I find them easier and less time-consuming than other methods. Happy creating. Be well!

[@cjjdjcfdrci]

Thank you for the help!!! Did these for years and then quit sewing for several and well it wasn't like riding a bike when it came to my invisible zipper...lol, I ripped it out and found your video!! You saved my pillow from the get back to it in the future heap!!!

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

Yay, Cindy. I'm so happy this video helped you! Happy sewing and creating!

[@1daizie]

You have no idea how much you have helped me! Thank you!!!

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

I'm so glad to hear this Vickie. Thanks for letting me know. Happy sewing!

[@rlondon5004]

Hi Donna! I have this tutorial saved because I made some eyelash trim pillows about a year ago using your very helpful method. They turned out great! My question is: When you're putting the zipper next to the welt where do you join the ends of the welt? At the bottom with the zipper or somewhere else?

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

Hi there! Great question. My process for joining the welt cord and most trims is in the lower right-hand side of the pillow, a few inches up from the bottom. This keeps the seam or any bulk away from the zipper. Thanks for asking! Happy sewing and creating.

[@brandybender635]

What kind of material do you use for the fabric lining? Is it simply for stability?

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Hi Brandy. Thanks for watching the video! I use a high quality drapery lining as the lining. The lining is used to create a more luxurious feel to the custom products we design and fabricate here at Designs by Donna Atlanta. Be well.

[@cindyhappel7376]

Great tutorial Donna!! I had my own soft furnishings business for ten years, but haven’t done a lot lately and am making two pillows with welt cord and zippers and wanted to freshen up my skills!

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

Cindy Happel, I’m so happy to know you found this helpful. Happy sewing!

[@kwildernurse]

So you placed the zipper wrong side up? The first stitching?

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Hello Kellie, thanks for watching the video! Yes, you place the zipper wrong side up.

[@ladykenja2700]

- Donna, GREAT & helpful information. What's.your sewing machine brand ???

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

I used a Brother Electronic machine in this video.

[@Albury19]

Maybe I missed it but how far in are the marks that you made on the zipper and pillow pieces from the corners? Thank you so much for such a great tutorial!

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Hi Kelly. Thanks for watching the video! The marks are about 2” from each side of the pillow. I’m glad you like the tutorial. Happy sewing!

[@jimbent8765]

Very nice tutorial. What machine are you using if you could tell me please. Thank you.

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

Hello Jim. I'm using a Brother electronic machine. It has auto back tack stitch and it clips the threads. I love it!

[@mellosays]

I'd been searching for a video that would explain this simply how to insert a zipper in a piped cushion and yours is the best I've found both in technique and on how clearly you explain! Thank you so much! I only have one question, please: what do you do with the remaining zipper length you have left? Do you cut it off or push it in? Either way, wouldn't the ends be loose inside the pillow? Thanks for your help!

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

You can cut the ends shorter once the pillow is completed. And then you can secure the short zipper ends by sewing to the seam allowance of the pillow. I'm glad you found the video helpful!

[@debbiewells4748]

Hi. I usually hand sew everything, even clothes for my granddaughter. My daughter has asked me to make a floor cushion for her. Would it be better with a zip or envelope finish. I’d love to add piping as well. Thanks for any suggestions.

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

For a floor cushion, I would add a zipper. Happy sewing and creating! Be well.

[@mariafiorino5388]

👏👏

[@lthornb1]

When you are finishing the seam do you move the ends of the zipper out of the way?

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Yes you do need to move the ends of the zipper out of the way when completing the seams.

[@kwildernurse]

What kind of sewing machine is that?

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Hello Kellie, this machine is an industrial electronic Brother S7000DD-403. I love it!

[@msburnz1109]

Do u do interlineing on all pillow fabrics?

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Sandi Burns yes I do.

[@1daizie]

Donna, I purchased pre made home deco 3/8 " twisted cording, kind of a satin finish. It has 2 strands. I finally figured out how to join the ends. I have never used this "stiff" of cording before and it has been a nightmare trying to get it close enough to the cord to sew it on. I finally got the cord on the 1 side pillow fabric, however joining the top and bottom of the pillow has be awful!!! I have tried everything. My 6 mm cording foot will not fit over it! I use my zipper foot and move the needle and try to roll the cording so I can sew to it. Any suggestions? Of course I tried to put the zipper on the bottom where I have joined the cording, but, it is so thick there, it doesn't look good. Do you put a zipper on a different seam or put the zipper on the 1/3rd of the back of the pillow, or just do an envelope opening in this case???? I appreciate any help you can give. I have spent so much money and time on this project and I just can't give up. I was making 2- 18" and 1 -16" pillow tops. I appreciate you're time!!!

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

Hello Vicki, Some twisted welt cord can be difficult to join. Here is a TTT video where I show two ways to handle joining the ends and others have found this to be very helpful. designsbydonnaatlanta.com/seminars-classes/tips-tools-tuesdays/tips-tools-tuesdays-4/#Joining Decorative Braid Cord As far as the zipper, this can be difficult when you are working with this pesky, stiff cord. I have an online zipper course where you can learn an application for successfully inserting a zipper into a pillow where sewing it is difficult. In this course, you will learn 5 different zipper applications and others have given very positive feedback on the course. You can find a link to this course here: designsbydonnaatlanta.com/shop/ I hope this helps. Happy sewing!

[@1daizie]

Thank you sooo much! You are extremely talented and kind. God Bless!

[@lucindapidgeon9642]

Designs By Donna Z

[@marinakh3137]

Kind of a philosophical question - why don't more people do this on pillows? I want to make two pillows out of some very nice vintage fabric. I love both - the piped look and the totally invisible zipper. I stopped by a fancy local upholstery fabric store - they have many beautiful displays of beds and couches with tons of throw pillows. I walked around and looked at how the pillows were made - all of them had a regular zipper sewn under little flaps of fabric, both the unpiped and piped. It seems ok, but you can see it more. I started wondering - why didn't they use invisible closures? Is it that much harder to install them? Are they, perhaps, flimsier because the zipper is thinner? Should I go the extra mile to do this or just with the regular zipper? I've installed an invisible zipper once before - it wasn't that hard and looks awesome closed.

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

It's more about personal preference and also the processes that the individual stores/shops have in place. My go-to zipper application is invisible zippers while some others may use regular zippers with a flap as theirs. Regarding your mention of invisible zippers as flimsy, you must use the appropriate size zipper for the project/fabric you are using.

[@marinakh3137]

Thank you! I followed your directions, and it came out awesome.

[@DonnaCashDesigns]

That's great. I'm happy your zipper came out so well!

[@juliepower3033]

Thank you for the great tutorial! What kind/size of zipper did you use in this video. Also what size seam allowance are you using? 1/2"?

[@Designsbydonnaatlanta]

An invisible zipper in size #3 is used for this video tutorial. The seam allowance is 1/2". I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Happy sewing and creating!

[@صدامحسين-ي9ح1ض]

❤👍❤