I it find equally awesome and intimidating that knitting has seemingly endless techniques to be learned. When I cast on for Willard in our Berroco Home Crochet & Knit-Along at the end of June, I decided it was the right time to try sewing in a zipper.
It helped that I had more than a month to mentally prepare! The front of the pillow is covered in beautiful bobbles and thin cables on a reverse stockinette background, which took me a while to knit.
Instead of binding off after the last row, I continued knitting in reverse stockinette to make a solid back. I realized after the fact that I probably should have put markers on either side of that first row of the back to help with measuring/seaming (see, I’m always learning). So if any of you decide to make this modification, take note!
The sample pillow that was featured in booklet #367 Berroco Home actually has two overlapping back flaps, which are knit sideways and secured with i-cord ties.
I seamed my Willard along the side and bottom and purchased an 18″ zipper for the other side. Since this was my first time sewing a zipper on anything, I watched Emily’s video, How-To: Sew in a Zipper, for pointers.
I had a couple of false starts, and I know it’s not perfect, but I’m pretty pleased with my first zipper! Here’s how my finished Willard looks:
Are there any knitting add-ons/techniques that intimidate you?
Beautiful! Well done. x
Thank you!
Nice job! One tip I learned for my first pillow – if your pillow form is 12in, make your cover 11 1/2 to 12 so it’s a snug fit so your design can stand out and the pillow stuffing will settle over them. I love the zipper – I did this with a fabric pillow I made but love the idea of adding it to knitting