Birthday Pillow

I embroidered and then sewed this pillow today for my oldest daughter's birthday

A very nice birthday gift. It features her birthday date and zodiac sign. How do you close the pillow? With buttons? A zipper? Or do you sew it shut, since pillows often need to be washed? 

I sewed in a zipper

You did a wonderful job, Akela. It’s a special and personal gift she’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Akela, I’m sure you can sew in a zipper really quickly. I haven’t dared to try it yet. I’ve sewn a few buttonholes now (for bed pillows), but I have to admit, they didn’t turn out particularly well.

I hope practice makes perfect.... 

@WollwunderPetra, sewing in a zipper like that really isn't that bad. Put a zipper foot on the machine, or move the needle all the way to the right or left, depending on what you need. Then pin the zipper to the fabric and stitch it down; do the same on the other side. Then give it a quick press with the iron and topstitch it again close to the edge from the right side, so the fabric can't get caught in the zipper and slow it down.

It sounds so easy coming from you. You can tell you’re a true master of your craft.