Upholstery and sewing--uggh!

[Norm in Fujino]

I finished my Arts and Crafts loveseat in September; I upholstered the seats without any problem, either. But now I've got to cover the back cushion (bolster), and I'm almost at wit's end. I've scoured the net, reading every tutorial and viewing every video I can imagine might help. I even joined an upholstery site in Britain just to get some advice. And as of a few minutes ago, I've torn out the threads and started over about 8 times in practice pieces just trying to sew in a zipper. I haven't given up, and I imagine I'll eventually get there (I've thought of just paying to have it done, but not yet).

FWIW, here's the issue: a trapezoidal bolster:



I think I've got the process down for the zipper, but now it's the ends that are giving me doubts.

[Daryl]

Don't they sew those things wrong side out and then turn them and stuff the cushion in?
Hey, I can barely sew a button.

[Norm in Fujino]

Don't they sew those things wrong side out and then turn them and stuff the cushion in?

Hey, yes, that's taken for granted. But there's a lot besides inside/outside

[sparkeyjames]

Are you using overlap snip/v cuts or folded internal pleats on the rounded parts? Iron the stitch strips over to the fold marks. Pin it up and use as many pins as necessary. Don't sew blind always mark your fold and sew parallel to it at all times. That is the hard part. Sewing with a machine freehand is an art. Go as slow as your machine allows. Learned this from my mother who did many many quality dresses in her younger years. Also automotive seat sewing is very much the same. Look that up on the net. Don't sew myself except buttons and the odd zipper as I don't have a machine.