Need quick, off-topic help: How do I finish this pillow seam/opening?

[gem]

Mods, sorry for not putting this in the Mundane Sewing thread, but I need responses as soon as possible. Can we move it later?

I'm making my mom a throw pillow out of that medallion-print canvas I bought this summer, along with black microsuede and some fun loop fringe trim. It's 95% finished--everything is sewn together and turned, and the pillow form is stuffed inside... and now I need to finish off the opening seam. I'm completely happy to do it by hand, but I'm not sure what stitch to use, given the giant row of fringe in my way!



Normally I would use a ladder stitch, but I'm not sure how to work the stitch around the fringe.

Ideas? Other options? I read one recommendation to just topstitch close to the edge by machine, using a zipper foot, but the whole thing is pretty cumbersome, and I feel like I can get better results if I do it by hand.

Gramercy!!  I'm excited about this project; I think it's going to turn out really well, and I'm happy the fabric finally told me what it wanted to be (less happy that it decided it wanted to be at my mom's house, but oh, well!). Mom will be visiting Thursday or Friday, so I need to wrap this up!

Thanks!

[Adriana Rose]

I would try to stitch trough the trim with a normal hand sewing stitch and have a thimble handy becuse it could be rough on your fingers.

[Auryn]

You know thats the part I hate about making pillows.
Closing the opening seam.

Congrats on the pretty pillow, even though its a deserter 

Thanks for that tutorial link btw gem 
Is the trim already stitched to one side of the pillow??

[gem]

Thanks, you two!  I gave doing it by machine another go, and it wouldn't fit under the presser foot. Plus, the loop fringe (while totally fun) catches on EVERYTHING, and kept looping around the presser foot "toes."    So I'm back to doing it by hand, with just a running/backstitch... but it's not quick. It's nearly invisible, however, so I'm satisfied. I know I could have made envelope pillows, or put a zip in or something, but I didn't wanna.

There's actually a great YouTube tutorial on ladder stitch that I like even more (but don't like embedding links to surprise videos):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CjOXMuTFXo