I have all of this beautiful fabric from Zazzle to play with now (read about it, here!), so my creative juices are definitely bubbling! I think it’s the months and months and months of not having any free time or willpower (or sanity) to make things that has my creative brain screaming for some activity. Oh, babies.
I really like the cotton twill fabric — it’s perfect for totes, clutches, curtains, pillows and other home decor items. But seriously, PILLOWS! I do love me some pillows, as they are the quickest and easiest way to change up your decor and bring a fresh new look into your room. Want some color? A pillow here, a pillow there and POW! Whole new house.
Thus, my Stickelberry friends, I present to you, the easiest way to make a removable (and washable) cover for a pillow! This is an easy project, perfect for beginners!
Supply List
- Pillow (mine is 18×18)
- Fabric — This tutorial uses one long piece, 19×44. Adjust as necessary to your pillow size, allowing an extra inch on the short side and double the length + (plus) 8-10 inches. (You can purchase the fabric I used, here!)
- Thread – will show on the back so coordinate the color if you want
- Scissors & Pins
A few notes before you start…
*I like a loose cover on my pillows so I can smash them — if you like a tighter fit, simply up your seam allowance on all sides and cut off the excess. You can also go back and round the corners if you don’t like them pointy.
**If you DO plan on washing your covers eventually, then DO pre-wash your fabric, please! Otherwise you may not be able to shove that pillow back in again.
1. Start by laying your fabric out, right side down, and placing your pillow in the center. I’ve folded one edge to the middle so you can see..if you fold both sides over the pillow, they will overlap significantly since you added 8-10 inches to the length. This is a good thing. 
2. After centering your pillow on the fabric, you’re going to fold the left edge in an inch
Fold edge in one inch
3. Then fold again and pin.
Fold again and pin
4. Repeat on the right side, fold in an inch, fold again and pin.
Fold other edge in twice and pin
5. Take the fabric to the machine and sew down each edge, back-stitching a few times at the top and bottom. Use whatever seam allowance you’d like as long as you’re locking in the fold.
Sew down the folded edge
6. Doesn’t that look nice? Now Go do it on the other side, too.
Pretty Pretty Sewn Edge
7. After both edges are sewn, lay out your fabric again, but this time right-side up.
Lay fabric down, right side up and center pillow again
8. Fold both edges over so they overlap and the fabric is as tight as you want it around the pillow, and pin at the top and bottom.
Fold edges over pillow, they should overlap
Pin at overlap on both of the raw edges
9. Slide the pillow out and re-pin to include the bottom layer of fabric that was under the pillow.
Slide pillow out and re-pin both edge to include bottom layer of fabric
10. Back to the machine! Start at the top and sew all the way down to the bottom, pausing for some back-stitching where the overlap is along the way. I’ve placed my hand where the overlap is — be sure to sew all of the layers together.
Sew all the way down raw edges, back-stitching where the overlap is to reinforce it
11. Repeat on the other side, remember to back-stitch where the overlap is to reinforce.
Sew down the other side as well
12. Inside-Out Envelope!
Sewing Complete!
13. Turn your pocket of goodness right side out, use your poker of choice to poke out the corners (I totally use chopsticks).
Turn your happy little cover right side out!
Happy pillow cover!
14. Press
Press the cover – get the wrinkles out
15. Shove your pillow in!
Happy pillow in the happy pillow cover!
That’s it — pretty easy right?
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I’ve been sitting on this post for a while – – I meant to post this a loooong time ago! My super cool cousin-in-law contacted me last year about making some nursery art for our other cousin-in-law who was pregnant with her first child.
I wrote “A”, “R”, and “T” out on the three of the pennants, and strung the twine through the holes. (If you’re using scrapbook paper, you’ll need a hole punch).
