Inside: How to make an envelope pillow cover to update your space for any season. This is a really easy sewing project and such a simple way to decorate your home on a budget and add a fun pop of color!
Are you feeling like it’s time to make some changes to your living room or bedroom?
One of the easiest ways to freshen up your decor, without a ton of commitment, is to add new throw pillows to your sofa and making your own envelope pillow covers is a lot easier than you might think.
I’ve shown you how to make a zippered pillow cover and I love hearing that so many of you are facing your fears and learning how to install a zipper, but if you want to cut costs a little bit and whip up some seasonal pillows then an envelope pillow cover is just what you need. — I’m going to show you the super simple steps today!
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Why envelope pillow covers might be perfect for you
What? You thought I was always super fancy and made all my pillow covers with a zipper?
Not at all!
I have 2 young kiddos and a husband who may or may not fall asleep on the sofa and drool a little, (sorry honey) so I definitely need a few sofa pillows that look good, but aren’t worth the extra time, since they won’t be around forever.
We don’t live in a museum or a magazine. We drool. And occasionally have sticky stuff on our fingers.
So let’s gather up our supplies and get our straight line sewing selves into action shall we?
What you’ll need to make an envelope pillow cover:
- a pillow insert or old pillow that you want to cover up
- fabric (how much will depend on the size of your pillow)
- scissors or a rotary cutter (which is the most awesome cutting too ever, btw)
- a cutting mat if you are using a rotary cutter
- sewing machine and thread
- (optional) iron
How to make an envelope pillow cover
Cutting out the pieces of your pillow cover
Step 1: Cut the front side of your pillow cover the size of your pillow insert.
So if your insert is 16 inches square, you’ll cut a piece of fabric that is 16 inches on all 4 sides.
Step 2: Cut 2 pieces for the back side –be sure that your fabric is going in the same direction as the front unless you don’t want it to.
Each back side piece will be the same width as the front side and 1/2 of the length plus 5 inches to account for seams and overlap (the envelope part.)
For example, my pillow insert is 16 inches so 1/2 of that is 8 inches + 5= 13 inches. So each of my back pieces will be 16 inches wide and 13 inches tall.
Sewing the back pieces of your pillow cover
Step 3: Fold the bottom edge of your top back piece over about 1/2 an inch and then again and sew along the edge to create a finished edge.
Repeat for the top edge of the bottom piece.
Tip: it’s often easier to sew these types of seams if you iron them in place first.
Putting your envelope pillow cover together
Step 4: Now place your front piece good side up –with the fabric going in the direction you want the finished pillow to have.
Then place the back bottom piece good side down, lining up the corners, and then the top back piece good side down. It will overlap the bottom piece.
Pin in place all the way around.
Step 5: Sew all the way around your pillow with a 1/2 inch seam.
Step 6: Then run your sewing machine around the edges with the zig-zag stitch so that the needle lands just off of the fabric on the outer edge. This will keep your fabric from fraying.
Step 7: Turn your pillow cover right side out and add your insert! DONE!
Check out the fun pop of color these envelope pillow covers add in my typically pretty neutral living room!
Now the hubs has a nice bright place to rest his sleepy head in the evening. 🙂
And just imagine all of the fun fabric combinations you could come up with for each season to give a little refresh to your space!
