Today we are going to sew a basic sewing project, an envelope style pillow. I have made a few different kinds of pillow covers before, but I really like this style both in looks and because it is easy to construct.

WHAT WILL I NEED

As I mentioned above. This sewing project is pretty basic. You only need a few supplies and about 15-20 minutes of time before you have a completed set of pillows.

  • Fabric | Try to choose something with a little bit of weight when choosing your fabrics. Scan the clearance sections for great deals on quality fabrics. The cream and black striped fabric pictured above was only $7 a yard. With a yard + a half and some left over I was able to make 2 20x20 pillows and a lumbar pillow. Just try not to get too thin of a fabric otherwise it just looks sort of cheap in my opinion.
  • Sewing Machine | A basic one will do, I have bottom of the line, nothing fancy and it gets the job done. You're only sewing straight lines so you don't need anything intricate.
  • Coordinating Thread
  • Scissors
  • Iron | You definitely want to press your fabric before sewing. This is an important step you should not skip.
  • Pins + a clip or close pin
  • Tape measure
  • Your pillow form for reference.

CUTTING YOUR FABRIC

Begin by washing and drying your fabric if you plan on washing it and drying it in the future. Press your fabric with an iron and lay it out on your work surface. You fabric size will depend on the size of your pillow. For mine I used a 20x20 pillow form. So my fabric size was 20 x 2 + 6 = 46 inches long by 20 inches wide. I cut my fabric 20 inches wide because I wanted a snug fit you could add 1 inch for a 1/2 inch seam allowance] and 46 inches long. The envelope style overlaps the fabric in the back to create a pocket. For this reason you'll need those 6 inches to create your pocket. If you'd like more of an overlap you can add up to 8 inches. so 20 x 2 + 8 = 48 inches. You would use this formula for any size you would be making

SEWING YOUR HEMS

Once you have your fabric measured and cut you're going to hem the edges on the length of your fabric. Laying your fabric right side up you're going to fold, press, and pin your hems then sew on the machine.

I have two different examples below showing the hems.

CONSTRUCTING YOUR PILLOW

Once your hems are sewn lay your fabric down right side up and find your center. I lay my pillow in the center and then fold the hem sides over the pillow to get an idea of where my overlap pocket will fall. Once you have it where you want it grab a clip or a clothes pin and clip the top and slowly pull your pillow form out. Pin everything in place and now you can sew your pillow.

TIP

Once your sides are sewn, I recommend going around the edge with a zigzag stitch to keep from fraying and then clip your corners. Clipping the corners gives you sharper corners once your pillow is turn out.

Once you have sewn your sides and clipped your corners you are ready to flip your pillow right side out and stuff your pillow inside.

That is it! I told you it was easy. A little measuring, folding, pressing, pinning, hemming and viola you have yourself a brand new pillow.
Blessings friends,

Brew

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