Pillow covers are a fantastic way to refresh your home decor, offering endless possibilities for personalizing your living spaces. Whether you want to upcycle old fabrics, match a new couch, or create a thoughtful homemade gift, making a pillow cover is a rewarding DIY project.
In this blog post, we will walk you through everything you need to know, from gathering the right materials to mastering a variety of techniques, including simple envelope closures, zippers, and decorative elements.
In this blog, we will go over:
- Types of Pillow Covers You Can Make
- Tools and Materials You Will Need
- Measuring Your Pillow Insert
- Making an Envelope Pillow Cover
- Making a Zippered Pillow Cover
- Making a Buttoned Pillow Cover
- Additional Tips and Techniques
Types of Pillow Covers You Can Make
There are several designs to choose from, depending on your style and skill level. Here are a few of the most popular:
-
Envelope Pillow Covers: A beginner-friendly option with a simple overlapping back for easy insert and removal.
- Zippered Pillow Covers: A clean, professional look that keeps your pillow secure with a hidden zipper.
- Buttoned Pillow Covers: Adds a decorative touch with buttons, great for rustic or vintage styles.
- Tied Pillow Covers: Features ties or ribbons for a charming, laid-back appearance.
- Embellished Pillow Covers: Incorporates decorative elements like embroidery, appliqué, or fabric paint for a personalized touch.
Now that you know the types of pillow covers you can make, let’s get started on the step-by-step process.
Tools and Materials You Will Need
Before you begin, gather the following tools and materials:
Tools:
- Sewing machine (optional: you can also hand-sew)
- Fabric scissors
- Pins or clips
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Iron and ironing board
- Seam ripper (just in case!)
Materials:
- Fabric of your choice (cotton, linen, or upholstery fabric)
- Pillow insert (the cushion or stuffing)
- Thread (matching or contrasting, depending on your design)
- Zipper (for the zippered pillow cover option)
- Optional: decorative elements like buttons, tassels, or piping
Measuring Your Pillow Insert
To create a well-fitting pillow cover, accurate measurements are essential. Most pillow covers are designed to be snug around the insert, giving the pillow a fuller, more attractive look.
How to Measure:
- Lay your pillow insert flat on a table or surface. Use a measuring tape to determine the width and height of the pillow insert.
- Write down the measurements, but make sure not to add any extra length to the measurements. The pillow cover should be the exact size of your insert or slightly smaller for a plump appearance.
Pro Tip: If you prefer a looser fit, add 1/2 inch to 1 inch to both the width and height. If you like a tight fit, reduce the dimensions by 1/2 inch. For example, if you have an 18-inch pillow insert, your pillow cover should also be 18 inches.
Making an Envelope Pillow Cover
We’ll start with the easiest type of pillow cover: the envelope cover. This design is ideal for beginners because it doesn’t require a zipper, making the construction process simple.
Step 1: Cut Your Fabric
For an envelope pillow cover, you’ll need to cut three fabric pieces:
- Front Piece: One piece that matches the size of your pillow insert (with the seam allowance).
- Back Pieces: Two pieces that will overlap to create the envelope-style closure.
Each piece should be half the height of the front piece, plus an extra 2-3 inches for the overlap. For an 18 x 18 inch pillow, cut two pieces that are 19 inches wide and about 12-13 inches tall.
Step 2: Hem the Back Pieces
To create a clean edge for the overlapping back panels, fold over one long edge (the 19-inch side) of each back piece by ½ inch and press with an iron. Then fold it over again by ½ inch to hide the raw edge and press again.
Sew a straight stitch along the folded edge to secure the hem. Repeat for the other back piece.
Step 3: Assemble the Pillow Cover
With the right sides of the fabric facing each other, place the front piece down first.
Then place the two back pieces on top of it, aligning the raw edges. The hemmed edges of the back pieces should overlap in the center.
Pin around the entire square to keep the pieces in place.
Step 4: Sew the Seams
Using a sewing machine or hand-stitching, sew around all four edges with a ½-inch seam allowance. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end to secure the seams.
Step 5: Clip the Corners
To make your pillow cover look crisp and professional, clip the excess fabric at each corner diagonally. Be careful not to cut through your stitches.
Step 6: Turn the Right Side Out and Insert the Pillow
Turn the pillow cover right side out by pulling the fabric through the envelope opening. Use a pencil or chopstick to push out the corners so they are sharp.
Give the pillow cover a final press with your iron, and then insert your pillow into the cover through the envelope opening.
Step 7: Enjoy!
Your simple envelope pillow cover is now complete! You’ve made a custom pillow cover without a zipper, perfect for quick and easy home decor updates.
Making a Zippered Pillow Cover
Once you’ve mastered the envelope cover, you might want to try a more polished look with a zippered closure. This method is still easy but adds a bit of challenge.
Step 1: Measure and Cut the Fabric
Just like in the envelope pillow cover, start by measuring your pillow insert and cutting two fabric pieces (a front and a back piece) to the same size as the pillow, with an additional ½ inch seam allowance on all sides.
For an 18 x 18-inch pillow, you’ll cut two pieces of fabric that are 19 x 19 inches.
Step 2: Attach the Zipper
Lay your fabric pieces with the right sides facing each other. Decide which edge will be the bottom of the pillow and where you want to place the zipper.
Place the zipper face down along the bottom edge of the fabric, aligning the zipper tape with the edge of the fabric. Pin the zipper in place.
Using a zipper foot on your sewing machine, sew along the zipper tape, securing the zipper to the fabric. Open the zipper slightly so that you can sew past the zipper pull without stopping.
Step 3: Sew the Remaining Edges
With the zipper sewn in place, close the zipper and align the fabric pieces, right sides together. Sew along the remaining three sides of the pillow cover, using a ½-inch seam allowance.
Remember to backstitch at the beginning and end to secure your seams.
Step 4: Clip the Corners
As with the envelope pillow cover, clip the corners diagonally to reduce bulk.
Step 5: Turn Right Side Out
Turn the pillow cover right side out through the zippered opening. Push the corners out with a blunt tool and give the pillow cover a good press with the iron.
Step 6: Insert the Pillow
Open the zipper and insert your pillow into the cover. Zip it closed, and you now have a sleek, professional-looking pillow cover!
Making a Buttoned Pillow Cover
For a decorative option, buttoned pillow covers add a lovely touch to any home decor.
Step 1: Measure and Cut Fabric
Just like the envelope cover, cut one piece of fabric for the front of the pillow and two smaller pieces for the back. The back pieces should overlap, with enough space for buttonholes.
Step 2: Hem the Back Pieces
Hem the edges of the two back pieces as you would for an envelope cover, but leave enough space for buttons—Mark where you want your buttons to be placed.
Step 3: Make Buttonholes
Sew buttonholes on one hemmed edge of one back piece. Use a buttonhole presser foot if you're using a sewing machine.
Step 4: Attach Buttons
Sew buttons onto the other back piece, making sure they align with the buttonholes you created.
Step 5: Assemble and Sew
Assemble the pillow cover with the front and back pieces, right sides together. Sew around the edges, and then clip the corners.
Step 6: Turn and Insert
Turn the pillow cover right side out, button it closed, and insert your pillow.
Additional Tips and Techniques
Choosing Fabric
For pillow covers, the choice of fabric is crucial. If you’re making a pillow for heavy use (like on a couch), opt for durable fabrics like linen, canvas, or upholstery fabric. For decorative pillows, you might prefer more delicate fabrics like silk or velvet.
Add Embellishments
Pillow covers are the perfect canvas for creativity. Consider adding appliqué, embroidery, fabric paint, or trim to give your pillows a unique look. You can also mix and match fabrics for a patchwork design.
Sizing for a Snug Fit
For a fuller look, consider cutting your fabric a little smaller than the actual pillow insert size. This makes the pillow cover slightly tighter, giving the pillow a plumper appearance.