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Easy Envelope Pillow Covers

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These Easy Envelope Pillow Covers are my go to for alllllll of my pillows. I cover old pillows, new pillows, and even make seasonal pillows with these covers. I personally love to use drop cloths to make these ridiculously cheap. But this simple pattern works with any fabric. I also have a sizing chart as well to make it easier for ya!

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
I've done several tutorials for Easy Envelope Pillow Covers here on the blog...but I wanted a tutorial with sizing specifics that I can refer to in future posts (because, hey...I make a lot of pillows, y'all). I have a fun bunny pillow coming up next week (super cute, I can't WAIT to show you!), so I figured now was the time to put together a more detailed post about creating the Easy Envelope Pillow Covers. This is a sewing tutorial that even a beginner can handle...it's even perfect for your first sewing project. Check out the details below.


Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
This is your basic envelope pillow tutorial for a square pillow. It can easily be converted to a rectangular size, too...just do a little math (wink!). I did create a chart for the most popular sizes of throw pillows below. You can use either a pillow form or an existing pillow to make a cover. I do both. Sometimes pillow forms get pricey, so I'll pick up a few cheap pillows at Ross or Marshall's and recover to make them fit with our decor a bit more. 

Start by measuring your pillow. If you're using an existing pillow (and not a form), go from seam to seam. Usually forms have the sizes on the packaging, if not just measure side to side.

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.

After you get your sizing, cut your fabric or drop cloth into the three pieces (one for the front, and two for the envelope sections). I truly love using drop cloths for these. I can get 4-5 pillows out of these 6'x9' standard canvas drop cloths I snag on Amazon here.

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
The front piece is the same size as your pillow. The back sizes are the same size as your front piece on one side and then half the size of your front piece plus three inches for the other side (the flap has a three inch overlap). 

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
Start with the two smaller back pieces. On their longer edges, iron a 1/4" seam and then fold that over and iron it again...taking up 1/2" of the fabric overall. You're just making a simple double seam here. 

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
Do a tight basic stitch with your machine over this ironed-down seam (back stitch at both ends). 

By the way, I love my sewing machine and it's budget-friendly, too ($100)! I have had it for less than a year, but it's truly a work horse. I started with an old machine from a friend and then switched over to this one a few months back. It's super simple to set up, too. If you're interested in a great machine (it's perfect for beginners), click here to check this one out on Amazon.

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
Repeat this seam on the other back piece, as well. 

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
Lay your two back pieces (wrong side out) on top of the square piece.

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
Pin this all the way around. 

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
Do a simple basic stitch all the way around, removing pins as you go. 

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
Clip your corners and turn the pillow right side out.
I use the wrong end of a seam ripper to push the corners out to be a bit crisper. 

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
Stuff your pillow inside. 

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
And then the envelope on the back looks fantastic, right? 
This is so much easier than hand-stitching pillows closed.

Easy Envelope Pillow Covers | Make a super budget-friendly envelope pillow cover out of a drop cloth or fabric! Perfect for a beginner sewing project.
These are truly awesome to dress up or down. Add trim, lace, heat transfer vinyl or applique. The possibilities are endless! Happy pillow-making!




7 comments:

  1. I'm not exactly a beginner "sewist" but this visual tutorial is just what I needed to figure how to cover a couple thrift store pillows I've been procrastinating on.

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    1. I hope you are able to try it out!! Let me know how it goes for sure!! xoxo

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  2. I'm new to your blog and just signed up for the newsletter. I've been following Jaime for some time now and decided it would be fun to follow some of the bloggers she chums with. I am definitely not new to sewing, but have always put zippers in pillows until recently. Guess you can teach an old dog (I'm a grandmother & proud of it) new tricks....I just copies your chart for the cuts of envelope-back pillows. I always just wing it whenever I make this kind of closure, but this is so much easier...thank you! I'm a big fan of drop cloths and usually get mine at Harbor Freight...cheapest I've seen!

    I don't know if you have an IKEA close by, but they have an 18" feather pillow insert that's about $7. Over the last couple of years, I've been gradually replacing all of my pillow forms with these feather ones and just love the look and feel. These forms even hold up to washing and drying. I just thought you might like to know this. $7 is extremely cheap for a feather pillow!

    Anyway, thank you so much for the tutorial and the chart. Your bunny pillow is adorable!

    Warm hugs,
    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol! Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm so happy to "meet" you! Yes, Jaime is the best...we don't live too terribly far from one another, too! That's so smart to get them at Harbor Freight...I will have to look next time I'm close to one. Love a good feather pillow, too...and I'm less than an hour from IKEA, so I'll do that for sure!! Really appreciate that tip...great price!!
      Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! XOXO

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    2. Keep posting the good work. Some really helpful information in there. Bookmarked. Nice to see your site. Thanks! quality pillow

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  3. So excited to find this! I am going to dry to give an old couch on my screen porch a facelift. LOVE all of your tutorials.

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    1. Hi Sherry! I'm excited that you're so excited! Thank you so much for adding kind words and sunshine to my day! Blessings to you! xoxo

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