How To Hand Sew A Pillow Cover? To hand sew a pillow cover, you will need to measure and cut your fabric to the size of your pillow insert plus seam allowances, pin the fabric pieces with right sides together, and then use a needle and thread to sew around the edges, leaving an opening for the pillow to be inserted. Once the pillow is in, you can close the opening with a hidden stitch. Now, let’s delve deeper into the process and what you’ll need to accomplish this task smoothly.
Materials and Tools Needed
Before you start sewing, gather all the necessary materials:
- Fabric of your choice
- Scissors or a rotary cutter
- Sewing needle
- Matching thread
- Straight pins or fabric clips
- Pillow insert or stuffing
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Fabric marker or chalk
Choosing the right fabric is crucial as it will determine the look and feel of your pillow cover. Cotton, linen, and velvet are popular choices due to their durability and ease of sewing.
Measuring and Cutting the Fabric
Preparation
Before measuring and cutting your fabric, wash and iron it to pre-shrink the material and remove any wrinkles. This will ensure that your measurements are accurate and that your pillow cover will maintain its shape after subsequent washes.
Measuring
Measure the pillow insert to determine the size of your fabric pieces. For a snug-fitting pillow cover, add 1 inch (2.5 cm) to both the length and width for the seam allowance. For example, if your pillow insert is 18×18 inches, you’ll cut your fabric to be 19×19 inches.
Cutting
Once you have your measurements, mark your fabric using a ruler and fabric marker or chalk. Cut the fabric carefully, following your markings. If you’re making a simple square or rectangular pillow cover, you’ll need two pieces of fabric cut to the same size.
Sewing the Pillow Cover
Pin the Fabric
Place the two pieces of fabric with their right sides (the side you want to show) together. Line up the edges so everything is even. Use straight pins or fabric clips to secure the fabric in place around the perimeter, ensuring that the pins/clips are perpendicular to the edge for easy removal while sewing.
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Stitch Selection
For hand sewing a pillow cover, a backstitch provides strength and durability. To start, knot your thread at the end, and begin from the inside to hide the knot.
Sewing the Seams
Start sewing about half an inch (1.27 cm) from the edge of the fabric to create a seam allowance. Sew around the fabric, removing the pins/clips as you go. Be sure to maintain an even and tight stitch pattern to prevent the filling from coming out.
Leaving an Opening
Remember to leave an opening on one side of the pillow cover big enough to insert your pillow or stuffing. Typically, a 5-inch (12.7 cm) gap should be sufficient.
Finishing the Edge and Turning Right-side Out
Once you have sewn around the edges (except for the opening), you can finish the seam by sewing a few backstitches to secure the thread. Cut any excess thread, and trim the corners diagonally (be careful not to cut your stitches), which will help achieve sharper edges when turned right-side out. Now, carefully turn the fabric right-side out through the opening, poking out the corners gently with a blunt tool like a chopstick or the eraser end of a pencil.
Inserting the Pillow
With the pillow cover right-side out, insert the pillow or stuffing into the cover through the opening. Make sure the filling is evenly distributed and smooth out any lumps for a neat finish.
Hand Sewing the Pillow Cover Closed
Ladder Stitch for Closure
To close the opening with a hidden stitch, you can use a ladder stitch (also known as an invisible stitch or slip stitch). This stitch is great for creating a seamless look.
Executing the Ladder Stitch
Align the open edges so they’re flush and fold them inward to mirror the seam allowance of the sewn edges. Starting on one side of the opening, pick up a small amount of fabric on the fold with your needle and pull the thread through. Repeat on the opposite side, directly across from where you just sewed. Continue this “ladder”-like pattern until the opening is closed, periodically pulling the thread taut to bring the edges together seamlessly.
Securing the Final Stitch
Once you reach the end of the opening, make a small knot by looping the thread through the last stitch and pulling tight. For added security, take a tiny stitch through the fabric and loop the thread through to create another knot. Trim any excess thread.
Decorating Your Pillow Cover
If you wish, you can add decorations such as buttons, ribbons, or fabric appliqués to personalize your pillow cover. Make sure to add any decorations before sewing the cover closed.
Finishing Thoughts
Hand sewing a pillow cover is a rewarding and practical skill, perfect for customizing your home decor or creating personalized gifts for friends and family. With patience and attention to detail, you can produce a professionally finished pillow cover without the need for a sewing machine. Whether you’re upcycling old fabrics or designing from scratch, the process of handcrafting a pillow cover can be a therapeutic and creative outlet. Enjoy the process and the satisfaction of making something beautiful with your own hands.
