
Making an envelope pillow cover involves creating a simple piece of decorative and functional textile that can refresh the look of your living room or bedroom without the need for zippers or buttons. You only need two pieces of fabric to craft a stylish cover that snugly fits your pillow insert. The process requires minimal sewing skills and just a few straight seams. Essentially, you’ll cut the fabric to size, hem the edges that will form the envelope’s opening, and then stitch the remaining sides together.
Materials and Tools Required
To begin creating your envelope pillow cover with two pieces of fabric, you’ll need the following materials and tools:
- Fabric (preferably home décor weight for durability)
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Sewing machine (or a needle and thread if you prefer hand-sewing)
- Iron and ironing board
- Straight pins or fabric clips
- Thread matching your fabric
- Pillow insert (for sizing purposes)
Choosing Your Fabric
Type of Fabric
Before you start, it’s essential to choose the right fabric for your pillow cover. Home décor fabrics are typically sturdier and hold up better to wear and tear, but you can also use cotton, linen, or canvas. If you go for lighter materials, consider using interfacing to add body to the fabric.
Measuring Your Fabric
You’ll need to calculate the size of fabric needed based on the size of your pillow insert. For a snug fit, use the pillow insert’s dimensions for the width of your cover. For the length, add 6 to 8 inches to the insert’s dimension to create the overlapping pieces that will form the envelope closure.
For example, for an 18-inch pillow insert, you’ll cut one piece of fabric that is 18 inches wide (to match the width of the pillow) and the length would be the dimension of the pillow plus 6 to 8 inches, let’s say 24 inches for adequate overlap.
Instructions for Crafting the Envelope Pillow Cover
Cutting the Fabric
After choosing and measuring your fabric, you’ll cut two pieces: one for the front of the pillow, using the dimensions of your pillow insert (e.g., 18×18 inches) and one for the back, the width of the pillow by the longer measurement for the envelope overlap (e.g., 18×24 inches).
Hemming the Edges
The next step is to hem the edges of the back piece that will form the envelope opening. You’ll do this by folding the fabric over 1/2 inch on one long side, pressing with an iron to hold the fold in place, and then folding over another 1/2 inch to hide the raw edge. Pin this hem and do the same on the opposite side. Sew each hem with a straight stitch.
Assembling the Pillow Cover
Lay the front piece of fabric right side up on a flat surface. Then take the back piece, and with the right side facing down, align it with the front piece so that the hemmed edges overlap in the middle. Pin around the perimeter of the fabric to keep the layers from shifting.
Sewing It All Together
Sew around the entire perimeter of the pillowcase with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, removing pins as you go. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end for durability.
Finishing Touches
Trim the corners diagonally to reduce bulk but be careful not to cut the stitching. Turn the cover right side out through the envelope opening, pushing out the corners with a tool like a chopstick. Press the pillow cover with an iron to make it crisp and professional-looking.
Insert your pillow form through the envelope closure, and adjust until it fits nicely and looks evenly plump.
Customizing Your Pillow Cover
Adding Trimmings
To add a personal touch to your pillow cover, consider sewing on trims like piping, fringe, or lace along the seams, which should be done before you assemble and sew the cover.
Using a Combination of Fabrics
For a more dynamic look, you can use two different fabrics, one for the front and one for the back. Just ensure that they are of similar weights and thicknesses so that the cover maintains its shape.
Creating a Patchwork Design
Patchwork envelope pillow covers are another creative option. Piece together scraps of fabric to create the dimensions needed for the front and back pieces before following the standard assembly process.
Benefits of an Envelope Pillow Cover
This type of pillow cover is excellent because it is easy to remove and wash, requires no additional closures, and allows you to change your décor with the seasons or as you desire.
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33% OffCommon Mistakes To Avoid
– Not measuring your pillow insert carefully.
– Skipping the ironing which gives a more polished look.
– Not backstitching, which could result in seams coming undone.
– Cutting the corners too close to the stitching when trimming.
Finishing Thoughts
Crafting an envelope pillow cover with two pieces of fabric is a straightforward, satisfying project. You get to exercise your creativity with fabric choices and customizations while producing a functional item for your home. As long as you measure attentively, sew consistently, and take care of the details like pressing seams and trimming corners, you’ll have a great-looking pillow cover that’s uniquely yours. Happy sewing!