Simple Steps to Create Pillow Slipcovers
Creating pillow slipcovers is a straightforward project that you can undertake even if you only have basic sewing skills. The process generally involves measuring your pillow, choosing fabric, cutting the fabric to size, and then sewing it together, leaving an opening to insert the pillow. An envelope closure or a zipper can be added to keep the pillow in place.
Choosing the Right Materials
Before diving into the sewing process, it’s essential to select the right materials for your pillow slipcovers. You will need fabric, a sewing machine or needle and thread, scissors, a fabric marker or chalk, and depending on your design choice, a zipper or Velcro.
Fabric Selection
The choice of fabric will affect the appearance, feel, and durability of your pillow slipcovers. For decorative pillow covers, cotton, linen, and polyester blends are popular choices due to their ease of maintenance and wide range of designs. If you want something more luxurious, you might consider velvets or silks. For outdoor pillows, choose fabrics that are specifically designed for outdoor use as they are water, mold, and UV resistant.
Measuring and Cutting Your Fabric
Measuring Your Pillow
The first step is accurately measuring your pillow. To create a snug fit, use a flexible tape measure and write down the height and width. When cutting your fabric, add an extra inch (2.54 cm) to each measurement for the seam allowance. This means if your pillow is 18 inches by 18 inches, you’ll want to cut your fabric to be 19 inches by 19 inches.
Cutting the Fabric
Lay your fabric out flat, ensuring there are no wrinkles. Use the measurements you’ve determined to mark out your cutting lines on the fabric with a fabric marker or chalk. If your pillow is particularly large, make sure to verify that your fabric is wide enough to accommodate it, or you may need to sew pieces together. Cut carefully along the lines with fabric scissors for a clean edge.
Sewing Your Pillow Slipcovers
Sewing Machine Setup
Thread your sewing machine with a color that either matches or complements your fabric. Insert a suitable needle for your fabric type—usually, a universal size 80/12 is a good choice for most mid-weight fabrics.
Pinning the Fabric
Once cut, take the fabric pieces and align them with the right sides (the sides you want to show) facing each other. Pin around the edge to keep everything in place as you sew. For an envelope closure, you will need to hem one edge on each of two back pieces, which will overlap to form the closure.
Sewing the Edges
If using a sewing machine, sew a straight stitch approximately half an inch from the edge of the fabric all the way around, making sure to backstitch at the beginning and end to lock your stitches in place. If you’re inserting a zipper, position it face down along the seam allowance and sew close to the zipper teeth, stopping short of the zipper pull and start. For envelope closures, the sewn hems will be in the middle of the back of your pillow.
Leave an opening large enough to insert your pillow. If your cover will be non-removable, the opening can be smaller, just big enough for the uninflated pillow to squeeze through.
Trimming the Corners
To ensure that your corners poke out and look sharp when the cover is turned right side out, trim the fabric at the corners at an angle, being careful not to cut your stitches.
Turning the Cover Right-Side Out
Carefully turn the cover right-side out through the opening, using a blunt tool to push out the corners. Insert your pillow and hand-stitch the opening closed with a ladder stitch for a clean finish.
Adding Embellishments and Final Touches
To enhance the appearance of your pillow slipcovers, you might consider adding embellishments such as piping, ruffles, or buttons. You can also personalize your pillow slipcovers with appliques or embroidery.
Piping and Trim
Adding piping along the seams of your pillow slipcovers can give them a more tailored, professional look. To do this, you would encase the piping cord within strips of fabric and sew these around the edges of your pillow pieces before sewing the pieces together.
Attaching Ruffles or Fringe
For a more decorative touch, you can sew ruffles or fringe to the edges of your pillow fabric pieces before assembling the pillow slipcover.
Care and Maintenance
Pillow slipcovers are not just for decoration; they also help protect your pillows. To maintain your covers, wash them as per the fabric’s care instructions. For most materials, a gentle wash cycle with mild detergent will suffice. Always close zippers before washing to prevent damage to the slipcovers or other items in the wash.
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When not in use, fold your slipcovers neatly and store them in a dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.
Finishing Thoughts
Making your own pillow slipcovers is a remarkably gratifying project. It allows you to customize your living space without having to be a master seamstress. With just a few tools, some beautiful fabric, and patience, you can transform the look of your pillows and, by extension, your room. Remember, the key to success lies in the careful selection of materials, accurate measurement, and neat sewing. Once you get the hang of it, you can experiment with different designs and techniques to add unique touches to your home decor. Happy sewing!
