Making Pillow Covers

Pillows come in all shapes and sizes. Regardless of the type of pillow cover you are making, the process is exactly the same.

I suggest using machine washable fabric that requires no ironing. Even when a pillow is stuffed to capacity, any fabric that requires more than just a little ironing will show a few wrinkles after it is washed.

I also suggest using non-allergenic fiberfill when making pillows, especially if you are making pillows for a child or for someone who may suffer with environmental allergies. Fiberfill seems to hold its shape longer than any other type of pillow stuffing. Fiberfill can also safely be washed and dried at home.

If, however, you are making a cover to fit a pre-cut foam pillow form, rest assured, with proper care, that the pillow form will hold its shape for many, many years.

If you are making a set of matched pillow covers and you want them all to be the same size, take the time to make a pattern. This way, all you will be guaranteed to produce a perfectly matched set.

If, however, you are making a one of a kind pillow cover, I believe it is easier to simply draw your cutting lines directly onto the fabric with chalk or a marking pen filled with washable ink – or better yet disappearing ink.

When choosing fabric for a pillow cover, think first about how your finished pillow will be used. Will it be a toy for a child… an adornment for a bed, chair or sofa… a seat cushion? I recommend something tough for children… twill, heavy cotton or denim.

For seat cushions, I suggest upholstery fabric. When it comes to decorative toss pillows, go with whatever you want. These pillows will probably never see any action more strenuous than supporting someone’s back while sitting on the sofa or propped up in bed while reading or watching television.

Embellish your pillow cover by adding piping, trim or fringe to the edges. You can also use lace, ribbon, fabric paint, buttons, shells and anything else that strikes your fancy to give your pillow covers a very special personal touch that expresses exactly who you are.

To make a two sided geometrically shaped pillow cover:

It doesn’t matter what size or shape pillow you want to cover, if you follow these instructions, your finished pillow cover will be a great accent to any décor.

The instructions here tell you how to create your own pillow, because they include directions for stuffing your pillow cover with fiberfill. However, if you skip that one step, you can cover any pillow that you already have in your home. This way, you can change the accent pieces anywhere in your home as frequently as you like.

I taught my granddaughter to use a sewing machine when she was six or seven. One of the very first things I taught her to make was pillows. She loved making fiberfill pillows so much it seems as though it took me about four or five years to convince her to make anything else.

For a while, everybody’s house was filled with her little gems. She made pillow hearts, squares, triangles, squares and rectangles.

Her father still has a large square one that she made from navy blue denim with lots of painted designs and shapes and “#1 DAD” emblazoned in bright metallic gold fabric paint surrounded by a red metallic painted heart. She’s a grown woman now and that pillow is still one of his prized possessions.

To make your own geometric shaped pillow, or to teach the budding home sewer in your family how to make gift pillows for everyone they know:

• Determine how large or small you want your pillow to be.
• Use a ruler or yard stick to make your pattern or mark your fabric.
• Add 5/8 seam allowance on all sides and cut two pieces of fabric
• Sew your pillow cover on three sides with the right sides facing each other.
• If you are covering a pillow that you already have rather than making your own, leave a larger opening for inserting your pillow – approximately 2/3 of the side you are leaving open for insertion.
• If you are making a pillow to be stuffed with fiberfill, sew the fourth side leaving approximately three inches open at the center. This is where you will insert the stuffing.
• Put as much or as little stuffing into the opening as you are comfortable with and close the opening by hand.
• Turn the pillow cover right side out.

NOTE: If you are covering an oversized pillow, you will certainly want to wash the cover from time to time. Start by making a muslin pillow cover. Then make the outer cover and leave a larger opening to insert the finished pillow – at least 2/3 the length of the longest side. Insert snap tape, Velcro or a zipper to close the pillow cover.

You can personalize your pillow covers even more by adding an extra two or three inches to your initial seam allowance when cutting. Make the pillow cover as directed and turn it right side out.

Before stuffing your pillow, topstitch all sides about two inches in, leaving the three inch opening free. Stuff the pillow and topstitch the inner edge of the opening to close it; then close the outer edge by hand as described above.

To make a customized seat cushion:

Nothing gives your home that personalized touch like having seat cushions that match the rest of your décor. Whether your are redecorating a dining area or sprucing up the den or family room, making your own customized seat cushions is fast, easy and best of all, economical.

Who needs to spend hundreds of dollars for something as simple as this when they can whip up their own customized seat cushions with just a small investment in fabric and trim and a little bit of time in the sewing room?

You might even want to get really fancy and give your new seat cushions some extra pizzazz by adding decorative tassels or a little skirt.

• Measure the seat of the chair. If your chair bottom is an odd shape, make sure you measure each of the sides separately.
• Cut a piece of tracing paper according to your measurements and lay it in the seat to make sure your calculations are correct.
• Follow the above instructions for making a geometrically shaped pillow cover and enjoy your new seat cushion.

To make a cover for a molded foam pillow form:

My experience has been that all foam pillow forms are three dimensional. This single added feature only means that you have one or two added fabric pieces. It also means that your opening is a bit larger.

Covering a molded pillow form is only slightly different from making a cover for a two dimensional fiber filled pillow.

Since foam tends to disintegrate when it is laundered or dry cleaned, you might also need to first cover it with muslin then insert a zipper, snap tape or Velcro in the actual cover you want the world to see so it can be removed and put back on without a lot of hassle when it is time for cleaning. This is especially true for larger pillow forms.

• Measure the length and width of the top of the pillow form.
• Most pre cut pillow forms are three-dimensional, meaning there is a space between the pillow’s top and bottom that can measure anywhere from one to six inches – sometimes more.
• Measure the circumference of the pillow and the height of its sides.
• If you are making a pattern, use these dimensions to draw your pattern, be sure to add 5/8” seam allowance on all sides of each pattern piece.
• When you are ready to cut your fabric, cut two pieces for the top and bottom. Cut one long strip for the circumference.

NOTE: If your pillow height is two inches or less, add an extra half inch on each end. You will tuck the ends in at your opening, giving your finished pillow cover a smoother, more professional appearance. With a pillow this small, it may not be necessary to add a zipper or other closing device. Use your own judgment here. If you feel a zipper is called for, by all means, use one.

• Sew the pillow top and bottom to the side piece, leaving one end open [Foam pillow forms are less pliable than fiberfill, requiring more space for insertion and removal.]
• If you are covering a toss pillow or a very small pillow form, add the zipper, snap or Velcro, insert your pillow form and you are done.
• If you are making a cover for a large foam pillow form, start with the sides. I find that it is easier to attach the zipper, Velcro or snap tape first, while everything is still flat.

HINT: Depending upon the size … especially the depth… of your pillow form, you may want to simply attach the closer to two separate fabric pieces that add up to the depth of the pillow form and then insert it while you are assembling the rest of your pillow cover. If you choose this option, adjust the length of your side pattern piece before cutting your fabric.

You will also need a larger opening for very large pillow forms. It may be necessary for your opening to go the complete length of one side of your pillow form and overlap onto the sides.

NOTE: It is advisable to put your opening on a side that is not easily visible when the pillow is in use.