Simple Pillow Case Tutorial

Hello blogland! Over the weekend I made a few new pillow covers for the couch pillows we keep downstairs in the den/living room/family room/whateveryoucallit room.  I've probably mentioned this before, but I've decided to start changing up the color scheme in this house hold.

I blame Pinterest.

Our current colors are reds, browns, beige, and sage green.  However, I've decided I want to switch things up in here.  I'm going for more of the whites, beiges, teals, greens, blues...can ya dig it?? Yes, I’m trying to bring back sayings from previous decades…who’s with me?

Ok, anyways, on to the pillow cover.  I got the original idea from Thrifty and Chic.  You should check out her site, she’s got an amazing eye for design and is so incredibly resourceful! 

Here we go.  Materials you’ll need:

Fabric

No, seriously, other than a sewing machine, that is all you will need.  You’ll need fabric that is about 2 inches wider than the pillow you are covering, and about 2.5 times longer.  Here is the piece I started with.

I believe I got 2.25 yards of each type of fabric I was using, and that was enough to cover 4 of my pillows. 

Step 1: Lay the fabric out face down.

Step 2: Fold up the edge along the short sides about a half inch to an inch. 

Step 3:  Sew those edges

Step 4:  Lay the fabric out face up and place the pillow on top

Step 5:  Fold the bottom half of the fabric up over the pillow and put a pin about where that bottom crease should be

Step 6: Remove the pillow, and fold down the top to where it is over lapping the bottom half by about an inch and a half.  Then lay the pillow back on top to make sure that it will still fit after you’ve sewn it.  Just a note to remember, pillows squish, so if it looks like it’ll be a bit of a tight fit, that’s ok.  It just means that you won’t have a bunch of excess fabric around the edges.

Step 7:  Sew the sides of the pillow case shut.  I only sewed on the left and right sides.  You can sew all the way around if you want, but it’s not necessary.

Step 8: Turn right side in and stuff that pillow inside!  Feel free to do a top stitch here if you want to add a little border.  I didn’t on these, but I may on future covers.

Simple right?  Great way to totally transform the look of some tired old pillows. 

Don’t forget to link up with Jaime over at Crafty Scrappy Happy for her HUGE 1 Year Blogiversary Link Party!!  See my previous post J 

Happy Sewing!