Sewing a pillow cover is a simple and enjoyable sewing project that can add a personal touch to your home decor. Whether you want to update the look of your living room or bedroom with new patterns and colors, learning how to sew a pillow cover is a great place to start. This project requires minimal materials and basic sewing skills, making it perfect for beginners and experienced sewers alike. In this article, we’ll take you through each step of the process, from selecting the right fabric to stitching the final seams, ensuring you end up with a beautiful, handmade pillow cover.
What you will need?
Tools and material you need for sewing pillow cover
– Marking tool
– Ruler or tape measure
– Scissors or rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
– Pins
– Sewing machine
– Iron
– Pillow form or old pillow to recover
– 3/8 yard of 45″-wide fabric for a 12″ square pillow
– 1/2 yard of 45″-wide fabric for a 14″ or 16″ square pillow
– 5/8 yard of 45″-wide fabric for an 18″ square pillow
Complete instructions on sewing pillow cover
01- Preparing Your Fabric
- Measure Your Pillow Form:
Begin by measuring your pillow form. For this tutorial, we’ll use a 16″ square pillow form as an example. Measure the height and width to confirm the dimensions.
- Cut Your Fabric:
Cut two pieces of fabric according to the size of your pillow form, adding a 1/2″ seam allowance on all sides. For a 16″ pillow, you will cut two 17″ squares (16″ + 1″ for seam allowances).
Tip: Use a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat for precise cuts. Ensure your fabric is straight and square before cutting.
- Mark the Fabric:
Using a marking tool, draw lines on the fabric to indicate where you will sew. This will help keep your seams straight and even.
2- Sewing the Pillow Cover
- Pinning the Fabric:
Place the two fabric pieces right sides together (the patterned side facing inwards). Pin around the edges, leaving one side open for turning the cover inside out and inserting the pillow form.
Tip: Use enough pins to keep the fabric secure, but not too many to make sewing difficult. Place pins perpendicular to the edge to make it easy to remove them as you sew.
- Sew the Seams:
Set up your sewing machine with a straight stitch. Sew around the pinned edges with a 1/2″ seam allowance, starting and ending at the open side. Backstitch at the beginning and end to secure the stitches.
Tip: Sew slowly and carefully, especially around the corners. Pivot the fabric at the corners by leaving the needle down in the fabric, lifting the presser foot, and turning the fabric 90 degrees.
- Trim the Corners:
To ensure sharp corners, trim the excess fabric at each corner, being careful not to cut through the stitches.
Tip: Cut diagonally across the corner close to, but not touching, the seam.
3- Finishing the Pillow Cover
- Turn the Cover Right Side Out:
Reach through the open side and turn the cover right side out. Use a pointed tool, like a chopstick or the closed end of scissors, to push out the corners neatly.
Tip: Be gentle when pushing out the corners to avoid poking through the fabric.
- Press the Seams:
Press the seams flat with an iron. This will give your pillow cover a crisp, professional look.
Tip: Use the appropriate heat setting for your fabric. For delicate fabrics, place a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric to avoid scorching.
- Insert the Pillow Form:
Slide the pillow form into the cover through the open side. Adjust the form to fit snugly into the corners and sides of the cover.
Tip: Fluff the pillow form and adjust the stuffing as needed to ensure it fills out the cover evenly.
- Sew the Opening Closed:
Fold the raw edges of the open side inward by 1/2″ and press. Pin the folded edges together, then sew the opening closed using a ladder stitch for an invisible seam or a small straight stitch close to the edge.
Tip: If using a ladder stitch, make sure your stitches are small and even to create a nearly invisible seam.
4- Optional Steps: Adding Decorative Elements
If you want to add a bit of flair to your pillow cover, consider these optional decorative steps:
- Adding Piping:
Cut a piece of bias tape long enough to go around the perimeter of the pillow cover plus a few extra inches. Sew the piping to the right side of one fabric piece before assembling the cover, aligning the raw edges of the piping and fabric. When sewing the front and back pieces together, sew close to the piping cord.
Tip: Use a zipper foot to get as close to the piping as possible.
- Adding a Zipper:
Instead of leaving one side open, you can sew a zipper into one seam. This allows for easy removal of the cover for washing. To do this, pin the zipper in place along one seam and sew it in before assembling the cover.
Tip: Use a zipper foot to sew close to the zipper teeth. Ensure the zipper is centered and aligned properly.
- Appliqué or Embroidery:
Add appliqué shapes or embroidery designs to the fabric pieces before assembling the cover. This personalizes the pillow and adds visual interest.
Tip: Stabilize the fabric with interfacing before applying appliqué or embroidery to prevent puckering.
Care and Maintenance Tips
1- Washing:
If your pillow cover is washable, follow the care instructions for the fabric. Pre-wash the fabric before sewing to prevent shrinkage.
2- Ironing:
Iron the cover periodically to keep it looking crisp. Be sure to follow the fabric’s heat tolerance guidelines.
3- Storage:
When not in use, store pillow covers flat or folded to prevent creasing.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
1: Uneven Seams
If your seams are uneven, use a seam guide on your sewing machine to keep your stitches straight.
2: Puckering
If the fabric puckers while sewing, check your machine’s tension settings and ensure you’re using the correct needle and thread for your fabric.
3: Corners Not Sharp
Ensure you trim the corners properly before turning the cover right side. Use a pointed tool to push out the corners carefully.
Conclusion
Sewing a pillow cover is a simple project that can be customized to suit any style or décor. By following these step-by-step instructions and tips, you can create beautiful, professional-looking pillow covers that add a personal touch to your home. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sewer, this project offers a great opportunity to practice and refine your sewing skills.
Happy sewing!