Hi Craftaholic friends! It’s Brandy and today I’m sharing one of the easiest ways to change up your home decor on the cheap…. Pillow envelopes! Pillow envelopes are a snap to make. I’m sharing this easy tutorial on how to sew envelope pillow in less than 15 minutes. This is an easy way to completely transform an out-dated pillow. Make several in different colors to keep on hand for a quick room update! Spring is a perfect time to freshen up your home decor.
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How to sew Envelope Pillow Cover Tutorial
- 1 pillow or pillow form
- Fabric
- Tape Measure
- Scissors
- Pins
- Sewing Machine
- Iron
1. Begin by measuring the width and length of your pillow. Add about a half inch to that measurement for seam allowances.
2. Cut out a square using that measurement. That will be your pillow front. (As a reference, my pillow was 17″x17″ so I cut out an 17.5″ square. All measurements in parenthesis will be the ones I am using. Adjust accordingly for your pillow form.)
3. Lay your front piece aside.
4. Cut another piece of fabric the same width as the front (17.5″) and add 4″ to that for the height. (17.5″x21.5″). THEN cut that piece in half. You will end up with 2 rectangles that are the width of your pillow (17.5″) and shorter in height (10.75″).
5. Fold over the center edges of your two back pieces 1/4″. Press. Fold one more time and stitch the hem.
6. Here they are laying on top of the front piece. Right sides together.
7. With right sides facing, lay the two back pieces on top of the front piece, matching outer edges. The two back pieces will overlap.
8. Pin and stitch all 4 side seams using a 3/8″ seam allowance. Clip corners and turn right side out.
Your pillow envelope is done! It really is as simple as that.
Stuff your pillow form into the envelope and make another one for a matching set!
These are a great beginner sewing project. If you’d like another one, feel free to check out my 3 Step Pillowcases! They take about 10 minutes to make!
Looking for more awesome Pillow Tutorials? Check these out!
- How to Sew a simple Pillow Cover with a border
- Easy Anchor Pillow tutorial
- How to sew a Pom Pom Pillow
Brandy
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Very nice ♥
I have been looking for a tutorial like this for a long time! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve actually got fabric with mental plans to make one of these, I just need to pull out my machine. Thanks for the step by step, pinned!
Thank you!!
You’re welcome Kristen, I hope you enjoy the tutorial, it was fun to make!
Brandy, http://www.gluesticksblog.com
Hi! I was reading the tutorial and I see it says to sew all four sides then flip right side out. Im curious as to how you flip it and insert the pillow if you have already sewn all four of the corners. And I dont see anywhere else to flip it. The center is also sewn together it appears. Thanks!
Hi Jennifer, the center is not sewn, just over lapped. So you flip it right side out through the center flaps. The over lapping creates the “envelope”. I hope that makes sense!
Brandy
http://www.gluesticksblog.com
I actually came to the comments looking for an answer to the same question. Reading it, I thought you meant to sew them together, but I knew that didn’t seem right. Looking back I see you meant to sew EACH hem, but I think if I had been a complete newbie, I’d have just followed the steps and sewn them together. Just a suggestion to check the wording. :) Great tutorial!
Thank you Brandy! I must say, your directions were so SIMPLE that even I could follow! That’s saying a lot!
I can’t wait to make some for gifts! I have mentioned your fabulous directions on my blog:
http://mystateofserenity.blogspot.com/
Thank you again for an awesome site!
You’re welcome Robin! Sorry I am just now seeing this, I only guest post once a month over here. Glad you enjoyed the tutorial!
Brandy
http://www.gluesticksblog.com
Great tutorial! Do you recall where you purchased the brown and blue floral fabric? It’s perfect for my living room! Thanks.
Hi Vicki,
The brown and blue floral were store bought pillows that I recovered with the striped fabrics. Sorry I couldn’t be more help!
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So easy to follow!
Did you use the existing pillow (the brown flower fabric) as it was? Did the fabric show through on the white part of the stripes? Or did you remove the brown fabric before stuffing the pillow?
Love these pillows! Is that a black and white stripe pattern? If so, do you know where you got the fabric from? I have been looking for a thick black and white fabric!
Thank you for posting this. Just made 6 “New” Micro Plush Pillows out of a $20 Blanket and 6 throw pillows destined for the burn pile. Living room looks so much better :D
thanks for a great tutorial! I just used it to make pillows for my living room and they came out awesome!
Yay! That’s awesome, Katie!
Thank you for the great tutorial! I just finished my first envelope pillow. I love it!
Yay! Way to go! :)
Thank you for the clear directions and pictures. i looked at three websites before yours and couldn’t figure out what the heck they were trying to explain. Finally I got to your page and understood right away what you were explaining. Thank you !!!
I gave the tutorial a go here’s mine
I am new to sewing and used this tutorial to make my first cushion, I found it simple and easy to understand with great pictures to go with it. Many Thanks, Naomi.
Hi I have just written a post about making a supersized cross stitch cushion. Once the cross stitch is completed I have suggested that it is made into an envelope cushion. Looking round on the web, your envelope cushion instructions seems to be one of the easiest to follow so have directed my readers at pillarboxblue.com to it. Thanks
Thank you for sharing our tutorial, Claire! I appreciate it! If you email me a link to your post, I’ll share it on social media :)
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Does anyone think it is possible to make an envelope pillowcase for a pillow form that measures 33″x68″? It’s for a bench. Should I even waste the fabric and give it a try?
If the bench is going to be used, you don’t want to do an envelope closure. It will stretch weird and not fit right over time.
Made a lovely envelope cushion, really helpful tutorial. Thank you!
Does the overlap in the back of the pillows lay flat once you put the pillow form inside? Mine seem to want to pull/pop open. :(
If you over stuff your pillow case, then yes, it will pull open like that. Try a smaller pillow form to fill your pillow case :)