Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial 5

The tools I used to make these pillows:

Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial materials used

– a rotary cutter and cutting mat… you can use regular scissors to cut your fabric but I find that cutting with a rotary cutter is fast and gives you clean straight lines to work with

– a sewing machine and coordinating thread

– sewing pins

– an iron and ironing board

– fabric of your choice… I usually use a plain fabric on the back and save my pretty designer fabrics for the fronts only

– pillow forms… my very favorite are the feather inserts from IKEA – they are super stuffed and puffy for an amazing price

 

Steps:

Start by measuring your pillow form. This size will help you determine the size of fabric that you need to cut.

Tips to help you cut your fabric:

– I like to cut my fabric FRONTS to the exact measurements of the pillow form or maybe 1/2 inch larger at most so as to ensure a nice snug fit on the pillow form. You want the form to really FILL out the pillow – otherwise your pillow cover will look loose and sloppy.

– For an envelope pillow you are going to cut one piece for the front of the pillow and two pieces for the back of the pillow. The two back pieces will overlap so you want to take your final measurement and add 6 inches then divide that in half for the size of each back piece (for example, if your finished size is an 18″ pillow, then you need a 24″ section cut in half for your back pieces… the final size of each of the two back pieces would be 18″ x12″).

Following the tips above, cut your fabric:

Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial cutting fabric

Using a rotary cutter and mat is easy because the measurements are right there on your mat. If you are using scissors you could draw your lines onto your fabric with a pencil and ruler and then cut the pieces out along your straight lines.

Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial cut fabric

Once you have all of your fronts and back pieces cut out to the correct measurements, iron all of your pieces smooth.

Next iron a 1/2 inch fold over on the edge of the backs. This will be the finished edge that overlaps on the back of the pillows.

Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial iron edge

Once you have ironed a fold/hem on ONE side of each of the back pieces you are ready to begin sewing. Take these back pieces and sew a straight line along the fold.

Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial four back pieces

Now that you have one hemmed edge on each of the back pieces, you are ready to pin and then sew the rest of the pillow cover together. Lay the front piece with your “good” (patterned) side facing up… and then lay the “good” side of the backs down so that your RIGHT or GOOD SIDES ARE FACING TOGETHER.

Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial lay good sides in

Pin all the way around your pillow. All that you should be able to see are the BAD sides facing out towards you – the GOOD sides are inside the pinned ‘pillow cover’ at this point.

Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial pin edges

Now you are ready to sew straight lines all the way around your pillow cover edges. Go ahead and sew, then flip the pillow cover inside out… poke out your corners… and stuff your insert into the cover! Beautiful…you are done!!

Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial 2

 

 If you want to save a little time and energy you might want to try making one-piece envelope pillow covers instead…. I have a couple of great tutorials on that:

Simple and Stunning DIY Envelope Pillows at The Happy Housie tutorial

AND

Super Crazy Easy Fast Ten Minute One Piece Envelope Pillows labeled

 

And if you want to make a lumbar style envelope pillow, check out my tutorial here….

make your own diy envelope style lumbar pillow covers by The Happy Housie

 

Do you sew your own pillow covers? What method do you use? I would love to hear about it!

 

I have had several questions about the fabrics I used so here is the information about them:

The yellow chevron is by Premier Prints. It is here at Fabric.com

The yellow floral is called Varenna… available here at Tonic Living.

The blue/green lattice box pattern is called Groovy Grille, Confetti by Waverly. It is available here at Tonic Living.

The floral bird fabric is called Summersong. I bought mine from an Etsy seller called Sweet Bobbins. You could contact them to see if they have it available!

 

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A few old pictures that I removed from the original post:

Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial 3Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial 6Simple Speedy and Stuffed Envelope Pillow Tutorial 4