DIY 10-minute Envelope Pillow Cover Tutorial
The easiest and quickest way ever to make a pillow cover in just a few minutes! Learn how to sew an envelope pillow cover using one piece of fabric.
Equipment
- Sewing machine or hand-sewing needle
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Fabric marker or tailor’s chalk
- Fabric scissors or rotary cutter
- Cutting mat, if using a rotary cutter
- Straight pins or sewing clips
- Iron and ironing board
Ingredients
- Fabric
- Pillow insert
- Matching thread
Instructions
- Measure the width and height of the pillow insert.
- Add the top and bottom seam allowances to the pillow height to calculate the fabric width.
- Calculate the fabric length using three sections: 75% of the pillow width, 100% of the pillow width, and another 75%.
- You can also multiply the pillow width by 2.5 to calculate the total fabric length.
- Cut the fabric and mark the three folding sections.
- Fold and press both short ends twice to hide the raw edges.
- Sew a straight line along both finished hems.
- Lay the fabric right side up and fold both end sections toward the center, overlapping them across the back.
- Check that the folded width matches the width of the pillow insert.
- Pin the top and bottom raw edges.
- Sew both edges using a ½-inch or 1-centimeter seam allowance. Reinforce the areas near the envelope opening with a backstitch.
- Finish the raw edges with a zigzag stitch or serger.
- Turn the cover right side out and press it flat.
- Insert the pillow and adjust the corners.
Video
Notes
- The 10-minute sewing time begins after the fabric has been measured and cut.
- For an 18 x 18-inch insert, cut the fabric approximately 19 inches wide by 45 inches long when using a ½-inch seam allowance.
- For a 45 x 45-centimeter insert, cut the fabric approximately 47 centimeters wide by 112.5 centimeters long when using a 1-centimeter seam allowance.
- Use the free Pillow Cover Size Calculator if you would like help calculating the measurements for another pillow size.