Hey everyone! Today we're making easy envelope pillow covers, and I'll show you how one warm beige batik can freshen up a whole couch in an afternoon.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is the Banyan 80016-44 NOSTALGIC VIBES BEIGE HATCH 45" wide fabric per yard from Fabric Fanatics.
It's a batik. It's 45" wide. It's made by Banyan. And it's sold by the yard here at Linda's.
The name tells you the look. Nostalgic Vibes is the design name. Beige is the color. Hatch is the pattern, that fine crosshatch texture worked into the surface.
A beige batik like this is a really really good neutral. It is warm, not stark. The hatch gives it movement, so a big plain cut still has interest up close. Batiks press crisp and flat, too, and they hide the little wrinkles a pillow cover picks up from daily use.
Completely up to you where these land. Put a pair on the couch for a calm look. Or make one for a reading chair.
The project: a pair of envelope pillow covers
We're making two pillow covers that each finish 16" square.
That is a handy size, folks. Big enough to make a difference on a sofa. Small enough that you can finish both in one sewing session, with no zipper to slow you down.
Why does this fabric suit it? A pillow cover is mostly one big, flat piece. The hatch texture does the decorating for you, so you get a tailored look from simple cutting and straight seams.
The envelope back is the other win. Two overlapping panels close the back. No zipper. No buttons. And the cover slips off in seconds for a wash.
Materials
- 1 yard of Banyan 80016-44 Nostalgic Vibes Beige Hatch for two covers
- Two 16" pillow forms, or two 18" forms if you like a fuller, plumper fill
- Thread that blends with the beige
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
- Pins or clips
- A point turner or chopstick for the corners
One yard at 45" wide gives you both fronts and all four back panels for the pair, with a little left over.
Brief steps
One. Press your fabric first. Use a hot, dry iron. Batiks press crisp, and crisp fabric cuts true. Measure twice, then cut once.
Two. For each cover, cut one front at 17" by 17". Cut two back panels at 17" by 11" each. That 17" cut with a 1/2" seam allowance gives you your finished 16" cover. Just like that, math is done.
Three. Hem one long edge of each back panel. Fold that 17" edge under 1/2", press, fold under another 1/2", and press again. Stitch close to the fold. Use an 80/12 needle and a stitch length of about 2.5. Repeat on the second panel.
Four. Lay the front face up. Lay the two back panels face down on top, hemmed edges overlapping in the middle by about 3" to 4". Outside edges should line up. Pin about every 4" so nothing shifts.
Five. Sew all the way around with a 1/2" seam allowance. Go slow at the corners and where the back panels overlap. Slow down there or the needle can snap. That is your warning moment, folks. Pivot with the needle down at each corner, clip the corners, and tie off your ends clean.
Six. Turn each cover right side out through the envelope opening. Push the corners out gently with your point turner. Press flat, slip in your form, and fluff. Repeat for the second cover and your pair is done.
Practical tips
Test your stitch length on a scrap first. Ten minutes of testing saves you an hour with a seam ripper. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Want options? You have them. Add echo quilting to the front for texture. Or leave it plain and let the hatch shine. My preference is plain, with a good press. But it is completely up to you.
I have sewn an envelope back with the overlap facing the wrong way before. Oh my goodness, yes I have. The fix was easy. Rip that one seam, flip the panel, and sew it again a little slower. The fix is part of the making.
And here's the permission beat, because I mean it. It does not have to be perfect. A corner that is a touch soft still looks handmade and loved. You're your own worst critic, folks. Nobody on your couch is measuring your seams. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Banyan 80016-44 NOSTALGIC VIBES BEIGE HATCH 45" wide fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
