Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to cut and sew a fresh pair of envelope pillow covers without wearing out your hand.
First, let's talk about the handle. This is the 428RT 28mm Rotary Handle from Famoré. What sets this handle apart is the patented ball bearing design. Famoré built that design in to reduce friction. Less friction means less hand and arm fatigue.
With the 428RT, you won't need to exert excessive force to glide through multiple layers of fabric. That is the whole point here. You guide the cutter. You do not have to muscle it. The tags on this one tell the story, too: 28mm rotary handle, ergonomic rotary cutter, fabric cutting, garment cutting, and trimming. It is a sewing rotary cutter, through and through.
Famoré says it was designed with the same commitment to quality and affordability you have come to expect from them. Cutting becomes smoother and more effortless. And when cutting feels easier, the whole project feels easier. Just like that.
I reach for a comfortable handle before I cut a stack. Every time. A smoother roll means steadier lines. Steadier lines mean covers that sit square on the couch. That is just real life at the cutting table.
The project: a pair of envelope pillow covers
Our project today is pillow covers. We are making two envelope-back covers. Each one fits an 18 inch pillow form. Finished size, about 18 by 18 inches. That is the size you see on most sofas. Super duper easy to swap with the seasons.
Why does this handle suit these covers? A cover starts with a clean square. Then you cut two back panels for each one. Then you trim everything square again at the end. That is twelve pieces for the pair, some of them layered. A 28mm size is handy for the smaller cuts and the final trim, and a handle made to glide through multiple layers helps at every step.
We are keeping the design simple. One front panel. Two overlapping back panels. No zipper to fight. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
What you will need
- The 428RT 28mm Rotary Handle, loaded with a sharp 28mm blade
- About 1 1/4 yards of quilting cotton for both covers
- Two 18 inch pillow forms
- Thread, a machine needle in size 80/12, and pins or clips
- A cutting mat, a clear ruler, and an iron
Brief steps
Cut two front panels 19 inches wide by 19 inches tall. For each cover, cut two back panels 19 inches wide by 13 inches tall. Roll slow and steady here. Let that ball bearing design do its work. Keep the ruler firm with your other hand.
Hem one long edge of each back panel. Fold it under 1/4 inch, press, fold again, and stitch close to the fold. Set your stitch length around 2.5 millimeters. That is roughly 10 to 12 stitches per inch.
Lay a front panel right side up. Lay the two back panels right side down on top. Line up the raw edges. Let the hemmed edges overlap in the middle. Pin all the way around.
Sew around all four sides with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Go slow at the corners. That is my warning at the moment of risk: slow down at the overlap, or the layers shift and the back gap sits crooked. Backstitch at the start and the end.
Trim the corners at an angle, close to the stitching. Turn each cover right side out through the overlap. Push the corners out gently. Press well, then slip in your pillow forms.
Tips from my table
Let the handle roll. Do not push down harder when you hit a layered edge. I have made that mistake, folks. I pushed, my hand ached, and my cut still wandered. Lighter pressure and a sharp blade gave me the cleaner line.
Close the blade guard between cuts, every single time. And press before you sew, not just after. A crisp hemmed edge makes that envelope back behave.
You can add piping, or keep them plain and simple. You can make both covers match, or mix them up. Completely up to you.
And here is your permission beat. If one cover is a hair fuller than the other, it is okay. You are your own worst critic. Nobody on your couch is measuring your pillow covers. They are just glad the room looks fresh. Take your time. It is not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 428RT 28mm Rotary Handle at Linda's Electric Quilters.
