Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to sew a pair of simple envelope pillow covers, each made to fit an 18-inch pillow form.
The fabric is the Black Daisies print. It's from the Scarlet's Treasure collection. It's by Henry Glass. The collection is by Color Principle. It's 100% cotton. It runs 43 to 44 inches wide.
Scarlet's Treasure works in a timeless palette. Red, black, and white. The collection brings a garden indoors. Peonies, poppies, and daisies all bloom across these prints. And they never need watering. This print puts the daisies on a black ground. That gives it a modern touch. It suits a minimalist space really well. It also freshens up older décor in a hurry.
Black sounds bold for a pillow. Stay with me here. A dark ground makes the flowers pop. It also hides everyday wear nicely. On a light sofa, these covers read crisp. On a dark sofa, they read cozy. Completely up to you where they land.
The project: envelope pillow covers
An envelope pillow cover is a friendly first project. No zipper. No buttonholes. Just straight seams and a good press. The back panels overlap like an envelope flap. You slide the pillow form in. You pull it out again for washing. Easy on, easy off.
Why does this fabric suit it so well? Pillow covers want a print with presence. The daisies sit large enough to show. One front panel gives you a whole little garden. Quilting cotton also presses sharp. Those clean edges make a simple cover look store-bought. And at 43 to 44 inches wide, one yard covers two fronts with room to spare.
What you'll need
- 1 yard of this Black Daisies fabric for two pillow covers
- Two 18-inch pillow forms
- Matching thread, black or a soft gray
- A size 80/12 needle, set to about 10 to 12 stitches per inch
- Rotary cutter, ruler, pins or clips, and a warm iron
- A marking pencil or chalk for your fold lines
How it comes together
Cut one front panel at 18 1/2 by 18 1/2 inches for each cover. That gives you a 1/4-inch seam allowance all around. Then cut two back panels per cover. Cut each at 18 1/2 by 13 inches. Those two will overlap at the back.
Hem the back panels first. On one long edge of each panel, fold under 1/4 inch. Press. Fold under another 1/4 inch. Press again. Stitch close to the fold. I have skipped the double fold before. The edge frayed in the wash. Learn from my mistake, y'all.
Lay the front panel right side up. Place the two back panels on top, right sides down. The hemmed edges should overlap in the middle by about 4 inches. Line up all the raw edges. Pin or clip around the square.
Sew around all four sides with a 1/4-inch seam. Backstitch at the start and finish. Clip the corners at an angle. Just don't clip into your stitching. Turn the cover right side out through the overlap. Push the corners out gently with a chopstick. Press it flat. Here we go.
Slide in the pillow form. Work the corners into place with your fingers. Fluff it once. Just like that, you have a cover.
Want a little extra finish? Topstitch around the front edge, about 1/4 inch in. It looks like a flange, but easier. Super duper easy, and it helps the cover hold its shape.
Practical tips
Mind your print placement. Before you cut, lay the fabric out flat. Center a nice cluster of daisies on each front panel. Two covers cut from the same yard can still look different. That's part of the fun.
Slow down at the overlap. The back center stacks several layers thick. Ease the machine over that ridge. Go too fast there and the seam can wobble. Take your time. It's not a race.
And here's your permission beat. It does not have to be perfect. A slightly soft corner just says a real person made this. You're your own worst critic. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thank y'all so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Black Daisies Scarlet's Treasure 44"/45" Cotton Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
