Hey everyone! Today you will learn to make a pair of cozy pillow covers that let a deep, starry blender do all the pretty work.
Meet the Fabric
Here we go. This one is calm and a little bit dreamy.
It is 4th & Main Favorites Galaxy in Midnight. It comes from Northcott. The collection is 4th & Main Favorites.
The print is Galaxy. The color is Midnight. That is deep midnight blue, just like it sounds.
It layers starry galaxy texture across that deep midnight blue. Night-sky calm is exactly right.
This is a quilting fabric, 45 inches wide, sold by the yard. It comes from High Country Quilts through Linda's Electric Quilters.
It is a coordinating blender, versatile for quilts, backgrounds, and coordinates. All true, folks.
But on pillow covers, this blender gets to be the whole show. Just like that. That blue works anywhere, and that starry texture keeps a simple square from looking plain.
Why It Works for Pillow Covers
Pillow covers are a favorite quick room refresh. No new furniture. Just fresh fabric on pillows you already own.
We are aiming for two covers for 18-inch inserts. Big enough to notice. Small enough to sew in an afternoon.
This fabric suits the project for a simple reason. The galaxy texture is all-over, so you do not have to center a big motif or match a print at the seams.
I have wrestled with that matching before. One cover lined up beautifully. Oh my goodness. The other one traveled in a whole different direction.
With Galaxy Midnight, you can cut with confidence. The texture is forgiving.
You have options here, too. Use a simple envelope back for easy washing, or add a zipper if you like a tighter finish. My preference is the envelope back. It is faster and beginner friendly. But it is completely up to you.
What You Will Need
- 1 1/4 yards of 4th & Main Favorites Galaxy Midnight for two 18-inch covers
- Two 18-inch pillow inserts, or two pillows you want to recover
- 50-weight cotton thread in a color that blends with midnight blue
- An 80/12 quilting or universal needle
- Rotary cutter, ruler, mat, pins or clips, and your iron
- Optional: light batting or fusible interfacing if you want a little extra body
We are not reinventing the wheel here.
Brief Steps to Make Them
Step 1: Cut the fronts. For each cover, cut one square 18 1/2 inches by 18 1/2 inches. That includes your seam allowance. Take your time and check your ruler twice.
Step 2: Cut the backs. For each cover, cut two rectangles, each 18 1/2 inches by 13 inches. Those two pieces will overlap at the back to make the envelope opening.
Step 3: Hem the back edges. On one long edge of each back piece, fold under 1/4 inch twice, press, and stitch close to the fold. Set your stitch length to about 2.5, roughly 10 to 12 stitches per inch.
Step 4: Layer it up. Lay the front right side up. Place the two back pieces right side down on top, hemmed edges overlapping in the middle by about 4 inches. Pin or clip all the way around.
Step 5: Sew around it. Sew all four sides with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Backstitch at the start and finish. Go slow at the corners where the back pieces overlap, or the needle can complain on the thicker spot.
Step 6: Turn and press. Clip the corners at an angle, turn the cover right side out through the envelope opening, and push the corners out gently. Press well, then slip in your 18-inch insert.
Just like that, you have a pair. Super duper easy, and really really pretty in that midnight blue.
Practical Tips From My Sewing Room
First, press before you sew and after you sew. Your iron does half the finishing for you.
Second, if your fabric feels soft for a pillow, add light interfacing to the front piece only. You will get a smoother cover without making the back stiff.
Third, make the second cover right after the first, while your cuts are still fresh in your mind. The pair will match better.
And here is your permission beat, friends. It does not have to be perfect. If one corner is a tiny bit soft, that is fine. You are your own worst critic. Nobody is bringing a ruler to your couch.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Take your time. It is not a race. Enjoy making something cozy for your own home.
Thanks so much for sewing with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 4th & Main Favorites Galaxy Midnight 45" wide fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
