Hey everyone. Today we're sewing a pair of soft pink pillow covers, and you'll learn how an envelope back makes them easy to swap and wash.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is Ballet Pink Flowers, from the Paris Luck collection.
It comes from Hoffman California Fabrics.
It is a quilting cotton, and it runs 43 to 44 inches wide.
It is sold by the yard.
So you can buy exactly what this project needs.
The color story is right there in the name.
Ballet pink. A soft, light pink.
Pretty without being loud.
And the design is floral.
Flowers scattered across that gentle pink ground.
The collection name tells you the theme, too.
Paris Luck. A little French charm in the print.
The listing also tags this one as a Hoffman digital spectrum print.
That style of printing keeps the flowers looking soft and layered.
Not flat. Not harsh.
Just sweet, like a spring bouquet on your sofa.
A floral like this is a gift for home sewing.
There is no big motif you have to center.
No flower that must land in one exact spot.
You cut your squares, and every piece looks good.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Simple squares, straight seams, lovely fabric.
Just like that, a tired couch looks fresh again.
The project: a pair of pillow covers
We are making two pillow covers.
Each one fits an 18-inch square pillow form.
That is a great throw-pillow size.
Big enough to lean on, small enough to sew fast.
Why does this fabric suit it?
A pillow cover is basically a fabric frame.
It sits right at eye level on your couch or bed.
So the print does all the decorating work.
These soft pink flowers bring in color and pattern.
And the room still feels calm.
Quilting cotton is the right weight here, too.
It presses crisp, sews easy, and holds its shape.
The envelope back means no zipper at all.
Two overlapping panels, and the form slips right in.
Super duper easy, and super duper cute.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Materials
- 1 1/2 yards of Ballet Pink Flowers Paris Luck cotton for the fronts and backs
- Two 18-inch square pillow forms
- 50-weight cotton thread in a soft pink or cream
- Size 80/12 needle
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and clips or pins
- Optional: a handful of scraps for a small fabric flower or button accent
Brief steps
- Cut two front squares at 19 inches by 19 inches. That gives you 1/2-inch seams on every side.
- For each cover, cut two back pieces at 19 inches wide by 13 inches long.
- Hem one long edge of each back piece. Fold it over 1/4 inch, press, fold 1/4 inch again, and stitch.
- Lay a front square right side up. Place the two back pieces on top, right sides down, hemmed edges overlapping in the middle.
- Pin around all four sides. Sew a 1/2-inch seam all the way around, backstitching at the start and end.
- Clip the corners at a diagonal, just outside the stitching. Turn the cover right side out and poke the corners out gently.
- Press the cover flat, slip in your 18-inch form, and fluff. Repeat for the second cover.
Practical tips before you sew
First, press your fabric before you cut.
Cotton off the bolt can hold a crease.
A good press makes your 19-inch squares honest.
And honest squares mean corners that line up.
Second, slow down at those corners.
You are sewing through two layers, then turning.
Stop with the needle down, pivot, and ease around.
Rushing a pivot is how seams pucker.
Third, you have choices on the back.
The envelope back is my preference. No zipper, no fuss.
You could add a zipper if you want a snugger fit.
You could even add buttons to that overlap.
Completely up to you.
And hear me on this one.
It does not have to be perfect.
If the overlap sits a hair crooked, let it be.
You are your own worst critic.
Nobody on your couch is measuring your hems.
They are reaching for that pillow.
Take your time. It's not a race.
Make one cover today if two feels like a lot.
The second one goes faster. It always does.
Alrighty. Thanks for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Ballet Pink Flowers Paris Luck 43"/44" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
