Hey everyone! Today you are going to learn how to sew cheerful envelope-back pillow covers that brighten a room fast.
Meet the fabric
This one is the Blue Patch Perfect Smileys & Rainbows cotton from PBS Fabrics.
It is 100% cotton.
The width of fabric is 43/44 inches.
It was made by Paintbrush Studio Fabrics.
It is part of the Patch Perfect collection.
It is also listed as OEKO-TEX CERTIFIED.
The color named in the title is blue.
And the motifs could not be happier, folks.
Think smiley faces beaming at you.
Think rainbows arcing right alongside them.
The product notes call it a lightweight quilting cotton.
It tends to hold its shape even after being washed.
That makes it perfect for quilting and crafting structured garments.
It is sold by the yard, so you can order what your project needs.
Why it suits pillow covers
A pillow cover is a small project with big impact.
It changes a couch without changing the couch.
And the front is one big, flat panel.
That panel lets the whole print show off.
No tiny piecing chops up the smileys.
The rainbows get room to stretch out, just like that.
This cotton holding its shape matters here too.
A pillow front takes daily leaning and hugging.
You want it smooth after washing.
I am making a pair of covers today.
Each one fits an 18-inch pillow form.
Two yards gives you both covers, with breathing room.
Completely up to you.
Materials list
- Blue Patch Perfect Smileys & Rainbows Cotton — 2 yards for a pair of 18-inch covers, 1 yard for a single cover
- Two pillow forms — 18 inches square, one for each cover
- Thread — I reach for a 50-weight cotton in blue or a soft neutral that blends
- A fresh needle — an 80/12 universal or quilting needle is plenty for these layers
- Pins or clips, a ruler, a marking tool, and a rotary cutter or scissors
- An iron — pressing is half the sewing here
Brief steps
Step 1: Press and plan. Press the fabric well. Lay it flat and study the print. Decide which smileys and rainbows you want front and center on each cover.
Step 2: Cut the fronts. For each cover, cut one front panel 19 by 19 inches. That gives you a 1/2-inch seam allowance all around an 18-inch form.
Step 3: Cut the backs. For each cover, cut two back panels, each 19 by 13 inches. Those two panels will overlap at the back. That overlap is your envelope opening.
Step 4: Hem the back panels. On one long edge of each back panel, fold under 1/4 inch twice, pressing each fold. Stitch the hem down, about 1/8 inch from the fold, with a stitch length around 2.5.
Step 5: Layer it up. Lay the front panel right side up. Lay the first back panel right side down, hemmed edge toward the middle. Lay the second back panel right side down on top, hemmed edge also toward the middle. The hemmed edges should overlap by about 4 inches.
Step 6: Sew all around. Pin or clip the edges well. Sew around all four sides with a 1/2-inch seam. Backstitch a few stitches at the start and finish. Go slow at the corners, and pivot with the needle down.
Step 7: Turn and press. Trim each corner at an angle, leaving about 1/4 inch of seam. Turn the cover right side out through the envelope opening. Poke the corners out gently. Press the edges flat, then slip in your pillow form.
Practical tips from my sewing table
Fussy cut with patience, folks.
Center one great big smiley on the front.
It becomes the star of the couch. Super duper cute.
Check your overlap before you sew.
Too little overlap, and the form peeks out.
About 4 inches keeps everything tucked and tidy.
Slow down near the hemmed edges.
Those spots stack up extra layers.
Slow down there, or the needle can struggle.
Press the finished cover one more time.
It makes it look store-bought.
Here is the permission part.
It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic.
If a corner is a little soft, leave it.
Nobody is inspecting your envelope overlap.
They are smiling right back at that print.
Take your time. It is not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Make a pair for your couch first.
Then, completely up to you, make more for gifts. Alrighty.
Thank you so much for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Blue Patch Perfect Smileys & Rainbows Cotton 43"/44" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
