Hey everyone. Today you're going to learn how to make wipe-clean pillow covers using HeatnBond Liquid Vinyl on fabric you already love.
First, what this product really is
Let's start honest, y'all. This is not fabric, and it is not a spray.
HeatnBond Liquid Vinyl is a clear gel coating you paint onto fabric. Let it dry, press it with an iron, and you get a smooth, protective finish. Your print stays your print. You just gave it a job to do.
One jar is 8.68 ounces. The coating is clear and flexible once dry, non toxic and phthalate free, and treated fabric keeps a very soft hand. Nobody wants a pillow that feels like a raincoat.
You choose the finish by coat count. One coat gives water and stain resistance. Two coats make it waterproof and stain resistant. Three coats add a semi-gloss oilcloth look. Completely up to you.
It works best on smooth fabrics. You can machine sew treated fabric once it cures, and it wipes clean with a damp cloth.
The project: wipe-clean pillow covers
Pillow covers take real life head-on, folks. Coffee on the couch. A grandbaby with a sippy cup. A dog who thinks every pillow is his pillow.
That is why Liquid Vinyl suits this project. The front is the splash zone. Treat just the fronts, and spills sit on the surface instead of soaking in. The backs stay plain, soft cotton.
We are making two envelope-style covers for 18-inch pillow forms, finished at 18 by 18 inches.
Materials
- Smooth cotton fabric for the cover fronts — 1 yard, pre-washed and dried with no fabric softener; you will treat it first, then cut 2 fronts at 19 by 19 inches
- Cotton fabric for the backs — cut 4 panels, 19 by 13 inches each, for the overlapping envelope backs
- HeatnBond Liquid Vinyl Gel Coating, 8.68 oz — one jar covers this project with room for a test piece
- Two 18-inch pillow forms
- A soft-bristled brush or foam brush, plus parchment paper or HeatnBond Pressing Paper to protect your surface and your iron
- Thread to match, and an iron set to medium heat, no steam
Brief steps
Here we go.
One, pre-wash and dry your front fabric without fabric softener. Pretest on a scrap corner. Two minutes now beats a surprise later. I learned that by skipping it.
Two, treat the fabric before you cut it. That is the manufacturer's guidance, and it keeps your finished size true. Lay the yardage on a protected, non-stick surface and paint on one thin, even coat.
Three, let it dry 30 to 45 minutes. Rinse your brush and wipe the jar rim before recapping. Cover the fabric with pressing paper and press 45 seconds, moving the iron slightly. Lift, overlap, and repeat.
Four, repeat for coat two. For pillow fronts, two coats is my pick — waterproof, stain resistant, and still soft. Want that oilcloth sheen? Add coat three. Your call.
Five, let the treated fabric cure a full 24 hours. Then cut your two 19 by 19 inch fronts. Use a sharp, small needle and a non-stick foot if you have one, sewing at about 8 to 10 stitches per inch.
Six, hem one long edge of each back panel with a 1/2-inch double fold. Lay a front right side up, overlap the two backs right side down on top, and sew all the way around with a 1/2-inch seam.
Seven, turn right side out through the envelope opening, poke out the corners gently, and press the edges lightly with pressing paper between the iron and the treated front. Slip in the form. Just like that.
Practical tips from my table
Thin coats win, folks. A heavy coat dries slower and can change how your fabric looks. The finish may slightly alter the fabric's appearance, so that test scrap is doing you a favor.
Sewing can compromise waterproofing along the stitch line. That is normal, not a failure. These covers shrug off splashes and wipe clean. They are not fish tanks.
One honest note. Liquid Vinyl is not certified food-safe for direct food contact. Snacks on a plate next to the pillow? Fine. Food resting right on the treated fabric? Use a napkin or tray first.
When a cover needs a real wash, machine wash cold, pull it out promptly, and lay it flat to dry.
Your permission beat: if a brush stroke shows, or an overlap sits a hair off center, let it be. You're your own worst critic. Take your time — it's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the HeatnBond Liquid Vinyl Gel Coating, 8.68 oz at Linda's Electric Quilters.
