Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to sew a fresh pair of pillow covers that change a whole room.
Here we go.
The fabric is the Aviva Ceremony Sangria Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard, from Windham Fabrics.
Let us break that name down slow.
First, it is cotton. Quilting cotton. The width of fabric is 44"/45".
Second, it is from the Aviva collection. Made by Windham Fabrics by Whistler Studios.
Third, look at the print name. Ceremony. Sangria.
Aviva blooms with life and elegance. This romantic floral collection has airy watercolor textures. Lush bouquets. Delicate sprigs. And graceful foliage.
The palette is soft pinks and lilacs. Sunshine yellows. And rich sangria.
So picture a blooming garden at golden hour. Timeless. Joyful. Full of grace.
That rich sangria color is the star here. It brings depth. It brings warmth. And it still plays soft with those pinks.
Why pillow covers suit this fabric
Pillow covers are simple fabric covers. They slip over a pillow form. You can take them off to wash or swap.
Ours will finish at 18 inches square. That fits a standard 18-inch pillow form just right. Nice and plump. Not loose and sloppy.
Here is why this fabric suits them so well. A pillow front is one big, flat square.
Your bouquets stay whole. The watercolor texture reads across the whole front. Nothing gets chopped into tiny pieces.
The Sangria colorway makes a statement, too. One pair can warm up a plain sofa. Or dress up a guest bed in minutes.
You have options, too. Use Sangria for both fronts for a full garden look. Or use it for one front, and a soft solid for the second. I like the matching pair. Completely up to you.
Materials list
- 1 yard of this Aviva Ceremony Sangria cotton — that covers two fronts cut 19 by 19 inches, plus four back pieces cut 19 by 13 inches for envelope backs
- Two 18-inch pillow forms
- Thread to blend with the sangria and pinks, and a fresh 80/12 needle, set to about 2.5 mm stitch length
- Rotary cutter, ruler, pins or clips, chalk, and a hot iron
- Optional: 1 yard of light fusible interfacing if you want a crisper front
Brief steps
Step 1: Cut with care. Press your fabric well. Cut the two fronts 19 by 19 inches. That gives you a 1/2-inch seam all around. Watch where your favorite bouquets land before you cut. Center one pretty cluster if you can.
Step 2: Hem the back pieces. Take each 19 by 13 inch back piece. On one long 19-inch edge, fold over 1/4 inch, press, then fold 1/4 inch again. Topstitch that hem down. You will have four hemmed pieces. Two for each cover.
Step 3: Layer the envelope. Lay one front right side up. Lay two back pieces on top, right sides down. Their hemmed edges should overlap in the middle by about 4 inches. Pin all around the outside edges.
Step 4: Sew and turn. Sew around all four sides with a 1/2-inch seam. Backstitch at the start and end. Clip the corners at an angle, careful not to snip your stitches. Turn the cover right side out through that envelope overlap. Poke the corners out gently with a chopstick. Press flat.
Step 5: Add the form and fluff. Slip in your 18-inch form. Work the corners of the form into the corners of the cover. Smooth the front with your hands. Just like that, one cover is done. Repeat for the second.
Practical tips from my table
Test your hem stitching on a scrap first. Check your tension. A balanced stitch lies flat and pretty.
Here is my honest mistake to save you one. I once cut both fronts without checking the print direction. One bouquet was upside down. Now I mark the top with a small clip before I sew. Lesson learned.
Slow down at the thick overlap. That middle section has extra layers. Ease through it or the needle can push and skip.
Want a softer look? Skip the interfacing. Want a crisper store look? Fuse it to the fronts only. Both ways work really really well.
And please hear me on this one. It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic. Nobody on your sofa will measure your seams. They will see a lovely handmade cover, made by you.
Take your time. It is not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Thank you so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Aviva Ceremony Sangria Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
