Living Room Update: Simple Envelope Pillows
| January 17, 2012 | Posted by Jessie under Living Room, Sewing Projects, Tips and Tricks |
In between all the closet mania, I snuck in some time to whip up some new pillows for the living room. I shared my navy ruffled pillow last week, and today I’m sharing some simple envelope pillows that I made for the sectional.
My pillows measure about 16″ wide {and also 16″ tall since they are square} so one yard of fabric will give you two pillows. I used basic cotton fabric priced at $4.99 per yard and had some 50% off coupons so the fabric came in about $1.25 per pillow. I bought the pillows for the inserts at Goodwill for $2 a piece, bringing my total for each up to $3.25 per pillow. Pretty good, right? Here’s how to make your own.
Start by cutting your fabric. You will make one long rectangle for each pillow. Measure the width of the pillow and add an inch or an inch and 1/2 for seam allowance. So, for a 16″ pillow, make your rectangle about 17″ wide.
Then for the length of the fabric, you will make it twice as long and add another 5-7 inches. So, for a 16″ pillow, I made the length of the pillow 39″. And you’ll have your rectangle {17″ x 39″}.
The next step is to hem both ends. Fold the fabric over twice and iron flat.
Then pin and sew. Once you have hemmed the two ends, lay the fabric with the wrong side facing down. First, fold over the flap that will be on the outside about 5-7″, however much you left as an allowance when you cut.
Then fold the other end of your fabric over the flap, making sure they overlap a couple inches, and measure to make sure your pillow will fit. You can adjust either end as needed to make the correct size.
You can see in the picture above that my pillow is 17″ tall. I always lay my pillow on top before I sew the final stitches, just for a final double check. You want to see about an inch all the way around.
The last step is to sew the final two side seams.
Flip the pillow case right side out before inserting your pillow.
Then stick your pillow in and enjoy:)
Here’s what the back will look like, just for your reference:
Pudge loved them so much, I had trouble getting a picture of them without him snuggled up to them.
But I did manage to snap one when he was in the kitchen eating:)
Envelope pillows are great because you can easily switch the covers out as often as you want, without having to tear through fabric. Simple, cheap, and pretty:)
These are the fabulous blog parties I link up to each week:
DIY Showoff: DIY Project Parade
I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop
Skip to My Lou: Made By You Mondays
Today’s Creative Blog: Get Your Craft On
Tip Junkie: Tip Me Tuesday
Home Stories A to Z: Tutorials and Tips Tuesdays
Not Just a Housewife: Shoe Me What Ya Got
Blue Cricket Design: Show and Tell
Hooking Up with Hepworths
Shabby Chic Cottage: Transformation Thursday
Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday
CSI Project: Challenge
Remodelaholic: Blog Link Up
Serenity Now
Tatertots and Jello: Weekend Wrap-Up
Thank you for this tutorial! I’ve always wanted to change up our sofa and make some new pillows. This seems easy enough to follow! New to your blog and glad I found your place of inspiration on the web
Awesome! I promise, it’s very easy. Good luck!
ohhh so simple…even I can do it…I think
You can! 4 straight stitches is all it takes:)
LOve the pillows, but Pudge cracks me up!
Haha I know. Such a ham:)
Thank for the great tutorial!
-Jazmine
keepitkrafty.blogspot.com
I love pillows and despite what my husband thinks, you can never have enough!
Haha agree!
I have older pillows which I’m not using anymore and I could be using them else where. I should really try this tut! Thanks for sharing:)
Go for it Mindy:)
Great tutorial!
I’d love to invite you to share this on my Thingamajig Thursday party going on now…http://radcrafter.com/2012/01/thingamajig-thursday-party-11/
Alida
radcrafter.com
Thanks, Alida!
I’m pinning this tute for later. I NEED to make pillows for my new couch. Thanks!
Great!
They look wonderful and have inspired me to do something about ours.
Wonderful!
Thanks, Lou!
I love your post! I’ve been making these envelope pillows as well.. the best way to go. Your dog is sooo cute! i love when people include there dogs.
Aw, thanks, Delilah! I’m glad someone likes looking at that cute dog as much as I do:)
[...] then finished sewing my envelope pillow {can you tell I’m on a pillow kick lately?} and inserted the [...]
I love those pillows and also the blue fabric! My living room is very similar colors. I still can’t believe how unbelievable cute and handy you are, and you’re a teacher! I teach kindergarten and I’m just so tired that at the end of the day all I want to do is sleep
Hi Jessie! I used your tutorial for my pillows and wanted to share it with my readers on my blog. So I gave you a shout out!
heck it out if you can.
[...] envelope pillows so they can easily be removed to be washed as needed. You can see my tutorial here. I think they look great on our grey slipcovered [...]
So cute, and easy to follow….going to attempt to do this right now! Thanks
Britt