Give Your Old Throw Pillows New Life with Pillow Covers

Making pillow covers for your throw pillows is a great way to change the look of a room without investing a lot of cash. Pillow covers can be changed with the seasons and special holidays. You can simply store them away until you need them, unlike multiple pillows that would take up precious storage space. This pillow cover project is for a standard 14 inch throw pillow which can easily be altered to fit any pillow you need to cover.

Things You Will Need:

14 inch throw pillow

1/2 yard fabric

Sewing machine

2 inches of 1/2 inch wide Velcro

Iron

Scissors

Measuring tape

Straight pins

Decorative elements (optional).

Basic Pillow Covering Instructions:

1. Measure and cut one 15 inch square from the fabric for your pillow cover front. Measure and cut two 15 inch wide by 11 inch long pieces from the fabric for the pillow cover back. The back pieces will overlap, hence the difference in measurement.

2. Fold a hem on each pillow cover back along one 15 inch edge. Fold the edge over a 1/2 inch and press. Fold it over another 1/2 inch and press. Pin the hem on each pillow cover back. Top stitch the hems.

3. Attach any decorative elements to the right side of the pillow cover front at this time.

4. Place the pillow cover front panel right side up on your work surface.

5. Place one pillow cover back panel right side down on the front panel. Match the 15 inch raw edges and pin. Place the other back pillow cover panel right side down on the front panel and opposite the first one. Allow the hemmed edges to overlap. Match the raw edges and pin.

6. Sew around all sides of the pillow cover using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Clip the corners of the pillow cover and turn right side out.

7. Cut the 1/2 inch wide Velcro into two pieces 1 inch long.

8. Space the Velcro pieces between the overlapping pillow cover back pieces along the hemmed edges and pin. Sew the Velcro pieces in place.

9. Insert the 14 inch throw pillow into the pillow cover through the opening in the back. Close the back using the Velcro closure.

Snaps can be substituted for the Velcro or the Velcro can be left as one piece and centered between the back panels.

If using a slippery fabric, baste the edges that have been pinned before sewing. Taking the time for this extra step can eliminate lots of frustration.

If using a fabric that has a tendency to fray, apply a seam sealer to the raw edges of the pillow cover before turning.