To make all of my DIY Envelope Pillows for spring I used:
-5+ yards of fabric
-11 pillow forms
– rotary cutter and cutting mat (if you don’t have this you can use fabric scissors)
– sewing machine, thread, fabric scissors
– iron and ironing board
I ordered one yard of each of these truly stunning fabrics from Tonic Living. Aren’t they gorgeous?!?!
I started by measuring my pillow forms and cutting my fabric to fit each form. I mainly used 18×18 square pillow forms (I like the ones from IKEA the best) but I also made a couple of lumbar style pillows in a 12×18 size as well as a 14×25 size (the green yardage was cut on the generous size so I managed to squeeze and extra little 12×18 pillow out of it). For the purposes of discussing measuring during this tutorial I will refer to the 18×18 size forms.
You are going to need to cut your fabric to the correct width (18″) and length doubled plus 8″-10″ – So: 18″+18″+8″ = 44″-46″ total for the overlap on the back.
How to judge what size to cut your fabric:
I only added about 1/2″ for seam allowance on my 18″ width because I like my pillow covers to fit the pillow forms nice and snugly – no saggy loose pillow covers for me. You need to be the judge of how much seam allowance you need to add because it depends how full and firm your pillow form is. If you have a super full form then maybe add 1″ for seam allowance. If your pillow form looks like horses recently trampled on it, then squish it together to get the accurate size for a nice plump pillow when you measure it.
When it is time to cut, measure twice (or 3 or 4 time) and cut once!
I’ve screwed up cutting before. It is truly heart wrenching to waste beautiful fabric. I might not be lying if I told you it has brought me to tears.
Think it out first and be careful. If you don’t have a rotary cutter and mat (probably my favourite crafting tool ever) then you can use a long straight edge and pencil to mark a line and regular ol’ fabric scissors to cut your fabric instead.
Once cut, give ‘er a little iron to smooth out those wrinkles. At the same time you can fold over and iron the hem on the edges that will make the envelope fold on the back (by this I mean hem the short 18″ ends that are at each edge of the looooooong doubled+8-10″ piece). I used the salvage edge of the fabric for one end – it will be folded inside the pillow so you won’t even see it. Then I only had to hem one end. Score.
Once your hem is ironed, run it through your sewing machine.
Now measure your piece of fabric and fold it in onto itself, with the ‘right’ or good side facing in. If, like me, you used the salvaged edge then make sure you fold down the nicely hemmed edge first and have the salvaged edge on the outside of your folded pillow cover (so that when you flip it inside out the salvaged edge will be on the inside of the envelope flap where you won’t see it).
I always like to iron my edges to set them at the correct size before sewing.
Now you just sew together the two edges of your form…
Flip it inside out…
And stuff it! Literally.
Done!
I made all ELEVEN of my new spring pillows in a couple of hours last Sunday afternoon while my boys had a friend over to play.
Once you get the hang of making these you will have changed your life forever.
Okay, maybe that is a bit extreme. But they are super satisfying to make.
Want to try it?? Pin this to remember it!!
I’m thrilled with how they turned out and I can’t wait to show you the rest of them during our Spring Home Tour tomorrow!!
I have long loved the cherry blossom fabric and was thrilled to print some purple back into the house. Our bedroom in our first home was purple and our wedding colors were periwinkle and lilac. Yes, I married a very tolerant man -you know you have hit the jackpot when your husband willingly paints his new Master Bedroom “Fairy’s Dust” without a word of complaint…
Do you have an inspirational online fabric store source that you love? If you haven’t checked out Tonic Living (a Toronto Fabric Store that ships worldwide) then I really do highly recommend it – I usually start any room scheme I design with a visit there first. And sometimes I just like to hop over there and pin fabrics that inspire me in some way.
Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. Tonic Living provided me with fabric in exchange for my 100% honest opinion of their products and their store- which I have shared with you through this post. I have loved and shopped at Tonic Living since 2008 and truly find them to be a wonderful source of design inspiration.