Have you ever glanced at your living room couch and thought it needed a touch of personal style or a splash of color? Or perhaps you want the satisfaction of turning a flat piece of fabric into a snug sanctuary for your squishy pillows. Well, sewing an envelope pillow cover is an inviting project that transforms your space and adds a pinch of your personality into the mix. Not only are these covers a wonderful beginner’s sewing escapade, but they also make for a functional and fashionable piece of home decor.
How To Sew An Envelope Pillow Cover
Materials and Tools Required
- Fabric (1/2-1 yard, depending on pillow size)
- Matching thread
- Scissors (pinking shears are ideal but not mandatory)
- Pen or pencil for marking
- Ruler or a straight edge
- Sewing machine
- Iron & ironing board
- Measuring tape
- Sewing pins
Steps for Crafting Your Envelope Pillow Cover
Preparing Your Canvas: Wash and Press
Before crafting your masterpiece, pre-treat your fabric with the care it will encounter in its future as a pillow cover. A pre-wash and thorough pressing ensures that your creation stays true to size and appearance, even after it succumbs to the rigors of life and laundering.
The Blueprint: Measuring Your Fabric
We start by deciphering the mystery of your pillow’s dimensions. If it’s a cloaked cushion you have, simply remove its cape and measure it in both length and width, adding an inch to each measurement for seam allowances. For naked forms, gently persuade a measuring tape to curve around your pillow and, like before, bestow upon it an extra inch both ways.
For my 16×26-inch pillow, I’ve majestically marked my territory as 17×27 inches for a snug fit.
Crafting Your Pieces: Cutting the Fabric
Now, let’s play fabric architect. With your freshly pressed fabric flipped the wrong side up, use the ruler and marker to demarcate your territories. I’m cutting one 17×27 inch frontispiece and two 17×17 inch back pieces to ensure a generous overlap for that envelope magic.
Hemming the Back Panels: Sewing the Envelope Flap
Align the fabric for the back panels, wrong side up, and wield your iron to press a doubled 1/4 inch hem. Ensure you’re stitching a mere royal 1/8 inch from the inner edge for durable edges and backstitching for longevity.
Assembling the Pieces: Bringing the Cover Together
Welcome to the grand convergence. Spread your main panel, right side up, across your workstation. Present the smaller panels wrong side up against the main protagonist, meticulously aligning their edges. Unleash a plentiful supply of pins to prevent treacherous shifting during sewing, especially at the crucial overlapping juncture. Stitch with valor all around the edges.
The Reveal: Turning and Trimming
Press your creation with its inside unveiled. Snip the corners bravely for an audacious, crisp edge once flipped. Turn the cover to face its destined form, and employ a knitting needle or a similar device to poke out the corners as if you’re sculpting the edges of your very own art piece.
The Final Act: Pillow Meets Cover
The climax of your tale approaches as your pillow gallantly slips into its new cover. A soft wrestling, a slight adjustment, and behold: an envelope pillowcase infused with the essence of your craftsmanship stands proudly before you, ready to grace your couch or armchair.
Thus, with these steps complete, your couch cushion has now been adorned with a cover that not only provides comfort but also whispers the story of your creative journey every time you rest your head upon it. Enjoy the fruits of your labor, and may your new envelope pillow cover spark conversations and inspire others to find joy in the art of sewing.
How Ironing Can Be Crucial?
When sewing this envelope pillow cover, ironing plays a critical role in enhancing the overall look and ease of the process. Starting with ironing the fabric before cutting to ensure precise measurements and clean cuts, to setting folds and seams in place for better stitching accuracy and a neater finish. Ironing also helps in reducing the bulk of seams, ensuring the pillow cover lies flat for a sleek appearance. Furthermore, giving the finished cover a final press amplifies its crispness and highlights the quality of your craftsmanship.
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