After moving to Seattle and inheriting a couch of my very own, I decided it needed some accent throw pillows.
They were a lot more pricey than I wanted them to be so I decided to make my own. But I wanted them to be washable. Maybe with changeable covers. And of course, cost-effective.
I made some super simple 15″ square pillows with some linen blend fabric and polyfill for super cheap. (Hi, I like coupons.)
It was time to make me some easily changeable throw pillow covers! I thought about the logistics of the fold-over pocket kind (I don’t know what they’re actually called) and, well, it’s a ridiculously simple concept!
This time around, it took me an hour to make two simultaneously AND take the photos for this post. Here’s how you can, too! This can be altered to change the size and dimensions of the covers, too. Perhaps one day I’ll make a little pillow cover calculator generator 🙂 YAY MATHING!
Materials/Info
All you need for the covers is the fabric and a means to cut and sew said fabric. These measurements include a 1/4″ seam allowance. For some reason, I just don’t like having to cut extra fabric and I’ve been playing with different edge finishings since I don’t have a serger.
Let’s begin…
Step 1: Cut the fabric
For a 15″ pillow, start by cutting your fabric down to 35″ x 15.5″
Unless you’re picky about the direction of the pocket seam on the back, it doesn’t matter if your fabric’s pattern is horizontal or vertical. The front, however, will be the CENTER of the cut piece.
Step 2: Hem the pocket edges
Hem up both short edges. Using the 1/4 seam allowance, I did a straight stitch and went back over it with a zig-zag. Roll it under if you’d like, serge it, use only the zig-zag.. However you want, I’m sure will be fine! The first time, I just did a straight stitch, no rolling. It frays a little so I wanted to try something different this time.
Step 3: Fold and pin the long edges
Lay the fabric flat, with the RIGHT side facing up so you can see it. 10″ from the short end, fold the fabric up onto itself like a pocket.
From the other short end, do the same, overlapping the pocket you made.
This will make two overlapping pocket things over the 15″ middle. The WRONG side will be all you can see. Pin both sides into place to secure the overlaps for sewing.
Step 4: Sew the sides
Sew up both sides. Yep, the whole side.
Step 5: Turn right-side out
It might seem a little weird at first, but it will turn right side out properly. I found that it helps to do two corners at a time.. Reach into the obvious pocket first and pulling the corners through. Then, repeat for the two in the pocket that’s still inside out.
You should be able to see the overlapping pocket where to shove your pillow form.
YOU’RE DONE!!
Put them on your pillow forms and enjoy some cute, custom couch accents!
For your next set, you can get all kinds of creative and add some cabling or frill to the edges, use a cross-stitch pattern on the fabric, use quilted fabric, whatever you want.
May your heads rest on comfy creativity 🙂