Easy Beginner DIY Pillow Covers

Even beginners can sew these super simple, super easy DIY pillow covers. Make six pillow covers for $25 in just one hour!

DIY pillow covers sitting on outside furniture

After I gave my outdoor cushion a spray paint makeover two weeks ago I knew I had to give the throw pillows a new look.  The old look was very pale and beachy-it totally clashed with the navy blue color I painted the stained cushion.  I decided to go with an Americana look and knowing I needed six pillow covers it was going to have to be a DIY pillow cover job.

Beginner Pillow Sewing Tutorial

As I have a love-hate relationsip with my sewing machine I pondered any way to avoid sewing the pillow covers but alas, there was no other choice.  So I did the next best thing-I sewed the easiest, fastest DIY pillow covers you can make (for less than $20 too!).  Each pillow has four lines of stitching.  Want to see how I did it? Let’s go:

How to Make DIY Pillow Covers

My pillows were 16″ square.  I ordered one yard each of Swavelle/Mill Creek Indoor Outdoor Fabric in Finnigan Cherry and Rossmere Windsol. They were each $8.98 each and I used a coupon (always, always google “{store name} coupon” before placing an online order-most of the time you can find one and save a few bucks!)

Any-who, back to the pillow construction…I wanted my pillow to be very full so I did not allow extra fabric for my seam allowances in the measurements. I hate baggy, saggy pillow covers! I cut my fabric into 16″ by 36″ pieces.  This worked out to me managing to get three pillow covers (double-sided) from one yard of fabric.  On each of the short ends of the fabric iron over a 1/4″ seam and then fold over again another 1/4″ and press with your iron.  Sew each of these seams all the way across.

A diagram of measurements for making DIY pillow covers

Fold your fabric in 11″ on one side and 9″ on the opposite side so that the hemmed ends overlap about 3.5″.  Press the folds and hem 1/4″ in from the fabric edge on the open sides.

Flip inside out and you’re finished.  Perfect envelope closure pillow covers.  I made SIX pillow covers in about an hour for less than $25.  I challenge anyone to beat that!!

Red, white and blue DIY pillow covers

On a side note it was very difficult to get good pictures of the DIY Pillow Covers because my backyard is very nearly a disaster zone.  They began digging our pool yesterday morning and I had to drag the patio furniture around for a good shot because most of my yard is covered in giant piles of excavated (and weirdly stinky) dirt! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter to see pictures of the process all week!

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20 Comments

  1. Darling pillows and fantastic tutorial! I also love your cushion makeover. I love Simply Spray!
    Thanks so much for the inspiration!

    Have a happy week!
    Tausha
    sassystyleredesign.com

  2. Way to go Melissa!!! These pillows are AWESOME!! Your diagram is super helpful too!! I will reference it when I make pillows!

    BTW, it’s crazy how many people don’t think to google coupons before purchasing! I always do 🙂

    Thanks for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!

  3. These are so cute. I have never attempted a pillow covering, but I really want to. Now when I do I can follow your tutorial. Then maybe I can have cute pillows too. I really need some.

  4. Thanks for the tip. I’m thinking of painting canvas for pillows to go with my new rug (A2D linky party) and wanted to do as little stitching as possible. Why didn’t I think of this? Thanks for the inspiration. Your pillows look fab!

  5. Thanks for the tutorial! I’m just starting on a couple pillow projects now so it’s great to see some other tips & tricks!

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  7. I just made these pillow covers and this is the BEST and EASIEST pillow tutorial I have every used. Thank you!!!

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  9. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Just covered my patio cushions with this technique. SUPER SIMPLE and they look AWESOME!!!!!

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  11. Wow! I’m shocked at how easy this was to make. I can now have pillow slipcovers for every season! Thank you for the best and easiest tutorial ever! Easy to follow directions and great illustration too.

  12. Can you tell me how to make covers for other size pillows? I have different size sofa/ bed throw pillows, mostly 18x 18.

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