Easy Decorator Pillows

Pillows can add a lot to a room. They look great on a couch or window seat, and add a beautiful finishing touch to any bedroom. But finding the right size pillow, in the right fabric, in your price range, isn't always easy. The solution? Make them yourself! Even the begining seamstress can turn out good looking designer style pillows. If you already have pillows that just don't fit your room anymore, it is no problem to recover them or recycle the insides into a new one!

You have a few basic body style choices when making pillows:

1. One piece pillows are sewn shut. They are simple to make, but hard to wash since the insides don't come out. Depending on what filling you use, dry cleaning may be the best option for cleaning to avoid seperating and bunching of your filling.

2. Fold over cover. A pillow cover that is easy to remove and clean. Pillow is folded into it. Buttons, snaps or velcro can be added to keep closed tighter.

3. Zippered pillow covers. This cover is the more difficult to make because adding the zipper can be tricky. Cover is easy to remove and clean.

Note* If you will be reusing an exsisting pillow as a form, remove any decorative trims by cutting as close to seam as possible. Pillows with appliques or textured fabrics can be used, but aren't reccomended as they will offer a "bumpy" texture to your new cover.

Sewing Tip* if you have a serger, it is reccomended that you serge all sides of your fabric before assembling. It will prevent ravelling, and offer a more durable pillow for washing.

Basic Construction(allows 1/2 inch seams all around):

If you are making a one piece pillow, cut two pieces of fabric that are 1 inch larger in each direction than your finished pillow will be. Sew around three sides and about 1/3 on each end of the fourth side. Turn inside out, stuff, and sew shut along the bottom.

If you are making a fold over cover, cut one piece that is 1 inch larger in each direction than your pillow, and two pieces that are 1 inch taller, and 2/3 as wide. On each of the smaller pieces, hem one long side(assuming that your fold will run top to bottom, and that your pillow is square). Overlap the two pieces so that they are the same size as your cover front. Pin in place, and sew around all sides. Turn inside out at fold, and insert pillow.

For a zippered cover, cut one piece of fabric that is 1 inch larger in each direction than your pillow, and 1 piece that is 1 inch larger in one direction, and 2 inches larger the other direction. Split the larger piece in half height wise, so you have two pieces that are slightly larger than half. Sew 1 1/2 inches from top and bottom so you now have a piece the same size as your front with a hole in it. To inset the zipper(zipper should be 2 inches shorter than your finished pillows height), center it along the hole, and sew in place. Unzip, pin sides together, and sew around all sides. Turn inside out and stuff with pillow form.

Adding trims:

If you want to add trims, try fringed bullion, covered welt(piping), lace, pom pom balls, ruffles or anything else you can think of. You can add trims in the seams, or sew directly to the front of the pillow. If you are sewing trims to the pillow front, do so before you join the front and back.