Want to make a pillow cover the easy way? You'll love this easy tutorial for how to make a no sew envelope pillow cover!
Love no-sew projects? Be sure to check out this tutorial for no sew black out curtains & all of our simple sewing and no-sewing tutorials here!
I am obsessed with bold and sassy pillows (don't believe me? Check out my pinterest pillow board here!)
However, bold colors and patterns go out of style quickly the condo doesn't have tons of storage for old pillows.
Also, every time Sean goes to sit on the couch and has to move 12 pillows to make room, he gets, umm, annoyed.
So, I've started making removable pillow covers to jazz up the pillows I already have in a changeable way.
Click here to pin this project to your Pinterest board!
How to Make Easy Peasy No-Sew Pillow "Envelope" Style Pillow Covers
I made these particular covers from an indoor/outdoor tablecloth from homegoods.
Don't you just love the navy blue color & the geometric pattern? If you're looking for a similar fabric, check this one out!
I decided to cover these pillows that I also got at homegoods that I got a while ago.
They are filled with down and so fluffy. However, they had a weird temple on the front that wasn't exactly my style.
Here's what I did:
Lay out the fabric you want to use. Instead of measuring, I prefer to lay the pillow on top.
You want room for the fabric to come up to the side seam plus a 1 inch seam allowance.
As far as length goes, you want it long enough to make your envelope.
You want the "flaps" to overlap about ¼ to ⅓ a pillow length, plus an inch seam allowance on each side.
Iron your fabric so it looks nice.
I used no-sew hem tape to do this project. Click here for a vine tutorial on using the tape!
Hem all four sides of the fabric.
Next, Place your pillow on and fold the fabric inside out as if you were wrapping the pillow like a present.
Now, attach the sides of your case!
All you have to do it take it out, flip it inside out, and ta-da!
So easy!
Check out my other no sew projects:
Click here to pin this project to your Pinterest board!
No-Sew Pillow "Envelope" Style Pillow Covers
This is the easiest way to make removable pillow covers using no sew hem tape.
Materials
- Fabric of choice
- No sew hem tape
Tools
- Scissors
- Iron
- Towel or washcloth
- Measuring tape
- Pen
Instructions
- DETERMINE WIDTH OF FABRIC - Lay the pillow on top of your fabric. Measure a width that allows for the fabric to come up to the side seam plus 1 inch of extra on each side.
- DETERMINE LENGTH OF FABRIC - You want the “flaps” to overlap about ¼ to ⅓ a pillow length, plus an inch seam allowance on each side.
- Cut out a rectangle in the size that you determined.
- Once you have measured your rectangle, iron the fabric so it is wrinkle free.
- Use no-sew hem tape to hem all 4 sides of the fabric.
- Place your pillow on the hemmed rectangle, wrong side out. Fold up the sides like you are wrapping a present and iron with hem tape in place.
- Flip it right side out and you are ready to insert your pillow.
Notes
Allow the hem tape to fully cool before pulling on it or inserting the pillow.
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Hello, I'm Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I've transformed three homes and now I'm dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let's turn your house into a home together!
Christina @ Homemade Ocean says
I love that fabric so much!!!! Very cute 🙂
Morgan says
haha thanks! I like it too but its so trendy- thats one reason pillow covers rock, when the "trellis" look goes out, i can swap em!
Stephanie says
After you hem the sides, you fold the fabric inside out. But the next thing says 'attach the sides'. Are you using no-sew hem again here?
CharlestonCrafted says
Sorry that wasn't clear! Yes, I used more no sew tape and the iron to attach it again. Lots of tape and lots of ironing!!
Tonya says
I think it's worth mentioning that if you use thicker fabric (i.e. outdoor or even home decor) the no-sew hemming may not be able to get hot enough to fuse for the final step of attaching the sides you have already hemmed. I love this simple tutorial but I wish that had been flagged before I wasted over an hour working on one of these last night-only to have to end up sewing those ends together anyway. Thanks!
Morgan says
Tonya- I'm so sorry that that happened to you! I used outdoor fabric for these pillows & thick upholstery fabric for my no sew curtains and was able to get it done. The more folds that you have, the hotter and longer you will need to get them with the iron to fuse the fabric.
I'm really sorry that yours wouldn't go!
Morgan says
Actually- just double checked. The pillows were made from tablecloth material, the semi-water resistant type. Your fabric must have been thicker than anything I have tried. So sorry about this!
Tanell says
This looks super easy and affordable -- but i'm new to fabric. lol Do you think you could do a video tutorial soon? Thanks!
Lori says
I am trying to use the iron-on hem tape but am not having much luck. Can you provide more direction how you did this? I am putting it sticky side down and ironing for quite a while, but it's only sticking to the bottom of the fabric and not the other side of the hem tape. Am I missing something??
CharlestonCrafted says
It depends on the hem tape but yours might have a peel off backing like a sticker? I've done this before and ironed and ironed and it wouldn't stick.
Natalia says
Hey, I love your tutorial. Know it has been a while but I want to try it out. The only thing I want to know is...Do these cushions made with no sew tape last the washings etc?
Many thanks!
Natalia
Morgan says
Natalia - thanks for stopping by! No - anything made with hem tape is not going to hold up as well as if it was sewn. It's not a long term type solution. Some hem tapes say they are washable (check your package) but it is my experience that anything made with hem tape does not hold up forever.
Sorry for the bummer but just keeping it real. 🙂
Liz says
I have used no sew tape for a log time (when I am to lazy to pull out the sewing machine) and while I don't have the package it came in I always use a wet face cloth over the area which steams it to the fabric. Don't move it to much, works like a charm. I have even hemmed my jeans with this method. Hope this helps.
Natalia says
Thanks for all the comments. I have used ultra strong tape on a cushion for my son and it still strong though I am to wash it yet. But yes, I must get the machine out and remnd myself on how to use it. I need them to be fool proof. 😉
Jodi Ann says
Just tried this with quite heavy fabric and it worked perfectly! I can't sew worth beans, but my pillow turned out so well that no one would ever be able to guess! Thanks a ton for the help!
Morgan says
I'm glad! It can be hard to iron thru heavy fabric, especially multiple layers, so I am glad that you got it to work!
Tammy says
I understand the directions until the picture right before you fold it. The picture that looks like it is folded at the end and then the folding. It's confusing me as to what you are doing.
Morgan says
OK - do you mean that I fold both ends towards the center so that they overlap? Sorry that it is not more clear for you.
tammy says
Ah ha, i couldn't tell you were folding the ends toward the center. That makes sense now. I couldn't tell from the picture. Thanks for the clarification.