Two Easy Ways to Sew Pillows

I love to keep our home beautifully decorated, but since we are a family on five on one income, our budget calls for creative ways to accomplish this. Toss pillows are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to add interest and color to an area and to freshen up a room's decor. Sewing your own toss pillows is even better because you can choose the style, fabric, and size that you want. It's also less expensive than buying pillows from the store especially when you get creative with the materials like I did for this first pair of pillows...

Slipcover Pillows (Made from Cloth Napkins)
Materials
cloth napkins (or fabric)
basic sewing supplies (scissors, pins, thread...)
sewing machine
iron
pillow forms or old pillows you want to recover

Directions

1. The first step is to gather your materials. Decide what fabric you want to use. I found this set of four cloth napkins on sale at Target for about $9. It was enough material to make two pillows. That means each pillow only cost me $4.50 since I saved money again by using two old pillows that didn't match our decor anymore instead of purchasing pillow forms.
2. Measure across the pillow you are recovering or your pillow form. Mine was 17 by 17 inches. Cut one piece of fabric the same size. This will be the front panel of your pillow slipcover.
3. The back panel will be made from two pieces. You want both pieces to be the same width as the front panel. The height will be different though. Take the height of the front panel, divide that number by two, and add two inches. (Example: The height of my front panel was 17 inches. 17 / 2 = 8.5 + 2 = 10.5) I made the two back pieces 17 inches wide and 10.5 high. You'll want to hem both of these pieces along the side that will be in the middle. If you are using cloth napkins, this step is easy. Cut the fabric so you can use the hems that are already there. Otherwise, you will need to sew hems by simply turning the fabric under and straight stitching across.
4. Iron the wrinkles out. Place the two back pieces onto the front panel with right sides facing. Match up the corners and secure everything with pins. The two back pieces will overlap in the middle. Remember that the hemmed edges should be what overlaps. Straight stitch around all four sides of your pillow. Remember to backstitch at the start and finish. Snip the corners, and turn your pillow right-side-out. Make sure to push your corners out. Stuff the old pillow or pillow form into the opening at the back of the slipcover where the back pieces overlap. And that's it!

Stuffed Pillows
Materials
fabric
basic sewing supplies (scissors, pins, thread...)
sewing machine
iron
polyfill stuffing

Directions

1. Cut two equal pieces of fabric. The chevron pillows were made from a heavy chevron canvas fabric backed by an inexpensive muslin. Press both pieces to iron out any wrinkles. Lay your front and back panels on top of each other with right sides facing. Use pins to secure them together.
2. Place the fabric panels under the foot of your sewing machine and start sewing them together. Remember to backstitch at the start and finish. Continue sewing around the pillow. When you reach a corner, simply move the needle into the fabric, lift up your presser foot, pivot the fabric, lower the presser foot, and begin sewing again. Leave a 4-6 inch opening on one side of the pillow. (Tip: I start in the middle of one of the sides, so the gap won't be at a corner.)
3. Snip the corners and turn your pillow right-side-out. Make sure to push the corners out.
4. Stuff the corners of your pillow with the polyfill. Continue adding the stuffing through the opening in the pillow until it reaches the desired level of puffiness. Turn the edges of the opening under and zig zag stitch it closed with your sewing machine. Fluff your pillow and toss it onto a bed, couch, or chair.

Happy sewing and decorating!