How to Make a Bolster Pillow Case

A bolster pillow can be both decorative and useful.

A bolster pillow is primarily designed to be decorative but it can also serve another purpose. Bolster pillows are long and tubular, making them ideal for placing behind the head and across the shoulders to support the neck. If you have a bolster pillow that is in need of a new cover or if you just want to give it a new look, you can make a bolster pillow cover with little sewing involved.

Things You'll Need

• Seam ripper
• Scissors
• Cardboard paper towel tube
• Fabric measuring tape
• Two rubber bands
• Fabric
• Needle and thread

Instructions

1. Remove any existing cover from a bolster pillow. Cut away the cover with a seam ripper to preserve it for later use or with scissors if you do not need to use the cover again.

2. Separate the batting or other filling of the pillow to accommodate an empty cardboard paper towel tube. Insert the tube into the center of the batting or filling material.

3. Measure the diameter and length of the pillow and cut a piece of fabric based on the measurements, adding a couple inches to both the width and length of the fabric.

4. Spread your fabric out on a flat surface with the side that you want to be visible in the end facing up. Center the pillow material with the paper towel roll in it on the fabric. Wrap the fabric around the pillow. Gather the ends of the material as evenly as possible and secure them with rubber bands.

5. Remove the pillow material carefully from inside the case by gently loosening the rubber bands. Remove one end first, then pull the rest of the pillow up and out of the case.

6. Turn your fabric right side out so that the ends with the rubber bands attached to it are on the inside.

7. Place your pillow inside the cover and tuck the gathered edges into the paper towel roll. Adjust the rubber bands before tucking the gathered ends into the paper towel roll to make sure that the ends of the pillow are not baggy.

8. Complete the cover by tucking one side of your fabric opening into the other. Tuck the fabric as far back into the pillow as possible so that the cover fits as snugly as possible. Hand sew a narrow hem on the exposed edge of fabric to prevent raveling.

References

• Shabby Blogs: Easy DIY No Sew Pillow Tutorial