How to Make the Back of a Pillow or Pillow Sham

If a pillow cover has overlapping flaps, you can easily remove the pillow form.

When making a pillow cover or pillow sham, you have a variety of design options to create exactly the pillow you desire. If you make the back of a pillow or pillow sham with two separate pieces, you can overlap the pieces at the center to create an envelope edge. A benefit of this pillow back style is the ease with which you can remove the pillow form for washing the pillow cover.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pillow form
• Pillow backing fabric
• Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Front pillow fabric
• Straight pins

Instructions

1. Measure the dimensions of the pillow form to determine the dimensions of the two halves of the pillow backing. For example, if the pillow form is a 30-inch square, you will need two fabric pieces 31 inches by 37.5 inches (extra fabric for seam allowances and fabric overlap in the center). Cut two identical fabric pieces according to the measurements.

2. Position the two fabric pieces on your work area with the height edges at the left and right sides (the height edges are probably shorter than the width edges). Turn under one height edge of each piece 1 inch and press the fold with the iron. Turn under the same edge 1 inch again and press the folds again. Stitch along the folded edge 1/8-inch away from the inner folded edge on each piece.

3. Assemble the pillow cover. Place the front pillow fabric onto your work area with the right side facing up. Place one backing fabric piece over the front piece with the wrong side facing up and with the hemmed edge running vertically near the center of the front fabric piece. Align the corners and outer edges of the fabric pieces precisely. Place the other backing fabric piece over the front piece, again with the hemmed edge running vertically near the center of the front piece--the two backing pieces will overlap at the center of the pillow. Pin the outer edges of the fabric pieces to hold them securely.

4. Stitch around the four outer edges of the pillow pieces using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Remove the pins.

5. Turn the pillow cover right side out using the overlapped flaps in the back of the pillow cover. Pull out the corners of the pillow cover to make them sharp and neat.

6. Insert the pillow form into the pillow cover by slipping it through the flaps. Adjust the pillow form inside the cover to make it neat.

References

• Bags, Pillows and Pincushions; Better Homes & Gardens