How to Make an Envelope Pillow Sham

Whether you just want a change of pace or you need to match your pillow cover to a new comforter or piece of furniture, making an envelope-style pillow sham is a good solution. An envelope pillow sham requires only moderate sewing and pattern-making skills, doesn't call for a zipper or other notions and the result is worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Matching thread
• Sewing machine
• Measuring tape
• Decorative trim or embroidery floss
• Paper and pencil

Instructions

1. Measure the pillow you wish to cover. Use a flexible measuring tape so you can follow the curves. You'll need one measurement for the width of the pillow and one for the depth. Write down the measurements.

2. Add 1 inch in each direction and record those measurements as "front." The overlap on the back of the sham -- the envelope part -- depends on the pillow: a throw pillow should have about 2 inches of overlap, and a bed pillow should have about 3 inches. Add the appropriate amount -- 2 or 3 inches – plus another 1 1/2 to the side-to-side measurement of the pillow, and record the total width as "back" on your sheet of paper. Buy enough fabric to cut the number of backs and fronts you'll need for the project. If you want a ruffled or boxed flounce around the edges, buy enough fabric for those as well.

3. Cut backs and fronts from fabric according to the measurements. Now cut the length of the back in half from top to bottom. Turn each of the cut edges under 1/4 inch; press, then sew. Turn under about a 1/2 inch; press and either hand stitch or use a long zigzag machine stitch for the hem. Embroider or monogram on the front before you begin to assemble the sham.

4. Add a ruffle. Cut a piece of fabric twice as deep as you want the ruffle or flounce, plus 1 inch. Add the length and width of the pillow front together and make the ruffle 1 1/2 to 2 times longer than the sum. For a boxed flounce, simply cut a strip long enough to go around all four sides of the front piece, plus 6 to 8 inches for the corner pleats. Fold the fabric in half on the long edge and press it for a 3-1/2-inch wide ruffle or flounce.

5. Set your machine to a very long stitch and sew through both sides 1/4 inch from the raw edges the length of the ruffle. Leave 6 inches of thread at end of seam. Repeat with a second seam 1/4 inch from the first. Hold the long threads with one hand while gently pulling the fabric in the opposite direction to form a ruffle.

6. Lay the sham front right side up on table. Pin the ruffle or flounce to sham with the raw edges lined up. Draw up or loosen gathers of ruffle to adjust the fit. The flounce can be pleated or eased at corners to fit. If making a simple sham without flounce or ruffle, attach cording or other trim. Lay the back pieces, right sides down, with raw edges matching raw edges of front. This should create the envelope overlap.

7. Sew about 1/2 inch from the edge, using a standard length stitch, all the way around. Stitch a second seam directly over the first seam where the overlap occurs on the back to withstand the stress of repeatedly inserting and removing the pillow. Turn sham right side out.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't cheap out on buying fabric! Buy plenty, and it should be a fairly durable fabric to withstand constant use unless the pillows are strictly decorative.

• A super easy way to create the look of a boxed flounce is to simply cut all fabric pieces 2 inches longer and wider than basic pillow measurements. After sewing the final seam that stitches BACK to FRONT in Step 6, turn the sham right-side-out, press with steam iron, then use your machine to top-stitch exactly 2 inches inside the pressed edge all the way around.

• If making a sham for a circular pillow, the BACK fabric will need to be cut as an oblong, while cutting a circle for the FRONT. Cutting out a paper pattern & making adjustments to it will help you avoid a costly mistake with the fabric.

• If you're unsure of your ability to create a sham, buy some muslin or other inexpensive fabric and make a practice sham to fit a small throw pillow. Once you've made one, future shams are amazingly simple to make in nearly any size or shape.