How to Make Slipcovers for Pillows

If you are living on a tight budget and would like to update your favorite room, you can use pillows, drapery panels and a new rug to give a room a whole new look for not a lot of money. There is no need to buy new pillow fills for this project. Sewing simple slipcovers for your pillows will save you from buying new pillow foams and lets you repurpose the ones you already have.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Thread
• Sewing pins
• Sewing machine
• Batting (optional)
• Rope trim (optional)
• Hot glue gun (optional)

1. Decide on what fabric you will be using to make the slipcovers for your pillows. If the pillows are a little flat from use, you can wrap them with batting before inserting them into the new slipcovers to plump them up. If you are on a really tight budget and cannot afford to buy new fabric, try using a sheet, old blanket or fabric shower curtain to sew the slipcovers. After you have made your fabric selection, measure the pillow on all sides to determine how much fabric you will need.

2. Transfer the measurements onto the fabric and cut out a front and back piece of fabric for each pillow you will be covering. Remember when cutting to leave a 1-inch seam allowance on all four edges of the fabric.

3. With right sides together, pin the pieces together with the sewing pins leaving one side open. Pin them 5/8 inch from the fabric's edge. This will be the line that you will follow when you sew the two sides together.

4. Now sew the pieces together following along the pinned line, removing the pins as you run the fabric through the machine. Sew only three of the sides together, leaving one side open for the pillow to be inserted.

5. Now insert the pillow into the slipcover and straighten all corners and seams. Sew the opening closed with a 1/4-inch seam. Now you can add a decorative trim such as a rope trim or fringe. Use a hot glue gun or fabric glue to attach the trim to all of the slipcover's edges.

Tips & Warnings

• You can add velcro to the opening instead of sewing it closed so that the pillow can be removed from the slipcover for cleaning.
• Use caution when working with a hot glue gun. Hot glue can cause severe burns to the skin and fingers.

Resources

• AOL Home