How to Sew Throw Pillow Cases

Sewing throw pillow cases is a wonderful way to freshen up the look of old pillows without spending much money. You can create several pillow cases out of different fabrics that can be swapped out for Christmas, Hanukkah or Easter. If you are looking to cover worn out or outdated upholstery on your throw pillows, your local fabric store should have an upholstery section with several updated fabric options to coordinate with your furniture. When in doubt, choosing neutral colored fabrics will help to ensure that your throw pillow cases coordinate with the existing colors in your room.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Seasonal or upholstery fabric
• Muslin
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Zipper foot
• Scissors
• 6-inch zipper
• Tailor's chalk

1. Place your throw pillow onto a piece of muslin and trace around it using your tailor's chalk. Draw another line 1/2-inch out from the first line, to account for seam allowance.

2. Cut out the throw pillow pieces from the muslin. This is your throw pillow pattern piece. Save it to use on more than one pillow cover project.

3. Pin the muslin throw pillow pattern onto the wrong side of your upholstery or seasonal fabric. Trace around it using your tailor's chalk. Repeat this process for the other side of your pillow.

4. Cut out your outlined pieces from the pillow case fabric and pin them together with their right sides facing.

5. Sew all the way around your pillow case, allowing a 1/4- to 1/2-inch seam allowance. Be sure to leave a 6-inch gap along the seam that is not sewn so that you have a place to install your zipper.

6. Attach your zipper to the opening on your pillow case, using the zipper foot on your sewing machine. Take care to get as close as you can to the teeth of the zipper without actually hitting them. This will help ensure that your zipper is not too visible on your finished product.

7. Turn your pillow case right side out and stuff your pillow into it. Zipper it closed and place it onto your furniture with the zipper facing down so that it is less visible.

References

• Installing a Zipper
• Sewing a Throw Pillow Cover