Couch Pillow Makeover

 

Lately I have been feeling like my life lacks color. You know what I mean? That everything around me is brown. My walls, my furniture, my couch, my floor. What's a girl to do? Sew pillows of course!

Do you have one of those couches that comes with those ugly, monotone, pillows that come stock? If you do you will also notice that you can not remove the cover. So if you spill something on it you gotta throw it in the wash and wait 10 years for it to dry. NO MORE! Here is a tutorial on how to sew an easy-peasy pillow cover! This is only one pattern piece so you can do this SUPER fast and add color to your life :)

 

 

What you'll need:

Ugly pillow

Front fabric (I used cotton duck)

Back fabric (I used a yellow sateen, but you can use the same as front)

Drafting Paper (freezer paper works awesome!)

Pencil

Ruler

Pins

Thread

2 Buttons (optional)

 

Tip: If using same fabric for whole pillow you will need 1 1/2 yard for two 18.5" pillows.

 

Step 1:

Measure your pillow and write down your measurement.

Mine was 18.5" x 18.5".

 

Step 2:

Use your drafting paper to make pattern.

Take measurement from one side, divide in half and add 2.5".

For example my pattern is now 18.5" x (9.25"+2.5").

Draw your rectangle using straight edge of paper as top of pattern (easy trick).

Draw dotted line 2.5" from top edge (you will fold on this line for front piece).

Add 1/2" seam allowance on the 3 sides (excluding the top).

Cut out.

 

Step 3:

Cut two of unfolded pattern piece out of back fabric.

Fold on dotted line. Using fold for center of pillow, trace the bottom 3 sides, flip piece on folded line and trace three sides again.

Warning! Do not trace folded line or you will have a line up the middle of your fabric.

Cut out front piece.

 

Step 4:

Zig-zag stitch one long edge of your back fabric (or you can use a serger).

Fold to wrong side 1.5" and iron (or in my case, use a hair straightener).

Stitch down. This makes one side of the back opening.

Repeat on second back piece.

 

Step 5:

Place both front and back pieces right sides together (opening will overlap).

Pin. (I forgot to say that you may want to iron your fabric first, I don't have an iron, silly right?)

 

Step 6:

Sew all the way around at 1/2".

 

Step 7:

Zig-zag (or serge) the edge all the way around. This make a nice clean edge that wont fray.

 

Step 8:

Turn right side out and Iron flat.

Insert Pillow!

Optional: Sew 2 button holes and buttons to keep the opening together better. Not necessary but it could be cute with coordinating buttons. I'm sure ill get around to it!

 

I hope you enjoyed this pattern and am wishing all of you a life full of color :)