With the house on the market, I needed a quick update in the living room.  This would never do:

But this would:

(These colors make me smile.)

These pillow covers only cost about $15 dollars and took about an hour to make.  They are stitched with a basic straight seam, so if you can thread your machine, you can make these.

Here is the project:

Envelope Pillow Covers

Experience Level:  Beginner

1.  Measure your pillow.  You’ll need to know the length and width.

2.  Do a little math.  This pillow measured 11 x 15 inches.

• Front pillow piece:  You need 1 rectangle.  Add 1/2 inch to the length and 1/2 inch to the width.  For this pillow, I used 1 rectangle measuring 11 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches.  
• Back pillow pieces:  You need 2 rectangles.  The width will be the same as the front piece.  For the length of each piece, divide the length of the pillow by 2 and add 3 1/2 inches.  My 2 rectangles measured  11 1/2 x 11 inches.

3.  Hem one long edge of each of the back pillow pieces.

4.  Stack your fabric like this:

• Front piece right-side up.
• Back pieces wrong-side up, hem toward the middle.

5.   Stitch all the way around the pillow with 1/4 inch seam allowances.

6.  Trim the corners, turn your case right side out, and press it well.

7.  Slip it on your pillow.

A few notes: –This envelope pillow will work for any rectangular/square pillow.  Just measure your pillow and do the same math you did above.

–If you are worried about the back overlap gaping, you can add more than 3 1/2 inches to each back piece, or just attach a small piece of Velcro to either side!

–Embellish away!  I try to remember to embellish the front before I put my pillows together.  You can paint, piece, add ribbon or ric rac, anything you want, just as long as the front finished pieces measures 1/2 inch long and 1/2 inch wider than your pillow.

****This tutorial first appeared in December 2011.