How to Make a Throw Pillow Cover in 10 Minutes

I've been dragging around Christmas fabrics for years.  They do get used pretty much every year but one of the things I wanted to do with them for years was to make throw pillow covers.

This year, I was determined to get them done.  I've been super busy, but I knew that they would really set the mood for the holidays, so I got out the scissors, eyeballed and cut out a pattern (of sorts) and sewed it up on the machine--I didn't even iron the fabric.  Then I made a second one and timed it.  10 minutes.  Not bad!

Here is a step-by-step tutorial for making throw pillow covers in ten minutes.

Step 1.  
Cut a piece of fabric about 1.5 inches wider than the width of the pillow on each side and long enough that it overlaps about 5 inches (the fabric in the photo to the right is folded in half under the pillow).  If you have an extra fluffy pillow, make sure the sides of the fabric reach half way up the side of the pillow

Step 2. 
I worked with the fabric right side up since I was working without a pattern.

After the fabric is cut, place the pillow on the fabric so the fabric on one end folds a little more than half way over the center of the pillow.

Then on the other end of the fabric, fold a piece inward. You want to make sure that when you fold the folded piece over the pillow there is enough overlap that when the pillow is stuffed inside, it won't gap. So wrap the fabric loosely around the pillow. Then pin the folds in place. I used only two pins (I was in a hurry) but you can use more.

Step 3. 
Turn the cover inside out. And sew the two sides only.

Step 4. Turn the pillow cover right side out and stuff the pillow inside.

Voila!  New decorative pillows fast and cheap!

I also made a round throw pillow cover.  I did everything the same, except that when I turned it inside out to sew it, I then cut it into the round shape before sewing.

Let me know if this tutorial was helpful, or if there is something I can do better with these tutorials.

It's Only Tuesday?!

It is only Tuesday but it feels like it should be Friday.

I just finished a story for my day job--WOO HOO!  Now I can get the bubble lights on the tree so we can start hanging the ornaments.

I got a garage door opener for a steal Thanksgiving weekend and it is still not up.  Maybe by this Friday I won't have to manually open and close my garage door.  It's not so much the opening and closing it, but having to lock it and unlock it from the inside that makes it a pain.

New rack and pinion steering for the car (cha ching).  I used to understand what rack and pinion steering was and why it was a big deal when I sold cars, but it escapes me now...just looked it up.  I guess I didn't really know back then either and after looking I still can't remember the benefit, but I know I talked about it.  I think it was one of those items that every car had, but because most salespeople don't sell every aspect of the car and if you are the only one actually "selling" the car, yours sounds like it has more features than others--like those triangles bent into the body in the engine compartment that are there so the car folds like an accordion in a front end crash, absorbing a portion of the impact so occupants are safer.  Now that is a cool safety feature.

I knew I needed new tires--they weren't impressive tires in the first place but the steering really wreaked havoc on them--but now that the steering is fixed and aligned I have to get new tires so I can tell that I have new rack and pinion steering.  I had to order them to get a good tire in my price range. I hope the product matches the good reviews.  I wonder if you can return tires if you don't like them?   I got them at Costco.

I have a tutorial that I have been wanting to post.  "How to Make a Throw Pillow Cover in 10 Minutes".  Super easy and fast--I didn't even iron the fabric.  Will try to get it posted in the next day. Here is a little preview.

Till the next time...