Sewing Solo: Easy Pillow Cover

If you’re a JourneyChic regular, you know that I’ve intended to sew for a while. It started with my Craigslist sewing table way back in August of 2009, which I finally refinished in March. The thing is, it’s so much easier to call up my mom and ask her to make things for me. And because I’m her one and only and she loves me so much she obliges. Or humors me. Whatever.

The truth is, I know how to sew. My Nanny and mom taught me when I was very little, and I learned on Nanny’s ancient Singer sewing machine. I loved the old Fabric Place store in Framingham, MA, which sadly closed a few years ago. Nothing was better than hunting in their remnant bin for some shiny pink or purple fabric to stitch together. I learned to follow patterns by making Barbie clothes, and I still remember staying up way past my bedtime with Mom and Nanny as we tried to figure out the best way to make a scrunchie. Once I got out of the Barbie phase, sewing was somehow no longer cool, so it’s probably been nearly 20 years since I last made something entirely on my own. Until now.

I am so proud of myself that I’m rather giddy about it! I made two pillow covers for the living room on my own!

Now, I will be honest with you. I took a few short cuts:

• The print (Fretwork from Lewis & Sherron) is only on the front side, so no worries about lining up prints.
• It’s envelope style, meaning no zipper to contend with.
• The fabric on the back is from an old curtain, so it already had a hem on one edge.

The pillows are 16″, and I turned an existing cover inside out to see how it was constructed. Needless to say, it’s made better than mine because the maker is more talented and has a better machine for finishing hems. Regardless, it was good to get a sense of how to go about making my pillow covers.

I wanted to allow myself a huge half-inch hem just in case I majorly screwed up (I trimmed it later), so I cut the patterned fabric at 17″ square, and two pieces of the plain fabric at 10″ to overlap in the center. Let me tell you, it was no small feat to figure out the straight of the goods and cut a straight line. You’d think it wouldn’t be a big deal, but it is! Then I ironed the fabric and laid it out right sides together, and used about a million pins.

When my parents were over on the 4th of July, I had my mom sit next to me and the sewing machine in case I needed her assistance, and I’m pleased to say that I only needed her help when the thread came out of the needle.

I am so pleased with the final result! They’re not perfect, but both cases actually fit the pillows, and the pattern is straight! I didn’t even have to rip out any seams. The fabric picks up the blue in the living room rug beautifully, and the geometric print coordinates with similar ones in the room. I feel very inspired to try something else this summer!

Of all your DIY projects around your home, which one are you most proud of? Do share!