This easy pattern has so many uses! Cover an old pillow for an instant, soft dog or cat bed. Keeps the fur off the
furniture and carpet. Create decorative pillows for your bed. Make pillowcases that your pillows won't fall out of. Unlike
a regular pillowcase, these covers are closed on each end, so the pillow is totally covered. An envelope back opening allows easy removal of the pillow.
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Supplies
1 yard of fabric (for standard size pillow)
thread to match background of fabric
pillow
Note: all seams are 1/4 inch. Always iron between steps.
Instructions
1. Compute / Cut Fabric
Measure your pillow. Write down the length and width.
For the front piece, add .5" to the length and width measurements. For example, if your pillow measures 20"x25", your Pillow Front
piece should be 20.5" x 25.5" (if you want the cover to be snug, you do not have to add the .5").
For the pillow back piece, add 8.5" to the length and .5" to the width (if you want a snug fit, do not add the .5" to the width, and add
only 8" to the length). For example if your pillow measures 20"x25", your back piece will be 20.5" x 33.5".
Cut your front and back pieces. Set aside the front piece.
2. Cut Back Into Two Pieces
Cut back piece 12.5" from one end. NOTE: 12.5" works for any pillow size. Refer to image at right.
3. Hem Back Pieces
Serge or zig zag across one end of each back piece. Fold under 2" and press with iron. Stitch hem in place. Refer to image at right.
4. Assemble Pieces
Lay down front piece, right side up.
Lay down longest back piece, right on top of front piece, wrong side up. The hemmed edge
is toward the center. Line up unfinished edges and pin back piece to front piece. Refer to photo on right.
NOTE: photo shows shorter piece, but it is easier to insert pillow if longer back piece goes down first.
Lay down second back piece, wrong side up, on the opposite end. The hemmed edge
is toward the center. The two back pieces will overlap at their hemmed edges. Line up unfinished edges and pin all layers together. Refer to photo on right.
NOTE: photo shows larger back piece on top, but it is easier to insert pillow if longer back piece goes down first.
5. Stitch Layers Together
Baste around all four sides, through all layers, 1/8" from edge.
Stitch around all four sides, through all layers, 1/4" from edge.
Turn right side out, using back opening for turning.
Back envelope opening
Debbie, a visitor of CraftAndFabricLinks.com, used our free pattern to make 12 pet beds for an animal shelter (6 were made from fabric we donated). What a wonderful thing for her to do for local animals! She was also nice enough to send in some photos. Debbie said, "Your pattern is so easy and fun to put together. I tested each pillow as I finished them to see if they were pet worthy. My cat took a nap on each one so I knew then that they had passed the test."
