28 DO IT YOURSELF Winter 2020
MATERIALS
- Sweatshirt (or fabric for front of pillow cover)
- Kraft paper
- Straight pins
- ½ yard of fabric for back of pillow cover (stiff
cotton such as canvas) - Pillow form (ours is 18 inches square)
- Tailor’s chalk pencil
- Sewing gauge
- Iron
- Sewing machine
- Thread
Step 1 Use kraft paper to create a pattern the size of the pillow
form. Mark the top center of pattern.
Step 2 Lay sweatshirt flat on work surface. If needed to make
the body lay flat, cut off sleeves and waistband. Mark top
center of shirt design. Center pattern over the design, aligning
the marks (A). Pin in place, trace with marker, and cut out (B).
Step 3 Cut two pieces of stiff cotton for back of pillow cover.
The width of the back pieces matches the pillow front (ours is
18 inches). For length of back pieces, use this equation: (front
length + 6)/2. Ours is (18+6)/2 = 12, so we marked and cut
two pieces, each 18×12 inches (C).
Step 4 With one back fabric piece right side down on your
work surface, use a sewing gauge and iron to fold up and
press 1 inch of one 18-inch edge (D). Fold the raw edge
into the pressed fold to create a ½-inch fold. Pin in place (E)
Machine-stitch ¼ inch from fabric edge (F), securing hem.
Repeat for second back piece.TIP: To make your stitches hold, stitch forward for three or
four stitches, reverse three or four, then forward again at the
start and end of each run of stitches.
Step 5 Lay front piece right side up on work surface. Lay
back pieces right side down, matching outside edges and
overlapping hemmed edges in center (this is your envelope
opening). Pin together around outside edges (G).
Step 6 Stitch pinned outside edges with ½-inch seam
allowance.
TIP: Stitch with cotton side up; the sweatshirt material
stretches if it’s on top.
Step 7 Cut the corners at an angle, careful not to cut the
stitching (H). Turn the cover to right sides out and iron, avoiding
any decals or design that might melt. Stuff with pillow insert.