What You Need to Make a Pillow Cover
A pillow cover is a rectangle of fabric sewn on three sides, turned right-side out, stuffed, and then sewn closed on the fourth side. You can make one with a sewing machine or by hand, and the whole project takes two to four hours depending on your speed and whether you add details like a zipper or envelope closure.
Start with two pieces of fabric cut to the same size. The finished cover will be slightly smaller than your pillow, so measure your pillow first. If your pillow is 16 inches by 16 inches, cut your fabric pieces 17 inches by 17 inches — the extra half-inch on each side accounts for the seam allowance. You will also need thread that matches or complements your fabric, a needle (if sewing by hand) or a sewing machine, scissors, pins, and a ruler or measuring tape.
Fabric weight matters. Lightweight cotton, linen, or quilting cotton work well for most pillows. Avoid very thin fabrics like silk charmeuse unless you are comfortable with delicate materials — they slip during sewing and can tear. Thicker fabrics like canvas or upholstery cotton are harder to turn right-side out but hold their shape well.
Key Takeaways
- Cut two identical fabric pieces about half an inch larger than your pillow on all sides to account for seam allowance.
- Pin the two pieces with the right sides facing each other, then sew three sides closed, leaving one side open for turning and stuffing.
- Turn the cover right-side out through the opening, push out the corners with a blunt tool, and press flat with an iron if desired.
- Insert your pillow through the opening, then sew the fourth side closed by hand using a ladder stitch for an invisible seam.
- A zipper or envelope closure takes extra steps but lets you remove the cover for washing without cutting stitches.
Cutting and Preparing Your Fabric
Lay your fabric on a flat, clean surface. Use a ruler and a fabric marker or chalk to draw a rectangle the size you calculated. Cut slowly and in a straight line — a rotary cutter and self-healing mat make this easier, but scissors work fine if you take your time. Cut both pieces exactly the same size so they line up when you pin them.
Before you sew, check that your fabric does not have a pattern that needs to run in a particular direction. If it does — for example, if there is a directional print or nap — make sure both pieces are oriented the same way. Lay them on top of each other and look at them from above to confirm.
Pinning and Sewing Three Sides
Place your two fabric pieces with the right sides facing each other — the pretty sides should be touching, and the wrong (duller or back) sides should face outward. This is the opposite of how the finished cover will look, but it is the correct way to sew a seam that ends up hidden inside.
Pin around all four edges, placing pins about 2 to 3 inches apart. Leave one full side unpinned — this is your opening for turning and stuffing. If you are using a sewing machine, set it to a straight stitch with a medium stitch length (around 2.5 on most machines). Sew along three sides, starting about half an inch from a corner and stopping half an inch before the next corner. This half-inch margin is your seam allowance, and it keeps the seam from unraveling.
If you are sewing by hand, use a running stitch or backstitch, keeping your stitches small and even — about one-eighth inch apart. The smaller and more consistent your stitches, the stronger the seam. Sew the same three sides, leaving one side completely open.
Turning the Cover Right-Side Out
Carefully trim the seam allowance at each corner, cutting close to the stitching but not into it. This removes bulk so the corners turn out sharp and square instead of lumpy. Trim the seam allowance along all three sewn sides to about one-quarter inch.
Reach into the opening and grab one corner of the fabric from the inside. Gently pull it through the opening, turning the whole cover inside out as you go. Work slowly — rushing can tear the seam. Once the cover is right-side out, use a blunt tool like a chopstick, wooden spoon handle, or point turner to push the corners out from the inside. Poke gently into each corner until it forms a sharp point.
Press the cover flat with an iron on a low to medium setting, paying special attention to the edges and the opening. This makes the cover look finished and makes the final seam easier to sew.
Inserting the Pillow and Closing the Opening
Slide your pillow into the cover through the open side. Adjust it so it sits evenly and the corners fill out the cover corners. Fold the raw edges of the opening inward about half an inch on each side, and pin them closed. The folded edges should meet in the middle of the opening.
Close the opening with a ladder stitch, also called an invisible stitch. Thread a needle and knot the end. Bring the needle up through the fold of one side of the opening, then slide it horizontally inside the fold for about half an inch before bringing it back out. Cross to the opposite side and repeat — slide the needle inside the fold, move it half an inch, and come back out. The thread runs inside the fold on both sides, so it stays hidden. Continue this pattern until the opening is closed, then knot the thread on the inside and trim it.
If you prefer a visible seam or want to close the opening faster, you can sew it closed with a machine or by hand using a backstitch. The ladder stitch takes longer but looks seamless from the outside.
Adding a Zipper for a Removable Cover
A zipper lets you remove the cover for washing without having to cut and resew the seam. Before you pin the two fabric pieces together, insert the zipper into one of the sides you plan to sew closed.
Lay one fabric piece right-side up. Place the zipper face-down along one edge, with the zipper tape aligned with the edge of the fabric. Pin it in place. Using a zipper foot on your sewing machine (a special presser foot that lets you sew close to the zipper teeth), sew the zipper to the fabric about one-quarter inch from the edge. Flip the fabric over and repeat on the other side of the zipper with the second fabric piece, so the zipper is sandwiched between the two pieces with both sides sewn.
Now pin and sew the other three sides of the cover as you would normally, leaving the zipper side closed. Turn the cover right-side out through the zipper opening, insert your pillow, and zip it closed. No hand-sewing required.
Trying an Envelope Closure Instead
An envelope closure is simpler than a zipper and does not require a special foot. Cut one fabric piece to your full size, but cut the second piece into two rectangles that overlap slightly when placed on top of the first piece. For example, if your cover is 17 inches by 17 inches, cut the second piece into two rectangles that are each 17 inches by 10 inches.
Lay the full-size piece right-side up. Place one rectangle on top, right-side down, aligned with one edge. Place the second rectangle on top, right-side down, aligned with the opposite edge — the two rectangles will overlap in the middle. Pin all around the edges and sew all four sides closed. Trim the corners, turn right-side out, and insert your pillow. The overlapping rectangles create a flap that holds the pillow in without sewing — you can slide it out to wash the cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sew a pillow cover by hand if I do not have a sewing machine?
Yes. Use a backstitch or running stitch with thread and a needle, keeping your stitches small and even. Hand-sewing takes longer — usually 4 to 6 hours instead of 2 to 4 — but the result is just as strong if your stitches are tight and consistent. A thimble protects your finger from the needle.
What happens if I sew all four sides closed?
You will have no opening to turn the cover right-side out or insert the pillow. You would have to cut open one side after sewing, which wastes time and leaves you with a seam to close by hand anyway. Always leave one full side open before sewing.
How do I keep the corners from puckering when I sew?
Sew slowly and stop with the needle down when you reach a corner. Lift the presser foot, pivot the fabric 90 degrees, lower the presser foot, and continue sewing. This prevents the fabric from bunching. If puckering still happens, your thread tension may be too tight — check your machine manual for how to adjust it.
Can I use knit fabric like jersey or fleece?
Knit fabrics are stretchy and can be tricky for beginners because they slip while sewing and curl at the edges. If you want to try, use a ballpoint needle (designed for knits), sew slowly, and do not stretch the fabric as it feeds through the machine. Woven fabrics like cotton are more forgiving for your first cover.
What size should I make the cover if my pillow is an odd shape?
Measure the pillow at its widest and longest points, then add one inch total (half an inch on each side) to account for seam allowance and a snug fit. For a 12-by-18-inch pillow, cut fabric pieces 13 by 19 inches. The cover will fit snugly and look neat.