How to Make Pillow Covers for Easy Seasonal Decorating on a Dime
Learn how to make DIY pillow covers with an easy envelope pillowcase tutorial and change your decor on a dime.
Seasonal decluttering, organizing and home crafts for Spring are such great DIY projects to get out of the winter blues. Today’s easy DIY is perfect for leftover and saved fabric remnants or a fun excuse to grab a great print or pattern in Springtime hues. Find out the easiest way to make pillow covers without a zipper.
Hey there! I’m Kathy, a retired military spouse, mother, pianist, and blogger. I’m always looking for ways to repurpose items, especially for the different seasons and holidays.
Why Sewing Throw Pillow Covers are Great for Seasonal Decor
I was hesitant the first time I made an envelope pillow cover but as you can see below with the step-by-step pictures, it really is a wonderful beginner sewer method that still looks professional. I’ve since made dozens of different pillow slipcovers since I shared this one.
The best part of this easy DIY pillow cover, besides the fact that they are easy to make, is you can save money on seasonal decor by using stored or bargain fabric (don’t forget curtains and tablecloths can make inexpensive fabric options!) to change your everyday throw pillows to the seasons and holidays.
They also save room in your linen closet since you use them on your existing pillow inserts.
How to Make an Envelope Pillow Cover without a Pattern
I’ve been determined to use the sewing machine that my parents gifted me when I was a teenager more often now that I’m in my thirties. 😉 And am slowly getting more comfortable doing so.

How to Sew an Envelope Pillow Cover
Use this easy tutorial for making a pillow cover without a zipper to easily change the look of your throw pillows for the season, holidays, or new style.
Materials
- Throw pillow insert or form
- 1/2 -1 yard of fabric depending on pillow size (think twice as much as pillow with allowance)
- Coordinating thread
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Straight pins
- Tape measure
- Scissors
- Iron
- Ironing board
Instructions
- Heat up the iron.
- Measure your pillow insert, add 2 inches to the length and width, and cut piece "A" (mark it with a pencil or fabric pen on the inside of the fabric if you want)
- Use the first piece as a guide and cut a second piece with roughly 6 inches of extra fabric to the width. Cut it into two halves and name/label them "B" and "C".
- Fold the edge of piece "B" length in 1/2 inch, iron down to create a crease, and fold another 1/2 inch and iron down to create a clean hem.
- Repeat with piece "C".
- Sew a straight seam across each ironed downfold. Trim extra thread at each end.
- Place the piece "A" right side facing up (iron if needed). Place pieces "B" and "C" backside down on top letting the two hems overlap a few inches in the middle.
- Line up the four corners and pin them in place by inserting straight pins around the outside edges 1/2- 1 inch in.
- Sew a seam around the outside edges. Lift the pressure foot at each corner and turn the pillow cover 45 degrees to get a square corner. Trim extra thread.
- Turn the right side out and push out each corner with a pen cap or finger.
- Iron if needed.
You can easily make this project a no-sew one by using iron-on fusible tape and I’ll share how to below.
Which material is best for a pillow cover?
I used a yard of cotton fabric that I had in my crafting stash. Velvet, wool, faux leather, linen, and blends like satin/polyester or cotton sateen.
What materials do you need to make a pillowcase?
- Pillow insert or pillow form (You can do this with a rectangle or square pillow)
- One yard of fabric (check out this handy page for how much fabric each size of throw pillow uses)
- Matching thread
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Straight pins
- Measuring tape
How to measure and cut a pillow slipcover
- First measure your pillow insert and add two inches to the height and width. Measure and cut your first pieces of fabric with the measurement. This will be your first piece.
- Cut a second piece using your first piece for a template but add 4-6 inches to the length. Cut that piece in half. Make sure the pattern is facing the same direction as your first piece
The two halves will overlap each other to create an opening for the pillow. If your fabric has wrinkles, now is a good time to iron your pieces. 🙂
- The next step is to lay those two halves backside up, fold a 1-inch flap over for seam allowance, and iron so it stays in place (pieces 2 and 3). You can also fold them over twice, each 1/2 to 3/4 inch for clean edges.
How to sew an envelope pillow
- Insert the corner of one fold under your sewing machine needle, put the foot down, and sew a straight seam to the other edge. (You can backstitch an inch at the end for extra strength.) Do the same thing with the other piece of fabric with the ironed-down fold.
- Now it’s time to pin all three pieces together. Lay your large piece (Piece 1) right side up and pieces 2 and 3 wrong side up on top of the first piece with the hems overlapping in the middle. The four corners should line up.
- Place a straight pin 1 inch from the edge all of the ways around each side. My grandmother taught me to have the sharp end of the pin sticking out so the head doesn’t get caught in the needle and foot.
- Sew around all four sides of the two layers of fabric. To sew a perfect corner, make sure your needle is in the fabric, lift the presser foot, turn the fabric at a 45-degree angle, and put the presser foot back down. Trim the extra thread.
- Turn your fabric right side out and use your finger or the end of a pen to push out the corners.
How to make pillow covers without sewing
You will need iron-on fusible webbing tape instead of a sewing machine.
- Iron on fusible webbing
- Iron and damp cloth
- One yard of fabric
- Matching thread
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Measuring tape
Follow the step-by-step instructions above except using the tape where it says to hem.
Tada! The easy way to make an envelope cushion cover without messing with buttons, snaps, or zippers. They store a lot easier than an entire pillow!

You can see how I used iron-on hemming tape for curtains in this story.
Join me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes, DIYs, decorating tips, room tours, and home inspiration. I’ll see you over there!
Another perk about using seasonal cushion covers instead of an entirely new pillow is that they take up much less storage when not used.

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I love the bright colors and fresh look of the pillow slipcover. It looks easy enough that even I could tackle this project!
Thanks so much Katy! I’m sure you would do great. 🙂
The pillow came out beautifully and the tutorial is very easy to follow. I’m always amazed at people that have the skill to make their sewing projects look like something that came out of a catalog.
Wow! That made my day. Thanks for the sweet comment.
I would like to spring refresh my living room.
Lovely choice! Good luck. 😉
I need a spring refresh…or just a refresh lol… in my den. I redid it a couple of years ago but we want to update (possibly dye some slipcovers) and refresh for a different look.
I may have to tackle the pillow cover … using the web fusing of course! lol
Stacy
Great! I like the idea of dying some slipcovers. 🙂
Would go great next to my little sun nook couch with my succulent planters :)) Pinned so I can try this tutorial out in the future!
Sounds like a pretty little space. Thanks for pinning!
My family room!
gosh… my whole house needs help! BTW… welcome to TX when you get here!
Thanks Aimee! I can’t wait to move back in a few more years. 🙂
My home office!! I am in the process of redoing it right now!!
I desperately need a sewing machine!! So many things I want to make 🙂 Thank you.
I would like to refresh my master bedroom.
it looks so springy, love it!!
Thank you Athena!
I would love a Spring refresh for my bedroom. Thanks!
I want to refresh my bedroom, and I have a big red easy chair where I sit and read or work which could use a fabulous pillow.
Your talent continues to impress. The slipcovers are so nice. Keep it coming.
What a sweet comment. Thanks Kimberly!
I’d love that my parents room could have a Spring Refresh!
That’s so sweet Daniela!
I love that pillow cover! It’s so springy 🙂
I’d love to redo my family room…it really needs a freshening up.
Thanks for the post and the giveaway opportunity!
-Sandra
Thanks Sandra and my pleasure!
Beautiful fabric!!!
Thanks Sarah!
Nice and easy tutorial! My mother showed me how to make one of these as one of my first “real” projects with a sewing machine! Pretty fabric 🙂
It’s so easy, right? Thanks for the sweet comment. 🙂
Thank you for this beautiful giveaway!
I would love to refresh my bedroom…
Fingers crossed!
Thank you for this beautiful giveaway!
I would love to refresh my bedroom…
Fingers crossed!
lol, good luck!
I’d love to refresh my living room.
My bedroom
My living room needs it!
Truly I need any room, but It would come down to the living room or the kitchen/dining. Hard to choose if I won!
The room I would pick would be our family room. It desperately needs refreshed!
I would like to Spring Refresh my bedroom.
I’d like to refresh my combined dining/office area!
My living room needs some freshening. Want to get away from the dark colors.
Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway ! I would like a spring refresh for my bedroom!!! Good luck to all other participants.
My living room really needs a good redesign!
my living room needs a spring refresh. it is so cluttered, dark colors and boring.
I would love to refresh our bedroom. Who am I kidding, I’d really love to do the whole house 🙂
The room I would love to have done would be my mothers room.I live with my mother and help take care of her,she’s done so much for the whole family and her healths been deteriorating and would love to do something special for her to brighten up her day.Thanks for the opprortunity
I’m torn between updating my bedroom and my living room….