DIY Easy Envelope Pillows – From Fat Quarters & Scrap Fabric

I’ve made pillows with zippers and buttons but these envelope pillows are so much easier! Plus they’re made with fat quarters and scrap fabric to keep the cost down!

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I love throw pillows. I may or may not have a problem. Throw pillows can add so much style and oomph to a room, not to mention comfort. But they can be costly too depending on where you find them. I’ve DIY’d several pillows and pillow covers for our house over the last few years, but I’ve always hated the zipper part. Zippers are such a pain to sew! So this time around I decided to go the easy route and just make easy envelope pillows for our bedroom makeover.

I started with this bundle of Joel Dewberry fat quarters, that I originally ordered to make pillows for our old entryway!

Top to bottom:

1. Joel Dewberry Aviary 2 Sparrows in Vintage Yellow

2. Joel Dewberry Aviary 2 Scrollwork in Granite Grey Yellow

3. Joel Dewberry Aviary 2 Lattice Vintage Yellow

4. Joel Dewberry Damask in Granite

5. Dwell Studio Blossom Print in Citrine (Not shown above. Far right pillow below.)

 

Easy Envelope Pillows

Supplies

• One fat quarter per pillow
• Neutral fabric (like Muslin) for back of pillow
• 16 inch pillow form*
• Thread
• Sewing machine 
• Scissors
• Straight pins

*You can use other sized of pillow forms, of course. But for the purposes of this tutorial, measurements are based on a 16″ pillow form.

Instructions

1. Cut fat quarter piece to 17″x17″.

2. Cut neutral fabric into two pieces each measuring 17″x12.5″.

3. Fold end over on each of the two neutral fabric pieces and press with iron. Sew down hem.

4. Pin pieces together, right sides facing each other.  The fat quarter piece should be your guide for the pillow size. The neutral pieces will overlap about 4″.

5. Sew all the way around perimeter using a 1/2″ seam allowance. Be sure to back-stitch at the beginning and end to keep the stitching from coming unraveled. To go around a corner, while needle is in fabric about 1/2″ from edge, lift presser foot and turn fabric. Put presser foot back down and continue sewing.

6. Trim corners, so they aren’t bulky.

7. Turn right side out, press with iron and stuff with pillow form!

You can do this for all sizes and shapes of pillows, just add a half inch seam allowance on all sides and make sure you have at least 4 inches (if not more) overlap on the back side.

What do you think of our pillows? Have you made any envelope pillows of your own?

xo,
Shannon