Throw Pillow Cover Instructions
Materials Required:
(Fabric listed is for pillows up to 18! x 18!. Can be made to fit any dimensions)
• 1 yard of medium to heavy weight cotton
• 1 button (optional)
• 4” of !” elastic (optional)
• 2.5 yards of piping (optional)
• 1 spool of matching thread
Step 1: Determine the Dimensions of
Your Pillow
On the pillow form/insert you will be
using, measure from one seam to the
other to get the length and height for
the pillow cover. American pillows
typically come in standard one-inch
increments, so rounding to the nearest
inch is fine.
Step 2: Measure and Cut a Paper
Pattern
If you want your pillow cover to be
snug, cut a square or rectangle from
paper that is the length and height for
you pillow, plus one inch (For
example, if your pillow form is
18”x18”, you will cut the pattern 19” x
19”, which includes the seam
allowances).
Bits of Thread Sewing Studio
Throw Pillow Cover Pattern
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Step 3: Cut the Front Piece
Pin your paper pattern to your fabric
and cut out one piece. This will be the
front of the pillow, so if your fabric has
a print or stripes and you want a certain
part of the fabric to show, this is your
opportunity to choose that part.
Step 4: Create the Pattern for the Two
Back Pieces
Take your paper pattern and fold it in
half, making a crease.
Unfold the paper again. From the
crease line measure another 4” to the
right, and mark a new line.
Fold the right side of the paper over on
this new line. This will give you the
pattern shape for the two back pieces,
which should overlap each other. For
example, if your original pattern was
19x19” this new shape will be 19 x
12.5”
Step 5: Cut the Two Back Pieces
Fold your fabric over to double it so
that you can cut the two back pieces
using the pattern you just made. If you
fabric is striped or plaid, now is the
time to make sure all your stripes/lines
match up, both on the two back pieces
and on the front.
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Throw Pillow Cover Pattern
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Step 6: Fold the Lapping Edges of the
Back Pieces
On each back piece, fold lapping edge
over one inch, and iron flat. Fold over
again one inch, and iron again, so that
the raw edges are completely
concealed.
Step 7: Sew the Lapping Edges
Stitch very close to the inner edge of
the folded part, as shown.
Step 8: Add Loop for Button
(OPTIONAL)
If you would like to have a loop for a
button closure, cut a 4” piece of elastic
and sew onto the wrong side of one
back piece, in the middle as shown.
(Note: 1/4” elastic works well for this,
or you can use a piece of ribbon or
cord).
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Throw Pillow Cover Pattern
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"”
Step 9: Piping (OPTIONAL)
If you would like to have piping on the
pillow, you will attach this now to the
right side of the front piece. See the
following pictures for details on how to
handle the corners and end.
Step 9A: Pin the piping all the way
around the front, with the piping cord
"” from the edge of the fabric. Pins can
be placed in long-ways. At the corners,
make small clips to make it easier to
bend the piping around.
Step 9B: The ends of the piping should
meet in the middle of a side (not on a
corner), and should overlap each other
1 inch. To join the ends, pluck out the
stitches about 1 inch from each end.
Step 9C: On one end of the piping,
peel back the cord covering and cut
about 1” off the inner cording.
Step 9D: Tuck the other end of cord
inside the one you have just clipped,
and fold over the raw edge to seal it up.
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Throw Pillow Cover Pattern
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One end of the cord should be
completely concealed inside the other.
Step 9E: Sew the Piping Down
Sew the piping to the front piece,
getting the needle as close to the piping
cord as you can.
Step 10: Attach Front and Back
Place the front piece right side up, and
then put the two back pieces over it,
right sides facing.
The back piece with the button loop
should be under the back piece with no
loop, as shown.
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Throw Pillow Cover Pattern
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Step 11: Sew Front and Back Together
Using a " inch seam allowance, stitch
all the way around the edges, taking
care to get the stitches as close to the
piping as possible (if applicable). You
can tell how close you are to the piping
by gently pushing down the fabric on
either side with your fingers (see
picture).
Step 12: Turn Pillow Right Side Out
Turn the pillow right side out and poke
the corners out gently with the end of
scissors or a chopstick or other turning
tool. Stuff the pillow form in and
marvel!
Step 13: Sew on Button
With the pillow form inserted,
determine the placement of your button
and mark with chalk. Take the pillow
form out and hand-sew button in place.
Bits of Thread Sewing Studio
Throw Pillow Cover Pattern
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