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Home » Free Sewing Patterns

How to Make Cushion Covers - DIY Envelope Cover 10 Mins

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This tutorial will show you how to make cushion covers in an envelope-style in 10 minutes and with just one simple piece of fabric. Have you got some tired cushions that are in desperate need of a make-over? New cushion covers are an inexpensive way to update your living room and to add a touch of color and warmth to a comfortable couch.

how to make cushion covers
How to Make Cushion Covers

Envelope cushion covers are removable and have a slit at the back with an overlap of fabric. This makes them easy to get on and off your cushions when they need to be washed and best of all there are no zippers or buttons to sew.

Intermediate and advanced sewers will be able to make these cushion covers really really quickly. But I promise even if this is your first time sewing, you will be able to sew cushion covers in this envelope style with ease.

Contents

  • How to Make Cushion Covers - Supplies
    • Best Fabrics
    • Inserts for Cushion Covers
    • The Basic Supplies
  • How to Make Cushion Covers - Video
  • How to Make Cushion Covers
    • Measure the Insert
    • Cut the Fabric
    • Cutting Guide for Common Sizes
    • How to Make Cushion Covers - Sewing Instructions
  • How to Make a Cushion Cover - In Conclusion
  • Design Ideas for How to Make Cushion Covers
  • PIN IMAGE FOR LATER 🙂
  • More Articles on Pillows and Cushions

How to Make Cushion Covers - Supplies

Best Fabrics

You want to make your cushion covers in sturdy fabrics that can be washed. Choose decorator fabrics such as upholstery fabric, canvas, drill or duck or medium weight quilting cotton.

Fabrics such as velvet do look nice on your couch but won't take as much wear and tear. So think about how much you will be using the cushion covers and whether they are just decorative.

I also like to choose fabrics that don't squash easily. Linen looks modern and trendy but will get very creased if you plan on sitting on it every day.

Inserts for Cushion Covers

Cushion inserts are available from most homeware and haberdashery stores in a variety of sizes. They are nearly always white with a non-woven cover and stuffed with polyester stuffing. You may even just remove your old covers and reuse what you already have.

Discount stores are also a good source of cheap cushion inserts. If you find a cheap but ugly cushion you can use this how to make cushion covers tutorial to recover them.

This tutorial will show you how to make cushion covers for any sized square insert.

The Basic Supplies

Basic sewing supplies are needed such as rulers, scissors, pins, thread and of course your sewing machine.

Further Reading:

  • Beginners Sewing Kit on a Budget
  • Types of Sewing Thread
  • How to Use a Sewing Machine

How to Make Cushion Covers - Video

Watch this YouTube video I made for you 🙂 It is only 3 minutes long so make a cup of tea and relax! Don't forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel for weekly sewing and craft videos.

How to Make Cushion Covers

Before you start, have a look at this graphic. This will help you visualize a little better the steps we are about to take. Not much to do is there! You will probably take the longest choosing and cutting your fabrics rather than sewing.

how to make cushion covers
How to Make Cushion Covers

Measure the Insert

Measure your pillow insert’s dimensions. Make sure you are measuring around the curve of your pillow and not just the finished width.

Because we are learning how to make cushion covers that are square, the length and width will be the same. If yours is a little rectangular, the formulas below will still work - just do your maths carefully.

how to make cushion covers
How to Make Cushion Covers by Measuring the Insert

Cut the Fabric

Cut your fabric in a rectangle with the following dimensions. Use a rotary cutter and mat if you have one to get nice straight edges.

Formulas

  • Height – Add 1 inch (2.5cm) to the height for the seam allowance.
  • Width – Multiply the width x 2 (for the back and front) and then add 6 inches (15.2cm) for the overlap.

This will give a finished cushion cover the same size as your insert. If you like a really tight cover then reduce the height by 1 inch (2.5cm).

how to make cushion covers
Formula for how to make cushion covers

Cutting Guide for Common Sizes

To save you some time and maths, here is a table showing you the most common couch pillow insert sizes. These are all square sizes.

PILLOW SIZE14 INCH (35.5CM)16 INCH (40.6CM)18 INCH (45.7CM)20 INCH (50.8CM)
HEIGHT15” (38CM)17” (43.1CM)19” (48.2CM)21” (53.3CM)
WIDTH34” (86.3CM)38” (96.5CM)42” (106.6CM)46” (116.8CM))
How to Make a Cushion Cover - Cutting Guide

How to Make Cushion Covers - Sewing Instructions

Step 1: With your fabric WRONG side up, press over the shorter ends by ¼ inch (6mm). Press them over again by ¾ inch (2cm).

step 1 how to make a cushion cover

Step 2: Stitch across the hems with a sewing machine straight stitch.

Now if you got to this part and thought oh-no I don't have a sewing machine, don't worry. You can hand stitch these ends and the seams in later steps with a backstitch or a running stitch.

step 2 how to make a cushion cover

Step 3: With the fabric RIGHT sides together, fold in the left and right hemmed edges so they overlap by 4 inches (10cm). Try and get the overlap centered. Mine could have been a little more to the left.

You can double-check the width of the cover. It should be the same width as your insert.

Pin the overlap in place and pin the upper and lower raw edges.

step 3 how to make a cushion cover

Step 4: Stitch across the upper and lower raw edges with a ½ inch (12mm) seam allowance.

If you are using a fabric that frays you finish the seams with a zig-zag stitch or serger. This will help it last through multiple washes.

Step 5: Clip the corners. Turn your cushion cover the RIGHT way out and give it a good press on a setting suitable to your fabric.

Step 5
Stitch the upper and lower edges

How to Make a Cushion Cover - In Conclusion

Hooray! All finished and ready for your insert. How long did that take you? Mine took around 10 minutes including the cutting.

how to make cushion covers
How to Make Cushion Covers

Even if you are a newbie and it took a little longer, I think you'll be really pleased with how easy and quickly you could make new cushion covers and update your lounge room.

I think I shall go and make some more!

how to make cushion covers

Design Ideas for How to Make Cushion Covers

Here are some ideas for embellishing your pillows. Now you have learned how to make a cushion cover the next ones should be fancier!

how to make cushion covers
Christmas Cushion Cover with Applique and Pom Poms Added
  • POM POMS - Add large, fluffy pom-poms to the corners (Read how to make pom poms)
  • TASSELS - Add yarn tassels to the corners (Read how to make tassels)
  • PERSONALIZE - Personalize your cushion cover with an embroidered or appliqued name.
  • SEQUINS - Sew sequins on your DIY cushion cover (Read how to sew sequins)
  • PIPING - Insert piping into the seams (Read how to make piping and cushion cover with piping)
  • EMBROIDER - Cushions look amazing with hand-stitched designs. This can be done before you sew the cushion cover or at the end. Use colorful embroidery floss in simple stitches such as running stitch.
  • YO-YOs - Make fabric yo-yos from all your fabulous colorful scrap fabrics and sew them to your pillow. This is an easy and exciting way to add some texture and design to a plain fabric. (Read how to make fabric yo yos.)
  • TEXTURE - Cushion covers don't need to be fancy. Make several cushions in similar colors with different textures. For example mix silk, faux fur and textured fabrics in monotone shades.

PIN IMAGE FOR LATER 🙂

how to make cushion covers
How to Make Cushion Covers

More Articles on Pillows and Cushions

How great do these pillows look? Now all you need to complete your new lounge room is to learn how to make curtains for a totally coordinated and refreshed look.

You can also make numerous variations of cushion covers with piping, zippers and much more.

  • pom pom pillows
  • cushion cover with piping
  • how to make cushion covers
  1. FRENCH SEAM STYLE - How to Make a Pillowcase with a French Seam
  2. ENVELOPE STYLE - How to Make a Cushion Cover – Envelope Style
  3. STAR SHAPE - Star Pillow Pattern
  4. DOLL PILLOWS - How to Make a Doll Pillowcase
  5. ZIPPER COVER - Zippered Cushion Covers
  6. COVER WITH PIPING - Make a Cushion Cover with Piping
  7. NECK PILLOW - Travel Pillow Pattern
  8. COVER WITH POM POMS - DIY Pom Pom Pillows
  9. CHRISTMAS COVER - Christmas Pillow
  10. PILLOW WITH BORDER - Pillowcase Pattern
4.8/5 - (75 votes)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lily Johnson

    June 23, 2022 at 4:07 am

    I am really glad to read this blog. I like the way you have presented this wonderful article. Thank you for sharing it. I will also try these tips for making cushion covers.

  2. Marilyn

    February 26, 2022 at 5:59 pm

    OMG.....I am sooooooo glad I found your blog, Great tutorial. I have already made two this morning and planning on making more. Store covers not pillows...great idea.

  3. Alex James

    July 09, 2021 at 11:39 am

    I am really impressed with the way you have presented this wonderful article. Thank you for sharing this amazing article.

  4. mortaleternity

    June 11, 2021 at 2:38 pm

    I love reading this kind of content. I am sure that post is very helpful for everyone.

  5. Cushion Connection Ltd

    January 29, 2021 at 8:28 am

    Yes, I am totally agreed with the article and I want to say that this article is a very nice and very informative article.

  6. Tish

    January 01, 2021 at 9:41 am

    Great tutorial with clear pictures and instructions for measuring the overlap. Thank you for sharing!

  7. Treasurie

    December 14, 2020 at 4:20 am

    Hi Mary, yes for beginners a cotton fabric is definitely the easiest to sew. Thanks for reading.

  8. Mary

    November 21, 2020 at 5:13 pm

    I tried making my cover with some very silky fabric. I wouldn't recommend it, especially if you are not an expert seamstress. I'm not.

  9. madison

    November 18, 2020 at 8:52 am

    Thank you for the easy instructions and for sharing amazing ideas with us.

  10. madison

    November 18, 2020 at 8:50 am

    Thank you for the easy instructions. Being a complete beginner to sewing this is so simple and helped me create beautiful cushion covers.

  11. Treasurie

    October 06, 2020 at 10:22 pm

    Hi Dp, yes this is a cover tutorial. I have a tutorial on how to do a cushion for dolls. You can use the same method to make a full size cushion. Add 1 inch to the final size cushion you need for the cutting. https://blog.treasurie.com/how-to-make-a-doll-pillow/

  12. Dp

    September 25, 2020 at 3:03 pm

    This does not describe how to start from scratch

    Ie. The stuffing and how to contain it before putting the cover on.

  13. Chocolate Girl

    July 23, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    Thank you so much for a brilliant tutorial. Took about 15 minutes. I'll definitely be making many more.

  14. Julie Clarke

    July 21, 2020 at 11:14 am

    Thank you for easy instructions. Being a complete beginner to sewing this is so simple and helped me create beautiful cushion covers.

  15. Jessie

    July 11, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    Thank you. This was just what I need to make Euro Shams for my bed. Turned out perfectly!

  16. Treasurie

    June 09, 2020 at 8:38 pm

    It was a while ago so I can't remember the brand. It was a denim purchased from Spotlight Australia.

  17. LE

    June 08, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    Can you provide the name and brand of the floral fabric used in pinterest pin. Blue background with pink roses.. Thanks.

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