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. This tutorial will show you how to make cushion covers in an envelope styles in 10 minutes with just one simple piece of fabric.
How to Make Cushion Covers: Supplies
- Fabric – Choose a decorator fabric or quilting cotton.
- Your cushion insert – These are available from most homeware and haberdashery stores in a variety of sizes.
- The Basics: Ruler, scissors, pins, thread. (Read beginners sewing kit on a budget.)
How to Make Cushion Covers: The 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
Measure your pillow insert’s dimensions. Make sure you are measuring around the curve of your pillow and not just the finished width.
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.
- Height – Add 1 inch 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 tight cover then reduce the height by 1 inch (2.5cm)
Here is a fabric cutting guide for some common pillow insert sizes
| PILLOW SIZE | 14 INCH (35.5CM) | 16 INCH (40.6CM) | 18 INCH (45.7CM) | 20 INCH (50.8CM) |
| HEIGHT | 15” (38CM) | 17” (43.1CM) | 19” (48.2CM) | 21” (53.3CM) |
| WIDTH | 34” (86.3CM) | 38” (96.5CM) | 42” (106.6CM) | 46” (116.8CM)) |
With your fabric WRONG side up, press over the shorter ends by 1/4 inch (6mm). Press them over again by 3/4 inch (2cm). Stitch across the hems.
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.
Stitch across the upper and lower raw edges with a 1/2 inch (12mm) seam allowance. If you are using a fabric that frays you finish the stitched edges with a zig-zag stitch or serger. Clip the corners.
Turn your cushion cover the RIGHT way out and give it a good press.
Hooray! All finished and ready for your insert. How long did that take you? Mine took around 10 minutes including the cutting. I think I shall make some more!
Design ideas for your new cushion covers
- Add pom poms to the corners (Read how to make pom poms)
- Add yarn tassels (Read how to make tassels)
- Personalize your cushion cover with an embroidered name.
- Sew sequins on your DIY cushion cover (Read how to sew sequins)
PIN IMAGE FOR LATER 🙂
More Articles on Pillows and Cushions
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- French Seam Pillowcase
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- Envelope Pillow
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- DIY Doll Pillows
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- Pillowcases
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- DIY Cushion with Piping
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- Christmas Cushion Tutorial
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- How to Make a Cushion Cover
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- Pom Pom Pillows
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- Travel Pillow
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- Star Pillow Pattern
Came across your site in Pinterest today! You’ve got a great site and post! I like that you have few words and more direction in your pictures, and just very easy and simple to follow.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read! I have more home dec articles coming 🙂
Wow, realy was a 10 min pillow. Love it . I see many more in my house.
Thanks for reading! Enjoy the new pillows in your house ?
It looks so easy! Thanks for sharing, I’m sure it will be fun and would look nice on the couch.
It is amazing what difference new cushion covers make to your couch. Thanks for reading 🙂
amazing project!! this was my first sewing experience and it went SUPER well. instructions were clear and straightforward and the cover turned out great!
Hi Kira, I’m so glad it all turned out so well. You can admire your hard work everytime you sit on the couch! Well done sewing your first project too 🙂
This is a really great tutorial. Thank you!
Hey Sally, thanks the appreciation 🙂
I’ve made these covers before. I like your method. Simple and quick. Thank you.
I love the way you do yours, only one piece. I have done them in three pieces before, this is so much easier. Thanks!
Yes this is so much less sewing and cutting. Thanks for reading.
I was looking for a project for me and my very keen 6 year old to sew together….this looks perfect!!!! I’ll let you kmow how we go! Thank you!!!
Great Tutorial, I am just starting out and your site is the best out there in the whole WWW(world wide web)…I completed my first project and was extremely pleased with myself….Thank you for this wonderful site…
Hi Tailleur, thanks for the huge compliment 🙂 Enjoy the new cushion covers.
Wow this really went quick . The instructions are easy to use.
Just curious, you say to make the height 1 inch higher than the insert to allow for hemming. When the fabric is spread out, you say to turn it under 1/4 inch and press, then 3/4 inch, press and sew. This accounts for the extra inch in height, but it has to be done at each end, that makes 2 inches in total. Therefore shouldn’t an extra 2 inches be allowed, not 1 inch?
Kindly disregard my question. I’ve just realized where my mistake was.
Glad making your cushion cover all worked out 🙂
Thanks so much for this tutorial.I have used others but yours is the best and easiest. Thank you again!
Great way to do couch pillows. I love it. I have been for many years and hated to try pillow covers as they are never easy. Well they are now. Thank you . Grace
Great tutorial with easy to follow instructions! Tried this for my 7 year old daughter’s first sewing project & she did fabulous. Thanks!
Love this! So easy to do….
Your tutorial is in an e-mag I get. Can’t wait to try this. I ended up turning my last attempt into an oblong cover instead of a square one. This looks so much simpler. Thank you.
Hi Lynne, Glad you made your way here 🙂 You can use this same technique to make an oblong cover. It is just a little trickier to feed the insert in at the end but still works. Thanks for reading and commenting. x Dixi
Perfect timing… I was trying to explain this method to a friend needing to make several cushion covers for church Sunday school and now I can just this to her …great instructions and photos…thanks so much
Hi Liz, these cushion covers are so easy she will have them done in almost no time! Thanks for reading.
Thank you i have been trying to find a tutorial that i as a learner can understand, i cant wait now to make my first one!
Thanks so much for your kind comments. I can’t wait to hear how it turns out.
Thankyou so much for this tutorial I came across this on YouTube! Not stopped making cushion covers ever since..
Your house will look amazing! Thanks for watching my video.
I can hardly wait to make 4 pillow covers for the pillow forms I bought for my daughters new couch!!
One question though?
She has a cat and a dog. And a young son!
So the pillows will for sure be dragged around from time to time!!
I have a good quality cotton material to make these covers..
But I am wondering?
Is there something, maybe just starch, that can protect these pillows well?
Thank you for such an easy guide…I really do appreciate it.
Thank you so much for any replies!
It sounds like she has a busy household! You can purchase fabric protectors such as Scotchguard that repels dirt. But I would save the expense and chemicals and just wash the covers from time to time. Using this envelope method they are easy to take on and off and throw in the washing machine. Most quilting cotton fabrics wash well and last. And just finish the seams well to withstand all the extra wear and tear. Thanks for reading my article and good luck with your pillows.
I am familiar with the envelope pillow pattern. I’m wondering how this pattern will work for the square foam. I’m wanting to make pads to put on chairs. For a week long class.
It depends if your foam has a large amount of depth. If they are thin then this will work but if they are thick you really need a gusset (strip around the edge) for it to sit nicely.
Thanks Liz….I just made 4 for my granddaughters bedroom…took me just little over an hour