How to Sew a Throw Pillow Cover in 4 Easy Steps

Wash and dry your fabric. Iron it if you need to. Cut your fabric into a piece of fabric that measures 21 inches X 45 inches. This is for an 18 inch pillow form. If you are making a 16 inch pillow then cut a piece that is 19 inches X 43 inches. If you are making a 20 inch pillow then cut a piece of fabric that is 23 inches X 47 inches.

We are going to start by hemming both of the short sides (the ones that are 21 inches long). Lay the piece of fabric with the right side down. Fold the end over 5/8 inch from the right side to the wrong side. Then fold it over another 5/8 inch and pin or clip it into place. Repeat the process for the other short side.

Once you have clipped or pinned it into place then sew along the two short sides, sewing about 1/2 inch from the edge (like in the dotted line in the picture).

Lay your fabric down with the right side up. You’re then going to fold one of the short sides to the middle. This is where the rotary cutting mat comes in handy. I use it to line up my pillow cover and figure out how to fold the other side over so that it makes the cover 18 inches wide.

NOW… a little word of morning… you need to stop at this point and see how your fabric lines up on the front. If you have a pattern like mine then you will want to make sure that it is centered on the front of the pillow cover. I didn’t do the best job of that on this pillow cover but you’re better than that! You’re going to check it.

Then pin or clip the top and bottom and sew along the edge, sewing 1/2 inch from the edge (like in the picture).

Clip the points off of the four corners, being careful not to cut through the hem you just stitched.