How to Sew Custom Throw Pillow Covers

Fitted pillow covers are the simplest way to transform the look of a living room without replacing expensive furniture. A well-made cover sits tautly against the insert, hiding the bulk of the form while providing a professional, crisp edge that defines the silhouette of your seating area. Achieving that clean look is less about complicated tailoring and more about precise measuring and consistent seam allowances. Whether you choose a simple envelope back for easy washing or a classic zipper, the process relies on keeping your fabric edges square and your stitching straight from start to finish.

  1. Measure Twice, Cut Once. Measure your pillow form's width and length, then add one inch to both dimensions to allow for half-inch seam allowances. Cut two squares of fabric to these dimensions, ensuring your grainlines are perfectly straight for a professional drape.
  2. Hem Your Opening Edge. If you are making an envelope closure, fold and press one edge of each fabric piece by a quarter-inch, then fold again and press to create a clean hem. Stitch along this hem to finish the edges that will form the opening.
  3. Lock Layers in Place. Place your two fabric pieces together with the 'right' or patterned sides facing inward. Align the corners perfectly and pin along the edges to prevent the fabric from shifting during the sewing process.
  4. Stitch the Perimeter. Stitch around the three open sides using a half-inch seam allowance, leaving a small gap if you did not hem the opening beforehand. Reinforce your start and end points by backstitching to ensure the seams do not pull apart when you insert the pillow.
  5. Shape Those Corners. Trim the excess fabric at the four corners at a 45-degree angle without cutting through your stitches. Turn the cover right-side out and use a blunt tool, like a chopstick, to push the corners out until they are sharp and square.
  6. Stuff and Smooth. Fold your pillow insert in half slightly to fit it through the opening of the cover. Smooth the form out from the inside, pulling the corners of the insert into the corners of the fabric cover for a full, plump look.