Sewing Pillows with Fabric Panels
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Make a quick and easy themed pillow using fabric panels!
Quick and Easy Themed Pillows Using Fabric Panels
I have the cutest project to share with you today. How to make pillows using fabric panels!
I haven’t been doing much sewing lately, my sewing motivation is definitely missing right now.
I’ve been trying to work on quick and cute projects to get back in the “game.”
My little missy was always my “muse” for cute sewing projects but it’s more difficult to find inspiration for her now that she’s a teenager. What I like for little girls is definitely NOT what she likes!
I do have a few projects planned for teen girls (she’s almost 14 now- but this is where we started…) so if you have a lil missy this age that is into short boxy tops with balloon/lantern sleeves, keep you eye out over the next month or so because I may have a project for you they’ll actually like. (Pending fabric selection, of course, lol.)
So my pillows for today’s post are Halloween themed… (Totally meant to get this project up before October, but… you know how it is, lol.) Don’t worry though, I’m already planning some Christmas pillows using fabric panels too.
Fabric Panel Options.
The good news is there are so just many Christmas/winter holiday themed panels available!
I put together just a sample of a few below…
- Winter Wonderland
- Joy, Peace and Love
- Nordic Forest
- Santa Claus Lane
- Winter’s Grandeur
- Cat-I-Tude Christmas
I am leaning towards 1, 3 and 5. I think my favorite is 5, but I love the blue gray background of 3.
Which do you prefer?
Hexie Pillow
I will also have a tutorial soon for the shortcut hexie pillow I made to go with my Halloween pillow display.
Isn’t it cute?!!
I actually just kind of “accidentally” made it. I’d picked up a spinning cutting mat online and cut just a few too many hexies trying it out, lol.
I decided a pillow would be a great way to use the hexies.
The method to make the pillow just needed a final tweak before I shared it. I do think I will make a non holiday themed pillow for the actual tutorial post.
Mini Pillows
The mini pillow was super simple as well. Just a slightly smaller version of todays tutorial and stuffed with batting instead of being an envelope pillow.
Fabric Panel Pillows
Today’s project is focusing on making an envelope pillow cover using a fabric panel and coordinating fabric strips.
I used the Hocus Pocus Multi Quilt panel and the Ghouls and Goodies Honey Bun to make my pillows.
A honey bun isn’t necessary for this project, you can cut any fabric you have into strips. I was going for quick, easy and cute, so I couldn’t resist the precuts.
How Much Fabric in Needed for an Envelope Pillow Cover?
To determine how what size to cut your fabric, you first need the measurement of your pillow.
I like a good “overlap” for my envelope pillows and generally cut the back/envelope side fabric pieces to 2/3rds the amount of the front pillow piece, plus half an inch for hem allowance.
So the computation for that would be: your measurement from above divided by 3 = X. Them multiply X times 2. (I usually round up and that gives you 2/3rds of the front pillow piece.
If you don’t like math, I’ll include the cut amounts for a few standard pillow sizes.
- 16 x 16: cut 2 pieces 16.5 x 11 inches
- 18 x 18: cut 2 pieces 18.5 x 12.5 inches
- 20 x 20: cut 2 pieces 20.5 x 13.75 inches
- 22 x 22: cut 2 pieces 22.5 x 15 inches
More Easy Home Sewing Projects You Might Like:
- How to Make Fabric Pumpkins
- Mini Patchwork Pincushion Tutorial
- Wine Bottle Tote Bag Pattern and Tutorial
- How to Make a Rag Quilt Placemat
How to Sew an Envelope Pillow Cover with Fabric Panels
Ready to sew a few of these pillows?
Materials Needed:
- Fabric Panel
- Several 1.5 inch strips of coordinating fabrics (feel free to use different width strips)
- pillow form
- Basic sewing supplies
Sewing Instructions:
Step 1: Measure your pillow.
Grab the width and height measurement. Add 1/2 inch for seam allowances. Write the numbers down.
Step 2: Cut out your panel and chose your fabric strips.
Step 3: Start piecing the strips and panel together.
Line up and trim the 1st fabric strip. Pin right sides together and sew with a scant .25 inch seam allowance. Press the finished seam.
Keep adding strips all the way around the panel, pressing as you go.
Keep adding until you the width and height of the pieced panel is equal or or just a bit larger than your measurements you took earlier.
Trim if needed.
Step 4: Make the pillow.
Get your measurements:
I like a good “overlap” for my envelope pillows. I generally cut my pillow fabric pieces to 2/3rds the amount of the front pillow piece plus half an inch for hem allowance.
So the computation for that would be: your measurement from above divided by 3 = x. Them multiply x times 2. (I usually round up and that gives you 2/3rds of the front pillow piece.
If you don’t like math, I’ll include a couple of standard pillow sizes.
- 16 x 16: cut 2 pieces 16.5 x 11 inches
- 18 x 18: cut 2 pieces 18.5 x 12.5 inches
- 20 x 20: cut 2 pieces 20.5 x 13.75 inches
- 22 x 22: cut 2 pieces 22.5 x 15 inches
Hem the “envelope” edges by folding the edge over .25 inches, press. Fold another .25 inches, press again and sew along the pressed edge.
Repeat for the second piece.
Line up the pieced panel and the two back pieces right right sides together. (as shown below) Sew all the way around with a .25 inch seam allowance.
Flip the pillow cover right side out.
Give the edges a final press.
Insert the pillow form and you are done!
If you end up making one of these pillows, be sure to tag me on Instagram with #scatteredmompatterns or share your version to my Facebook pattern group.
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