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Simple slip pillow
This slip pillow cover is a great beginner project and a super easy way to decorate your house with a touch of personalisation. We recommend starting out by making this slip pillowcase with a cotton fabric or a non-stretch fabric, but for sewists looking for a bit more of a challenge, try making these out of velvet, sequins, brocade or try adding some tassels or pompoms around the edges.
This project is great for all sewing levels, from beginner to advanced.
What you'll need:
- Sewing machine
- Rasant thread (To match your fabric)
- Fabric (In your colour choice)
- Sewing scissors
- Ruler (we recommend using our 12" x 12" ruler)
- Pins and small clips
- Standard zig-zag foot
- ¼” sewing foot
- Universal sewing needles 90/14
- Iron & wool pressing mat
- Frixion pen (or water soluble pen)
- Optional: Starch spray
- Optional: Overlocker
Tips:
- Don't have an overlocker? Use a built-in zig zag stitch on your machine to finish off the edges to stop the fabric from fraying.
- Make sure you have the correct amount of fabric for your desired pillow. This tutorial covers a 14” square size pillow. If your pillow is bigger or smaller, you will need the respective sized zip and fabric. We have a list of measurements required for popular pillow inserts in Australia here →
Step Overview
The steps below are just an overview of the project instructions and must be used in conjunction with the tutorial video. Print these steps out to have beside you when watching the video as a reminder.
- Firstly, work out the dimensions of your pillow. For this video, our pillow width is 14” and the length is 10”. Halve your width (14”) which will be 7”. This is your first measurement, your second is the original width (14”). Your third measurement is the first measurement + 3” for the inside flap (3” + 7”), giving you 10”. Keep those measurements in order (7”, 14”, 10”). Now add ½” on either end for the fold and seam allowance (7.5”, 14”, 10.5”). You now have your fabric width, with a total of 32”. With the length, simply add ½” for seam allowance (which will be 10.5”).
- Iron your fabric using spray starch to remove all wrinkles.
- Cut out a piece in the desired pillow size from your fabric (if following our measurements, your fabric will be 32” x 10.5”).
- Overlock each edge. NOTE: If you do not have an overlocker, either use a zig-zag stitch or fold over the edge ¼” Press flat, then turn over ¼” again and top stitch like above.
- On both short sides, fold over the edge ½” to the wrong side and press flat with your iron.
- Top stitch the folded seams down with a ¼” seam allowance and a 3mm straight stitch.
- Starting from the left of your piece, mark your first measurement (7”).
- Then from that line, mark your second measurement (14”).
- The final section should be your third measurement (10.5”).
- Starting from the left, fold your fabric over to the fold line (making sure right sides are together). Press flat with your iron.
- Fold over the right side to the fold line, press flat with your iron. Your ends will overlap.
- Pin or clip the side seams to secure.
- Sew the side seams together with a ¼” seam allowance and a straight stitch.
- Trim seam allowance down at the corners on a diagonal.
- Turn pillow cover right side out.
- Press the seams flat with your iron.
- Insert your pillow and you're finished!
Popular Pillow Sizes
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Centimeters
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Inches
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|---|---|---|---|
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Size
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Fabric Needed
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Size
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Fabric Needed
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| Square | |||
| 20cm x 20cm | 25cm x 25cm | 8" x 8" | 10" x 10" |
| 40cm x 40cm | 45cm x 45cm | 16" x 16" | 18" x 18" |
| 45cm x 45cm | 50cm x 50cm | 18" x 18" | 20" x 20" |
| 50cm x 50cm | 55cm x 55cm | 20" x 20" | 22" x 22" |
| 55cm x 55cm | 60cm x 60cm | 22" x 22" | 24" x 24" |
| 60cm x 60cm | 65cm x 65cm | 24" x 24" | 26" x 26" |
| 66cm x 66cm | 70cm x 70cm | 26" x 26" | 28" x 28" |
| 70cm x 70xm | 75cm x 75cm | 28" x 28" | 30" x 30" |
| Rectangle | |||
| 25cm x 50xm | 30cm x 55cm | 10" x 20" | 12" x 22" |
| 30cm x 50cm | 35cm x 55cm | 12" x 20" | 14" x 22" |
| 35cm x 50cm | 40cm x 55cm | 14” x 20” | 16” x 22” |
| 35cm x 60cm | 40cm x 65cm | 14” x 24” | 16” x 26” |
| 51cm x 66cm | 55cm x 71cm | 20” x 26” | 22” x 28” |
| 51cm x 76cm | 55cm x 81cm | 20” x 30” | 22” x 32” |
| 51cm x 92cm | 55cm x 97cm | 20” x 36” | 22” x 38” |
| 51cm x 137cm | 55cm x 142cm | 20” x 54” | 22” x 56” |
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Echidna project material/ fabric requirements are an indication only and can seem to be generous. This has been intentional. Should you make a cutting or embroidery mistake you will have sufficient fabric to rectify your error.