DIY Velvet Pillow Cover Tutorial: Envelope Pillow Cover

Learn how to make this easy, envelope pillow cover using velvet fabric! Super simple to sew and makes a beautiful pillow for any space.

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Onward and forward with the master bedroom updates we go! If you haven’t seen any of the other posts for the DIY projects in our master bedroom you can check them out below.

DIY Pleated Bench Slipcover

DIY Lace Pillowcases

I can’t wait to show you all the end result once we get this room finished and a few before and after pictures. I’ve been having so much fun with it! So far I made the simple, double-sided duvet cover, the bench slipcover, some lace trim pillowcases, and now this velvet, rectangle pillow cover.

My mom also helped me snag the rug in the photos, and two new mirrors for above our dresser. I am on the lookout for some new lamps, and with a couple more DIY projects I think I’ll have it all finished!

This DIY velvet pillow cover has been such a cute addition to the bed, and it was SO easy to make.

I got the pillow from the thrift store for $2. It had another cover over it that I just unzipped and took off. The velvet fabric I picked up from JoAnn’s for about $8, so $10 total and maybe 30 minutes of time to make this!

If you have been wanting to add a new pillow to a space in your home, or dress up an existing pillow, velvet fabric might be the way to go. Its so different but still beautiful. I’ve had a couple photos from Pinterest that have been inspiring me for our room and in one of them there was a blue, rectangular, velvet pillow. So I decided to re-create it!

You can make this envelope pillow cover in 30 minutes or less, its a great sewing project for beginners. I hope you enjoy!

DIY Pillow Cover Materials

I made my pillow cover out of velvet fabric that I picked up from JoAnn’s. This is a basic tutorial for an envelope pillow cover though and you could really use any kind of fabric you like!

15″ x 56″ of velvet fabric (this will vary depending on your pillow size)
matching thread
scissors
sewing machine (this is the sewing machine I use and love)

DIY Pillow Cover Tutorial

Start by measuring out your fabric according to your pillow size. My pillow was 15″x27″. So, I measured 15″ up and down, and 57″ horizontally. This gave me about 3″ extra to work with for an overlap (as well as my hems).

Basically how an envelope pillow cover works, is the backside has two flaps, one overlapping the other slightly. This way you can easily insert your pillow and then pull the flaps over so its completely covered.

To be safe, I think 4″ extra would be best. I didn’t get quite enough fabric when I bought mine, so I could only do 3″. It fit perfectly but any less and the pillow would have shown in the back.

However wide your pillow is, multiply that number by 2 and add 4″ to that to determine the width of your fabric. You don’t want too much of an overlap in the back because it will just be harder to insert your pillow.

If you want your cover to be nice and snug, not saggy, don’t add any extra material to your measurements to account for the hems. Just use the exact measurements of your pillow, plus the extra for the overlap.

Once you have your piece of fabric measured and cut, you’ll want to hem the two vertical edges. These are the pieces that are going to be overlapping in the back.

Fold the edges over 1/4″-1/2″ and sew along the edge creating a hem. Do this for both ends. You can fold your edges over twice, 1/4″ and then fold over another 1/4″ before hemming. This will give it a cleaner look. My velvet fabric was really thick so I just folded it one time.

Now, you’ll want to lay your fabric down with the right side facing up, and fold one edge in to the middle, and the other edge into the middle so it overlaps a little bit. It should look inside out like in the picture below.

Measure the fabric when its folded and adjust the overlap until it measures the exact width of your pillow. You can now pin it or just hold it in place while you sew.

Sew along the top and the bottom edges, 1/2″ in, creating a hem. Make sure to sew over the overlap and don’t let the fabric move at all when you are sewing. You want it still measure exactly the same as the pillow once its all sewed.

Go over the corners twice to make sure its nice and secure. Cut away any loose threads.

Now you can turn your cover inside out and see how your pillow fits inside!

You should be all finished!