How to Sew Pillows and Size Pillowcases

Sewing a Pillow

• 1

  Choose the fabrics you wish to use for your pillow. Solid colors will be easier to work with than designs and patterns because patterns must be matched to each other on the edges of the pillow. If you prefer to sew your own pillow case later, choose a solid white or black fabric so that the pillow can be easily inserted into a case without the bright colors of the pillow showing through the case.

• 2

  Turn the two pieces of fabric so their right sides are facing each other. The edges of the fabric should line up. If you chose a fabric with a pattern, the pattern should also line up, so that the edges of the design make a continuous image. Note that you will be sewing 1/2-inch seams, which means that the designs should line up 1/2 inch into the edge of the fabric.

• 3

  Pin together the sides of the fabric with several straight pins placed at 2-inch intervals along each edge. These pins will hold together the fabric as you are sewing and should be removed when the fabric around it has been stitched together.

• 4

  Thread the needle with thread that matches the fabric of the pillow.

• 5

  Insert the needle into a corner of the pillow fabric, pull the thread almost all the way through, then turn the needle back in and push it back through the fabric. Tie the thread together.

• 6

  Sew three sides of the fabric together by weaving the needle through the fabric in a straight line. Remember to remove the pins as you go. You should leave a 1/2-inch seam allowance, meaning you must leave a 1/2-inch seam along the edges of the fabric. Sew together two-thirds of the remaining fourth side of the fabric.

• 7

  Tie off the thread by looping the thread back around the last stitch in a knot. Cut the thread.

• 8

  Turn the pillow inside out so that the right sides are facing out.

• 9

  Stuff the pillow with polyester fiber filling until it reaches your desired fluffiness.

• 10

  Sew the opening in the pillow shut, using the same methods you used to sew the stitches in Steps 5 through 7.

Sizing a Pillowcase

• 11

  Hold the edge of your measuring tape against the left edge of the pillow and measure across the pillow.

• 12

  Turn the pillow so that the right edge is on the bottom and repeat this process, so that you have measured both the width and height of the pillow. Make a notation of the dimensions.

• 13

  Add 1 inch to the measurements. If the pillow is much wider than it is tall, add 6 inches to the width and only 1 inch to the height. This is the minimum size of pillowcase you'll want for your pillow. If you plan to purchase a standard pillowcase for your pillow, use these numbers to find the smallest possible case that will still fit on the pillow.