I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.
I am a total amateur at sewing – the only other thing I have sewn was my daughters tooth Halloween costume… which ended up being held together with safety pins and was so stuffed that she couldn’t see over the top and fell down the stairs of every house we visited. Yeh…
However, I was recently buying paint at one of my favorite hardware stores (our locally owned Home Hardware – who, if you live local, are amazing, right?! Go Smitty’s!). Can I just tell you how much I love the super cute decor ideas they feature? Check out these super cute owls and the rattan ball solar lights! Loooove it!
Above all, I love that they give so much back to our community – I always see their names on sports jerseys and parade floats, and it’s really nice to see a business that gives back, ya know? Anyway, my eye caught these canvas drop cloths below the paintbrushes. They had so much texture in them and I had an impulse to grab them and make pillows to “spring-ify” my house.
Normally I’m not a big seasonal decorator, but after the winter we just had (or should I say are still having) in Canada, I’m desperate for some spring. I am so tired of seeing nothing but white, and am in need of some serious color therapy! So, I ignored my inner voice saying “You can’t sew!!!” and grabbed it anyway. All the while, I had ideas swirling in my head of what I could create. After all, $16 for a piece of 5’x12′ fabric? Ummm… hello!!!
At first the drop cloth was a little rough, but give it a good run through your washing machine with some fabric softener and it’s perfect.
If you want to make your own easy envelope pillow cover, the first thing you will need to do is measure out your pieces. You can do this one of two ways:
(1) Cut three pieces of fabric. The front should be equal to the size of your pillow form (for a nice, well stuffed pillow). The back two pieces will form the envelope closure, and should equal the height of your pillow plus six, divided in half. Too much math for you? Let me give you an example. My pillow was 16×16, so my front piece was also 16×16, and my back pieces were 16+6=22, divided in half =11″, so 16″ wide and 11″ tall.
(2) Cut one piece of fabric. Initially, I did the first method but as I was pinning it, I wondered why I was making more work for myself. I later did another pillow cushion using this method and it works perfectly too. To cut your one piece, you will want to cut it the width of your pillow, and the height will be double your pillow height plus 6″. So for me and my 16″ pillows, I cut a 38″x16″ strip (38″=16+16+6).
Once you have your fabric measured and cut, whichever way you plan to do it, iron your drop cloth smooth. Then, fold half an inch back on one end of each short piece (if you have cut three pieces) or on each end (if you have cut one piece). Iron a crease, and run it through your sewing machine to hem.
Arrange the fabric so that you can pin it together in preparation for sewing. Make sure that your nice hems that you have just sewn are facing the inside, since we will turn it inside out once we are done sewing. Pin the edges, and start sewing, making sure you reinforce the corners by back stitching a couple of stitches.
And that’s the hardest part. Flip it inside out, and poke out your corners. Voila! A beautiful new pillow cover.
To decorate it, I used fabric paint in three spring colors. I also used the end of my mascara tube and a pencil eraser to make the dots. I wanted to keep the center clear of dots, so I just cut out a circle with freezer paper and ironed it on to the center of my pillow cover.
Then I started dabbing the end of my mascara in the paint and making circles around the freezer paper. I pulled the center off, and after, I used my pencil eraser to make smaller dots.
Once the paint was dry, I cut the word “bloom” out of flocked yellow iron on vinyl using my amazing new Cricut Explore (more on that coming soon), and ironed it on to the middle circle.
I am so in love with this pillow and I love how it adds the perfect punch of spring color to my living room. I’ve already been asked where I got the pillow, and people are seriously shocked when I say I made it myself with fabric from Home Hardware!
I too am shocked with how easy it is – don’t be afraid of sewing these my friends! The fabric is so easy to work with and it’s simple straight lines, especially if you use one piece of fabric! And by hand painting it, you can pick any spring colors you would like – how’s that for a simple and easy way to add spring decor to your home in no time?
This shop was completed as part of a campaign with #CollectiveBias and Social Fabric, but all opinions are 100% mine.
Lisa Hall says
Love,Love, LOVE this idea! These pillows are just adorbs and so unique!
Jill @ Create.Craft.Love. says
This is so stinkin’ cute, Sarah! I love the polka dots and the iron on! It turned out great!
Diana says
This is such a clever idea to use drop cloth, I love how you made the design as well!! Now I need to learn how to sew!! 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks Diana! I was afraid of sewing for such a long time too, but it really is easy!
Natasha In Oz says
That looks amazing! I love colours you chose for the decoration-great job!
My weekly say G’day linky party is happening right now and this post would be a perfect addition. Please pop on over and say g’day if you have a minute to spare!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Marie says
I adore this pillow! So bright and fun. Thanks so much for linking up at Sunday Soiree!
Sarah says
Thanks so much for hosting! Love the new party 🙂
Amanda says
I love the pillow. Where did you get the striped pillow behind it? I love the combo of the two together!
Sarah says
Hi there! I’m so sorry, I wasn’t getting my comment notifications and just saw this – the striped pillow is from Ikea!