• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Documenting Simple Living

simple living skills for the modern world

  • About
  • Tinctures
    • Tinctures 101
    • Alcohol-Free Tinctures
    • Tinctures for Anxiety
    • Tinctures for Immune Support
    • Tinctures for Inflammation
    • Tinctures for Sleep
    • Tinctures for Pain
  • Holistic Skin Care
    • Infused Oils
    • Simple Salves
  • Homegrown Eats
    • Easy Extracts
    • Fermented Foods
    • Homemade Condiments
    • Sourdough
  • Shop
  • Free Dowloads
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Home » Archived Recipes » How To Make A Pillow Cover Without A Zipper – Simple Tutorial

How To Make A Pillow Cover Without A Zipper – Simple Tutorial

Nico · April 7, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Last Updated on February 28, 2024 by Nico

Home » Archived Recipes » How To Make A Pillow Cover Without A Zipper – Simple Tutorial

In this simple tutorial for beginners learn how to make a pillow cover without a zipper in under 15 minutes. This simple project will show you how to transform any pillow you come across into something beautiful.

Three white pillows stacked in a wooden basket.

I recently picked up four throw pillows from a local thrift store. Pillows are great toys for toddlers – they can stack them and build forts with them. But at the same time they are very quick and simple to clean up.

No matter if you are buying pillows for toddlers like me or simply for your couch, if you too come across throw pillows that aren’t your style at a thrift store, knowing how to make a pillow cover without a zipper is a good skill to have.

I find adding zippers to handmade pillow covers to be unnecessary. Envelope style pillow covers, which have no zippers but still hold the pillow inside the cover, are much more straight forward and simple to make.

Three white pillows stacked in a wooden basket.

I’m spending an hour today recovering the ugly pillows I recently bought and wanted to share my tips for how to make a pillow cover without a zipper.

You can follow this tutorial for any size of pillow, so don’t worry if your pillow if a different size than mine. This tutorial will still work for you.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Watch the video
  • Supplies
  • How To Make A Pillow Cover Without A Zipper

Watch the video

Supplies

Pillow insert

Fabric of your choice – I’m using white linen fabric

Thread that matches your fabric

Sewing machine

Measuring tape

Pins

Three white pillows stacked on a wooden floor.

How To Make A Pillow Cover Without A Zipper

Time needed: 10 minutes

In this simple tutorial for beginners learn how to make a pillow cover without a zipper in under 15 minutes. This simple project will show you how to transform any pillow you come across into something beautiful.

  1. Measure Your Pillow Form

    Use a measuring tape to measure the dimensions of your pillow form. Write these down in your phone or on a piece of paper.

  2. Calculate The Dimensions Of The Front Panel

    To calculate the dimension of the front panel of your pillow cover, add 1 inch to the dimensions of your pillow form. So if your pillow form was 16″ x 16″, the cut measurements for your front panel would be 17″ x 17″.

  3. Cut Out Front Panel

    Next, measure and cut out your front panel.

  4. Calculate The Dimensions Of The Back Overlapping Panels

    Next, to calculate the length of your overlapping back panels, use the same measurement as your front panel. So if your front panel was 17″ x 17″, your length measurement would remain 17″.

    For the width measurement, divide the width of your pillow form by 2. So, 16″ / 2 = 8″. To this number, add 5″. So 8″ + 5″ = 13″.

    So this means that the dimensions of each back panel will be 17″ x 13″.

  5. Pin The Hem Of The Back Panels

    Next, fold one of the long sides of the back panels down 1/4″ and then another 1/4″. Pin in place.

  6. Sew The Hem Of The Back Panels

    Then, sew the hem of both back panels. Try to keep your stitches as straight as you can.

  7. Pin Together The Pillow Cover

    Layer the front panel and back panel pieces with right sides together. Pin into place.

  8. Assemble The Pillow Cover

    Finally, using a 1/2″ hem, sew around the edges of the pillow cover. Turn the pillow cover right side out and test the sizing.

  9. Optional – Trim Excess Fabric From Hems

    If you’re happy with the fit, you can take the pillow cover off and trim away the excess fabric.

More Ways To Simplify Consumption

How To Make Beeswax Wraps Without Resin

Simple DIY Linen Napkins

20 Ways To Stop Buying Stuff You Don’t Need

3 Tips To Make Decluttering Clothes Simple

Simple and Non-Toxic Homemade Degreaser

Simple and Inexpensive Small Herb Garden Ideas

If you make this project and enjoy it, please consider giving it 5 stars. Find me on Instagram @documentingsimpleliving and show me what you’ve made!

Filed Under: Archived Recipes

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search

Welcome!

I’m Nico! I’m all about simple, healing tinctures & other natural remedies. Read more about me here.

Elsewhere…

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube

Subscribe for regular healing herbal recipes

    Built with ConvertKit

    Copyright © 2025 · Daily Dish Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

    Privacy Policy

    Search

    • Pinterest