Make do and mend Mondays

A week at Cranberry Cottage was wonderful! Autumn was in the air. A chill in the air meaning wrapping up in sweaters or ponchos. But now it is time to get back to business...make do and mend business...

I had two jeans decorative pillows from my old IKEA sleeping chairs which were just laying around waiting to be made over. The demin is okay but does not match my living room at all. IKEA also sells real linen fabric for good prices so I grabbed the pillow, fabric and my tape measure to get started.

Now before I go further, I must tell you that I am a huge Kirstie Allsopp fan! She has done three seasons of her new show Kirstie's Homemade Home and I have watched and rewatched them. When her book came out, I had it on order. She has another book coming out in October which I also have on preorder called Kirstie Allsopp Crafts. This envelope cushion cover is from her book. I am sharing my own photo tutorial of it with a slight change. I used it in a different direction from hers and on a rectangle pillow.

Measure your pillow size. You will need 2-1/2 times the width of a rectangle pillow and the actual measurement plus 5 cm or 2 inches in the height. My pillow needed 35cm cut in the width of the fabric.

Then cut the piece to your 2-1/2 times width which was 122.5 cm for my pillow.

Place fabric wrong side up and fold over 2.5cm or 1 inch of fabric. I finger pressed this fabric to keep a crisp edge.

Now fold the fabric again to create a double hem. Finger press and pin along the hem.

Sew a running stitch along the edge of the hem.

With both sides hemmed, place the fabric right sides up on a table. Lay your pillow into the fabric placing the folds for the envelope in your desired position. I wanted mine to fall on the edge so I placed the folds along the side.

Mark with a small fold where edges are and remove the pillow.

Pin the sides and sew 2.5 cm or 1 inch from the outer edges.

Trim the edge to 1.5 cm or 1/2 inch and then zig zag the edges to keep them from raveling.

Turn the cover right side out. There is no need to trim the corners in this design. The second section of the envelope will show on the wrong side but simply turn this piece over closing the cushion cover.

Iron the cover and insert your pillow.

You can add a button or two simply for decoration. To be able to remove the pillow and wash the cover, be sure to only sew the button onto the outer lip of the envelope.

This cover is so simple to sew and yet looks great. Use a neutral fabric so you can add embellishments.

My pillows are being used plain now but I will share a fun way to embellish for any season in another Make do and Mend Monday post.

If you have some old pillows that are shabby or not the right color, try this simple envelope cover for them.