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Envelope pillow cover

Give a favourite corner of your home a fresh fabric cover. Choose the size for your pillow insert before cutting.

SewingCritic team · Updated 2026-11-04

An illustrated envelope pillow cover

Free pattern · Make it your own

Finished size
16, 18 or 20 in square; 5 in back overlap
Skill
Beginner
Time
Allow 1–2 hours (planning estimate)
Seam allowance
0.5 in, included in cut sizes

Drafted from measurements by the SewingCritic team. We have not yet photographed a sewn sample.

What do you need?

Medium woven cotton or cotton canvas. These dimensions give a cover the same nominal size as the insert.

One pillow insert in the chosen size; matching thread; ruler; iron; pins.

Check the needle and thread chart

Fabric to buy, by nominal width
Size / fabric44 in58 in
16 in · main1 yd29 + 2 = 31 in; round up to 1/4 yd0.75 yd17 + 2 = 19 in; round up to 1/4 yd
18 in · main1 yd32 + 2 = 34 in; round up to 1/4 yd1 yd32 + 2 = 34 in; round up to 1/4 yd
20 in · main1.25 yd35 + 2 = 37 in; round up to 1/4 yd1.25 yd35 + 2 = 37 in; round up to 1/4 yd

We reserve 2 in of width for selvedges. Place pieces left to right in chart order, starting a new row when the next piece does not fit. Each row uses the longest piece in that row. Add 2 in handling to the total cut length, divide by 36, and round UP to the next 1/4 yd. Pieces do not rotate. No shrinkage allowance is included. Prewash before measuring usable fabric. Directional prints can need more.

Which pieces should you cut?

All sizes are inches. Cut single layers unless the instructions say otherwise. Seam allowance is already included.

Exact cutting chart
PieceQuantityWidth × lengthSeam allowance
16 in
Front (main)117 × 17 inIncluded
Back (main)217 × 12 inIncluded
18 in
Front (main)119 × 19 inIncluded
Back (main)219 × 13 inIncluded
20 in
Front (main)121 × 21 inIncluded
Back (main)221 × 14 inIncluded

How do you lay out the pieces?

These diagrams use the chart dimensions and keep the grain parallel to the long fabric edge. Rectangles do not rotate. PDF large-format pages are 100%; for home printing use the chart. The stocking also includes four Letter-size template tiles.

16 in · main

Front17 × 17 inBack17 × 12 inBack17 × 12 in44 in fabric · 42 in usable · grain ↓ · 29 in cut length
Front17 × 17 inBack17 × 12 inBack17 × 12 in58 in fabric · 56 in usable · grain ↓ · 17 in cut length

18 in · main

Front19 × 19 inBack19 × 13 inBack19 × 13 in44 in fabric · 42 in usable · grain ↓ · 32 in cut length
Front19 × 19 inBack19 × 13 inBack19 × 13 in58 in fabric · 56 in usable · grain ↓ · 32 in cut length

20 in · main

Front21 × 21 inBack21 × 14 inBack21 × 14 in44 in fabric · 42 in usable · grain ↓ · 35 in cut length
Front21 × 21 inBack21 × 14 inBack21 × 14 in58 in fabric · 56 in usable · grain ↓ · 35 in cut length

How do you sew it?

  1. Choose the size

    Use all pieces from one size row. Prewash and press the fabric. Cut one front and two backs. Seam allowance is 1/2 in.

    Measure seam allowance from the raw edge to the stitch line

  2. Hem the openings

    On one full-width edge of each back, press under 1/2 in twice; stitch near the inner fold. Each back loses 1 in of depth.

  3. Layer the cover

    Put the front right side up. Lay the first back face down with its raw outer edge aligned to the front. Lay the other back over it from the opposite edge. Hemmed edges overlap by 5 in in the centre.

  4. Sew the perimeter

    Pin all four sides. Sew 1/2 in from each raw edge, pivot at corners. Backstitch across the overlap ends. Finish raw edges with zigzag, clear of the seam.

  5. Turn and fill

    Trim corner tips without cutting stitches. Turn through the back opening, press and insert the pillow. Do not add stuffing directly; this is a removable cover.

What can you change?

Make the two backs in a contrast print. Add piping only after adjusting seam and yardage needs yourself.

What could you make next?

Which sources did we use?

  1. SewingCritic original measurement draftsoriginal draft; arithmetic, no sewn sample · read 2026-11-04