Estimating the right amount of fabric for a pillow cover depends on the pillow’s size and the desired style. Generally, you’ll need enough fabric to wrap around the pillow’s dimensions plus seam allowances, and potentially extra for decorative elements like ruffles or piping.
How Much Fabric Do I Need for a Pillow Cover?
Calculating the fabric needed for a pillow cover is a common sewing project question. Understanding a few key measurements will ensure you buy the correct amount, avoiding frustrating trips back to the fabric store. Let’s break down how to figure this out for various pillow types.
Standard Pillow Cover Calculations
For a basic, envelope-style pillow cover, the fabric requirement is straightforward. You’ll need to measure your pillow insert and add allowances for seams and overlap.
Measuring Your Pillow Insert
First, accurately measure the width and length of your pillow insert. Most standard decorative pillows are square, like 18×18 inches or 20×20 inches, but you might also have rectangular ones.
Calculating Fabric Width
To determine the fabric width needed, take the pillow’s width, add twice the desired seam allowance (typically 1/2 inch on each side, so 1 inch total), and add the overlap for the envelope closure. For an 18×18 inch pillow, you’d calculate:
- Width: 18 inches (pillow width) + 1 inch (seam allowances) + 6 inches (envelope overlap, usually 1/3 of the width) = 25 inches
This means your fabric panel needs to be at least 25 inches wide.
Calculating Fabric Length
For the length, you’ll need two panels for the envelope back. Each panel should be the length of the pillow plus twice the seam allowance.
- Length per panel: 18 inches (pillow length) + 1 inch (seam allowances) = 19 inches
Since you need two such panels, you’ll need a total fabric length of 19 inches + 19 inches = 38 inches.
So, for an 18×18 inch pillow cover, you would ideally purchase a piece of fabric that is at least 25 inches wide and 38 inches long.
Zippered Pillow Cover Fabric Needs
A zippered pillow cover offers a clean, professional finish. The fabric calculation is similar to the envelope style, but without the overlap.
Zippered Pillow Fabric Width
The width calculation is simpler: pillow width + twice the seam allowance.
- Width: 18 inches (pillow width) + 1 inch (seam allowances) = 19 inches
Zippered Pillow Fabric Length
For the length, you’ll need two panels, each being the pillow’s length plus twice the seam allowance.
- Length per panel: 18 inches (pillow length) + 1 inch (seam allowances) = 19 inches
You’ll need two panels, so a total fabric length of 19 inches + 19 inches = 38 inches.
For an 18×18 inch zippered pillow cover, you’d need fabric that is at least 19 inches wide and 38 inches long.
Pillow Cover with Piping or Ruffles
Adding decorative elements like piping or ruffles requires additional fabric.
Fabric for Piping
Piping is made from bias strips. For a standard 18-inch pillow, you’ll need approximately 72 inches of piping (four sides x 18 inches). Bias tape is typically cut 1.5 to 2 inches wide. You’ll need to calculate how much fabric to cut on the bias to yield this length. A common rule of thumb is to add about 1/4 to 1/2 yard to your total fabric purchase if you’re making your own piping.
Fabric for Ruffles
Ruffles add fullness. The amount of fabric depends on how gathered you want them. For a gathered ruffle, you’ll typically need 1.5 to 2 times the length of the edge you’re applying it to. For an 18-inch pillow, that’s 72 inches of edge. So, you might need 108 to 144 inches of fabric for the ruffle strip, plus seam allowances and hem. This can add a significant amount to your fabric needs.
Fabric Width Considerations
Most fabric is sold in standard widths, often 44/45 inches or 54/60 inches. If your calculated fabric width is less than the fabric’s selvage-to-selvage width, you can often get multiple pillow covers from one yard of fabric.
For example, if you need 25 inches of width for your pillow cover and the fabric is 54 inches wide, you can cut your panels across the width of the fabric.
Buying Fabric: A Practical Guide
When in doubt, it’s always better to buy a little extra fabric. This accounts for any cutting errors, shrinkage after washing, or if you decide to add embellishments later. A good rule of thumb is to purchase enough fabric for your calculated dimensions plus an extra 1/4 to 1/2 yard.
Example Calculation Summary:
Let’s say you want to make a 20×20 inch zippered pillow cover.
- Pillow Width: 20 inches
- Pillow Length: 20 inches
- Seam Allowance: 1/2 inch per side (1 inch total for width and length)
Fabric Width Needed: 20 inches (pillow width) + 1 inch (seam allowances) = 21 inches. Fabric Length Needed per Panel: 20 inches (pillow length) + 1 inch (seam allowances) = 21 inches.
You need two panels, so total length is 21 inches + 21 inches = 42 inches.
If your fabric is 44 inches wide, you can easily cut both 21-inch long panels from a single piece of fabric that is 42 inches long. So, for a 20×20 inch zippered pillow cover, you would need approximately 42 inches (or just under 1.25 yards) of 44-inch wide fabric.
People Also Ask
How much fabric do I need for a 16×16 pillow cover?
For a 16×16 inch pillow cover, you’ll need about 18 inches of fabric width and 34 inches of fabric length for an envelope style. For a zippered cover, you’ll need about 18 inches of fabric width and 34 inches of fabric length (two panels of 18×18 inches). Always add extra for seam allowances and potential mistakes.
Can I make a pillow cover from one yard of fabric?
Yes, you can often make multiple
