Okay, let me walk you through how I put together these yellow and grey pillows I’d been thinking about.
Getting the Idea Rolling
So, I looked around my living room the other day and just felt like it needed a little something. You know that feeling? Not a major overhaul, just a bit of a refresh. My eyes landed on the sofa, and I thought, “Pillows! New pillows would do the trick.” I started thinking about colors, and yellow and grey just popped into my head. I really like how that bright, cheerful yellow plays off the calm, steady grey. Decided right then, that was the project.
Gathering the Bits and Pieces
First things first, I needed fabric. I actually had some grey fabric already in my stash – a nice, soft, kind of textured material I bought ages ago and never used. Score! Finding the right yellow took a trip to the fabric store. I spent a good while just looking, touching different bolts. I didn’t want anything too neon or too mustardy. Found a lovely sunny yellow in a sturdy cotton blend. Perfect.
Here’s what I grabbed or already had:
- The yellow cotton blend fabric
- My stash of grey textured fabric
- Two pillow inserts (I think they were 18×18 inches)
- Matching thread (grey and yellow)
- Zippers (I prefer zippers over envelope backs, just find they look neater)
- My trusty sewing machine
- Pins, scissors, measuring tape – the usual suspects
Cutting and Prepping
Alright, back home, I spread the fabric out on my dining table. Always measure twice, cut once, right? Well, I try. I measured my pillow inserts, then added about half an inch all around for the seam allowance. So, for my 18×18 inserts, I cut 19×19 inch squares. I decided to make one mostly grey pillow with a yellow zipper flap, and one yellow pillow with a grey zipper flap, just to mix it up a bit.
I cut two squares of the grey fabric and two squares of the yellow. Then I cut smaller rectangular pieces for the zipper flaps in the contrasting colors. Getting those straight cuts is always key, makes sewing so much easier later.
Sewing Time!
Okay, onto the sewing machine. This is where the magic happens, or sometimes where you spend time with your seam ripper! I decided to tackle the zippers first. This is usually the trickiest part for me.
I took one piece for each pillow (a grey square and a yellow square) and attached the contrasting zipper flap along one edge. Pinned it carefully, then slowly stitched it down. Then I attached the zipper itself to that flap and the main pillow piece. Took my time, used my zipper foot. Patience is key with zippers! Once the zipper was in on one side for each pillow cover, I prepared the other main square.
Next, I opened the zippers partway (very important, otherwise you can’t turn it right side out later!). Then I pinned the front and back pieces of each pillow cover together, right sides facing each other. Made sure all the edges and corners lined up nicely.
Then, starting near the zipper, I just sewed all the way around the remaining three sides. I usually backstitch at the beginning and end to keep things secure. I also clipped the corners diagonally, close to the stitching, which helps make them look sharper when turned out.
The Finishing Touches
Okay, sewing done! Now for the reveal. I reached in through the open zipper and carefully turned both pillow covers right side out. Poked out the corners gently with a capped pen. Then I gave them a good press with the iron. Seriously, ironing makes such a difference – gets rid of all the wrinkles from sewing and makes the seams look so crisp and professional.
Finally, the fun part! I grabbed my pillow inserts and stuffed them into the covers. Wiggled them into the corners, zipped them up, and gave them a good fluff. Done!
The Result
And there they were! My new yellow and grey pillows. I tossed them onto the sofa, and honestly, I was pretty pleased. The yellow really brightens things up, and the grey keeps it grounded and sophisticated. They just add that little pop I was looking for. It’s always satisfying making something with your own hands, even simple things like pillow covers. They look great, feel cozy, and didn’t break the bank. A successful little project!