The other day I was looking at the sad excuse for a used-to-be-decent Costco couch pillow that currently resides on my big comfy chair in the living room and thought “Good Lord! How have I let this thing reside in my living room for so long in this condition? It needs a cover!” because, of course, I don’t want to throw it out and get a new one. That would be wasteful. So I started to go through my stash looking for suitable material. All of my flannel was spoken for with other pending projects and fleece just didn’t seem like a good fit. None of the cotton I had seemed right either. Then I spotted the Robert Kaufman “Moana Lani” faux bark cloth that I had bought 7 or so yards of (no joke!) years ago and had not used yet. Perfect!

So I started the project while The Tot was napping and, between dishes and laundry, of course, had finished most of it before she woke up. I was able to finish the rest really quick after dinner while The Tot was playing with Daddy.

I decided to make an “envelope” pillow case because it’s easy to make and easy to take off and throw in the wash. I measured my pillow side to side and up to down, added 1/2 inch (for 1/4 inch seam allowance) and cut a front square. Then I took 2/3 of the side to side measurement, added 1.5 inches for a heft rolled over seam because it makes the hem look more solid and cut two of these. I assembled everything right sides together and sewed around the edges. I sewed around the edges one more time and zig-zagged as well for durability and because, well, I’m compulsive like that. Turned it right side out, stuck the pillow in and viola! No more sad-sack, near-death Costco pillow!

Here’s some pics for you:

The pic on the top is of the front and the other two are of the “envelope”. It’s a super-easy way to add a little color to the living room or bed room and/or just change things up!