Button-Up Pillow Cover Tutorial

These Button-Up Pillow Covers are so fun to make.  I chose to make these with Peanuts character fabric because my daughter's reading teacher loves Snoopy and these pillows were destined for the reading corner in her classroom.  (And a big thank you to Fairfield for providing me with the pillow inserts and compensating me for this post, so I could get these into my daughter's classroom.  All idea and opinions are 100% my own.)

(If you like that LUV 2 READ Conversation Heart Pillow, you can find the tutorial here.)

Most pillow forms have the opening on the back, but this fun design puts the opening on the front as the focal point.

These would look great with any kind of fabric, and could match any decor.  And don't worry about finding matching buttons...you'll make your own buttons with your fabric.

Difficulty Level: Easy-Moderate

Time: 1 Hour

Materials (for one pillow):

• 18" Home Elegance Pillow Insert
• 5/8 yards main fabric - 100% Cotton Quilt Fabric.  (I used this Red Snoopy Project Linus Fabric, this Blue Snoopy Project Linus Fabric, and this Happiness Is... Peanuts Character Fabric...all from Quilting Treasures)
• 1/4 yard contrasting 100% cotton quilt fabric.
• 1/8 yard Smooth interlining (optional...provides stability for button holes and buttons)
• Craft Cover Button Kit
• Coordinating Thread

Cut:

From your main pillow fabric cut:

• 1 square 19 x 19 inches
• 2 rectangles 9 x 19 inches

From contrasting fabric cut:

• 2 rectangles 5 x 19 inches

From Smooth Interlining:

• 2 rectangles 2 x 19 inches

Directions:
Start with the two accent rectangles.  Fold them both in half "hot-dog" style and iron.

Slip your Smooth interfacing between the two layers of your folded accent rectangles.  Line it up all the way against the fold.  Iron according to manufacturer instructions.

Line the raw edges of your accent piece up with the raw edge of your 9 x 19 piece.  Sew with a 1/2 seam allowance.

Iron seam allowance toward your main fabric.

Repeat for both pieces.

Line up your two pieces, so that the accent pieces completely overlap.  When laid out this way, together they should make a 19 x 19 inch rectangle.  Now we're going to mark the button holes.

If you're using 4 buttons per pillow like I did, you'll want to mark them at 4", 7 5/8", 11 3/8, and 15".  (You can start your measuring from either side.)

Sew your button holes.  If you've never sewed a button hole before, this is a great chance to be brave!

Line your two front pieces up again, so that the yellow parts overlap completely.  Use a pencil to mark for the buttons through the center of the button hole.

Now you'll want to get your buttons ready.  Fabric covered buttons are REALLY easy to make.  Everything you'll need is included with the kit.  Use the included circle to cut out your fabric circles.  Make sure the design you want on your button fits inside the inner circle, and from there just follow the directions on the package.

Sew your buttons onto your second half.

Button up your pillow top.

Lay it over the back of your pillow with RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER.

Sew around all four edges with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Clip corners.

Unbutton your pillow cover and turn right side out.

Insert your pillow, and button it up.

And if you're a real Snoopy and Peanuts fan, you might also want to make one of these Charlie Brown inspired chevron pillows.  My full tutorial is on the Fairfield World website.

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