how to sew… a bolster-pillow cover *quick/easy*

Heyhey,

here is my second project in my new series quick and easy project suitable for beginners. This time I sewed a cover for a bolster. This project only requires straight lines to be sewn, so do not worry, it really is easy to do.

What you need:

  • bolster/neck roll
  • fabric size depending on your bolster, but one yard will be enough, with a small pillow maybe even a fat quarter
  • 1yard/90cm cord or ribbon
  • sewing thread
  • sewing machine

DSCF7537 my bolsterDSCF7538 measuring around it, then add 2cm/1inch for movement and twice the seam allowance, for me that was 52 cm in total, that is measurement A

DSCF7539 and the length

DSCF7540 plus straight down on one end, that is measurement B

DSCF7541then I drew an rectangle with A and B on my piece of fabric

DSCF7542looks like this

DSCF7543testing if it really fits all around

DSCF7544next I drew 2 strips (of course you can do this with the same fabric, I just used another to show it better) they are A long and 10cm/4inch +twice the seam allowance wide

DSCF7545then I cut them

DSCF7546and ironed them in half

DSCF7547at the short ends I folded half of my seam allowance into the wrong side

DSCF7548and then folded it over again

DSCF7549and pinned the short ends that way

DSCF7559and sewed over it, securing my seams with a few stitches backwards and forwards at beginning and end

DSCF7560then folded the strips in half again and pinned them to sides A of my rectangle, they are shorter now then side A, I placed them in the middle, leaving the same amount of fabric standing over at each end

DSCF7561and sewed over it securing my seams again as described above

DSCF7562then ironed the seam allowance into my rectangel

DSCF7563and sewed over the seam allowances with zigzag-stitching. This way the seam allowance will stay inside the cover and not fray as much. If you have a serger you can of course overlock the seam allowances to prevent fraying at all.

DSCF7564now I folded my rectangle in half, right side outside

DSCF7565and sewed it parallel less then half of my seam allowance. For example if your seam allowance is 1.5cm you sew 0.5cm

DSCF7566then I turned the wrong side out

DSCF7567my seam looks like this so far, I ironed it flat

DSCF7568now I pinned my seam again

DSCF7569and sewed it again (securing my seams) this time with more then half of my seam allowance. in our example yo sewed first with 0.5cm and now with 1cm to have the 1.5 cm in the end again

DSCF7570and turning it around again

DSCF7571looks like a clean seam. 🙂 by the way this kind of seams are called french seams.

DSCF7572now I pulled it over my bolster

DSCF7573

DSCF7574now I cut my cord into 2 parts that have the same length

DSCF7575I used tape to keep the cord together at one end

DSCF7576and pushed and pulled it through the tunnel of the strips

DSCF7577finished

DSCF7578then I made knots on each end and cut the tape-end of

DSCF7579and did the same at the other side

DSCF7580my ends look like this… if you want less fabric at the end you can do the strips 6cm/2.5inch +twice the seam allowance wide

DSCF7581my finished bolster cover.

Do you have any questions about this? Do not hesitate to ask!

like my print? you can order it here, also in other color combinations.

keep sewing and smiling

your TailorFairy

 

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