How to make an envelope closure pillow back

I realized a while ago that I did not have a tutorial on how I usually make the backs for my pillows.  I decided that the next opportunity I had to correct that problem, I would take advantage.  So here it is!

Before I begin, however, I would like to explain just a bit about why I make my pillow backs this way.  First is that it makes the pillow cover removable, which when you have small children running amok in your home, becomes a major plus.

Second, I like to make pillow covers for the holidays, which means changing the cover out a lot.  And I wouldn't want to have to store pillows for each season, nor could I afford that much stuffing/pillow forms.

Third, it's habit. ;)

So, On to the tutorial:

First you will need to know the size of the pillow you are making.  The pillow in this example is 17"X17".  You will take the measurement of the pillow (I add an inch for seam allowances- so in my case 18") and divide it by 2; then add 4 inches.  This becomes the measurement for the width of your pieces.  You will cut two pieces of fabric your measurement (in my case it would be 9" +4= 13") by the height of the pillow cover (18" in my example)

Once you have your two pieces you are ready to begin.  First take one long edge of one piece and fold and press it over 1/2". 

 Next you will take the same long edge and fold it over again, this time 1".  Press in place.  Repeat these two steps for the second piece.

 Now it's time to get sewing.  Sew the hem down at 3/4" seam allowance.  If you like you can also sew at 1/4" to give it a stitched edge.  Repeat for the second piece.

If you want to add a label or other embellishments to the back of the pillow cover, do that now.

Now we are ready to make the pillow cover.  Lay your pillow front down face up.  Place the first panel of your back face down.  (this is the side that will show, so make sure it's the one with your label.)

Now place the second panel on the pillow front, right side down.  Make sure all the edges of the pillow back pieces match up with the pillow front.  Sew around the entire pillow with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Clip the corners of your pillow cover to give you a nice sharp corner.  Turn right side out and use a pointy object to push out the corners.  I like to press my cover at this point to give it nice crisp side seams.



Now you have a beautiful envelope closure for all your lovely pillows!

xoxo,

Amy

Remember to Smile!

Welcome to "Mom"-day!  We had a great weekend here, warm temps on Saturday- a high of 70*!  Then, Sunday- snow! :( not a fan of spring snow.  I'm ready for warm all the time.
  I wanted to share with you something I have been reading lately.  It's Dale Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence People.  The book is really interesting in how he suggests to treat people, and frankly I'm finding that I already knew most of it, it's just putting things into practice that is the challenge. :)
  One of the things he discusses, and in fact has an entire chapter devoted to it, is that we need to smile!  Especially if you want people to like you.  Not a forced or fake smile, but a real genuine happy smile.  Sounds easy enough, right?  Well, take stock of your face right this moment.  Are you smiling?  My guess is probably not.  When you're doing the laundry, are you smiling?  I'm usually not.
  I decided to test out his theory.  And not even on anyone else, just on myself.  Last week, as I was cleaning the kitchen (it was a disaster- remember how I was sick? nothing had been done for days) I decided to focus, not on how this would probably all be undone in just a matter of moments, but on the happy faces of my children, how much I love them and how grateful I am that I can serve them in this way- and then I added a smile.  Guess what?  It worked!  I smiled, and then I smiled some more.  And I didn't mind the housework so much.  And I was happy.
  Over the course of the last week I have decided that every time I think about it, I'm going to smile.  Not just think that I need to smile, but actually smile- even if no one else is around.  And as I have done that, the smiles come easier.  And I find my children smiling.  And we're happier.
  Have I found the magic pill that suddenly makes everything simple and easy?  No.  But I have discovered that something simple and free can change a mood, a feeling, a day!  So, go out there and SMILE!
xoxo,
Amy

March Point of View Features

Okay, I thought our first ever Point of View was a BLAST!! We had over 30 link ups at the party!! You guys are amazing- some really beautiful stuff out there for sure. We each get to feature a couple of our favorite skirts and these are mine:

This knit skirt from Every Crafty Endeavor looks so comfy- LOVE the yoga waistband. I could live in a skirt like this all summer! And she even created a tutorial for it right here, so you can go make one for yourself! Plus, you really need to go check out the yummy shoes she has on when wearing the skirt. ;)

LovesAllThingsVintage makes the darling tiered skirt for her daughter. I love all the different fabrics in it!

If you didn't get a chance to go check out all the great link ups at the party make sure you take a minute and go over to Stacy's blog to check them out! There are some terrific ideas out there. :)

Just a quick reminder about what Point of View is- it's a group of bloggers who get together to share our different points of view on a specific topic. The theme for March was skirts- pretty narrow topic, but the theme for April will be SPRING!! So it's wide open. We will have a link party each month where you too can share your Point of View! The link party for April will be April 22- the last Friday of the month. So start planning your spring link ups- we can't wait to see them and feature them. :)

xoxo,

Amy