These denim pillow cases can jazz up any seating area! Cover pillows or cushions with washable denim fabrics that are soft and durable. Toss them on a sofa, tuck them into an easy chair, or stack them in the book corner for cozy reading times. In addition to the supplies in the kit, you will need:

• Scissors, Measuring Tape/Ruler, Pins and a Pen
• Sewing Machine or Needle & Thread
• Iron & Ironing Board
• Liquid bleach, Newspaper (or dropcloth) and Paintbrush/Toothbrush
• Pillow Insert

1. If you plan to wash this pillow cover in the future, you will want to wash the fabric beforehand in the way you normally wash. Otherwise, the unwashed sewn fabric can shrink in a hot wash or dryer later and cause seam ripping. If you’re in a hurry to get started, make sure to at least steam press your fabric. You’ll just need to wash it out normally and hang it out to dry later. This will keep your pillow cover in nice shape. 

2. Measure a pillow form for your cover. Add 1 inch to the height and 1 inch to the length for seam allowances. We used a 19x20 inch insert. We’ll be cutting out three pieces all together, one for the front and two for the back. Many other tutorials just have you cut one long piece, but I believe the extra seams make for a better fitting pillow. Make sure you have at least 4 inches of overlap with the back panels. 

3. To measure and cut the pillow cover pieces, flip the fabric over so it's the wrong side up. Use your measuring tape and pen to mark out the panels — this way you’ll know things are square. Use scissors to cut the panels out. 

4. Hem the back panels of the pillow cover. Lay the fabric wrong side up on your ironing board. Go to the outside edge of one of the smaller panels and fold over a ¼ inch of the fabric.  Press this down with your iron. Now fold again by another ¼ inch and press again. Now you’ll sew this hem about an ⅛ inch from the inside edge. Backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitches. 

5. Sew the back panels and main panel of the pillow cover together. Use a ¼ inch for the seam allowance.

6. Take your main panel and lay it flat right side up. Then, take one of the smaller panels and place it wrong side up at the edge of the main panel. Once your edges are aligned, pin it to the main panel. Now lay the second panel down and pin it in place too. Make sure to put extra pins in where the two back panels overlap — you don’t want them to shift! Sew all around the edges, backstitching at the beginning and end. 

7. Clip the corners and turn the pillow cover right-side-out. Once the cover is all sewn up, press it well while it’s still wrong side out. 

8. Then, trim the corners. This will give you nice sharp corners when you turn the pillow cover right side out. 

9. Now flip the cover right side out.

10. Take your envelope pillow to a bleach-safe area like the outside concrete, garage, etc. You could also lay the newspaper down. Make sure the clothes you are wearing can be splattered. You will need liquid bleach, a small bowl, rubber gloves, and a paintbrush or toothbrush (optional). Pour the bleach in the bowl and dip your brush in until saturated. Use the bristles to flick the bleach onto the pillow in a splatter pattern. Start by standing about two feet away for smaller dots and get closer for larger drips. If you do not have a brush just dip your gloved fingers in the bowl and flick onto the pillow cover. Continue until you have the pattern you want. 

11. Stuff the pillow form into the pillow cover.