Creating Homemade Pillowcases for the Bedroom

Inexpensive Ideas for Personalizing Pillows with Napkins and Ribbon

May 14, 2009

Perk up a bedroom with custom-made pillowcases crafted from napkins, ribbon and decorative cording.

Q: Home interior stores have an abundance of decorative pillows, but buying new ones each season is becoming expensive. Are there any ways to decorate plain pillows?

A: Decorative pillows are one of the quickest and easiest ways to punch up a decorating scheme. To keep decorative pillows looking fresh from season to season, use napkins to create custom-made pillowcases and shams that can be refreshed as needed.

Button up an old look with a plaid pinafore cover. Center a smaller napkin (either a cocktail size or one hemmed smaller) on one side of a plain pillow for a burst of pattern and color. Make a buttonhole in each corner of the small napkin and sew buttons to the pillow in the corresponding spots.

Tie on some old-fashioned charm with a napkin trimmed with ribbon ties. Tack 7-inch-long, 5/8-inch-wide double-faced ribbons 2 inches from each corner and at the center of each side of two dinner napkins. Tie the napkins over a pillow to add color and pattern. Make sure the pillow inside coordinates with the napkin; the pillow will peek out at the open edges.

Lace up a new look on a pillow using metal grommets and decorative cording. Use a grommet tool and 1/2-inch grommets to make the holes for lacing. Place a grommet 2 inches from each corner, then evenly space 3 more grommets along each side of two napkins. Lace the napkins together with thick cording and tie the ends. When choosing cording, select one that fits both the weight and design of the napkin and the size of the openings. Dip the cord ends in glue and let them dry, then cut at a diagonal to make lacing easier.

Fabric-Wrapped Pillows

For the perfect decorator's pillow for the bed, turn a piece of fabric into a wrap for a pillow. A piece of fabric measuring 20 inches by 60 inches is just the right size to wrap around a 20-inch square pillow. Select a 3/4 yard of fabric that has a pleasing pattern. Cut the fabric into a strip measuring 20 inches by 60 inches. Along the long ends of the fabric, make 2-inch wide folds and, with a hot iron, press along the folds to create hems.

Wrap the fabric securely around the pillow, pulling the ends together in the middle of the pillow. Slip a rubber band through the ends of the fabric and wrap the rubber band around the ends several times to secure. Tuck the ends of the fabric under the wrapped sides or under the band in the center. If desired, glue the ends underneath the knot in the middle with hot glue.

The copyright of the article Creating Homemade Pillowcases for the Bedroom in Bedroom Decor is owned by Michael Vyskocil. Permission to republish Creating Homemade Pillowcases for the Bedroom in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.