I need to close my pillow I sewed...went around three sides and then half way in both sides of bottom. Can someone explain or point me to help on how you tie it off before you hand stitch it closed? I tried to find a video but so far not finding what I need...some help would be wonderful!

If I sew it by machine, I just backstitch 2 or 3 stitches on each side of the opening!

i just use the backstitch on the sewing machine when i start to lock the stitches and then at the end to lock the stitches there.

then i stuff and hand stitch the opening closed.

Yikes, Ninnie, I am clueless. I think I was euphoric that my corners lined up, and must have lost my mind right after that, or was it before? Not sure. Next time I will give the backstitching a try. (I'm working on another at the moment.) Thanks. This one I have off the machine and turned already. Hope there is another "way" to secure it.

Hm, thanks KLue, I guess it would have been wiser of me to ask first, sew second, not the other way around.

You can stitch over a little farther than you have to, that will make it stronger, and not put a bind on it,

do what ninnie said, stitch over that beginning and ending to lock the stitches down - and remember to back stitch this time :shock:

I know this is a little too late but here is what I do with pillows...

I use pillow forms rather then loose fiber fill. So say I have an 18" pillow form. I make my block so it is around 20" square. Then I cut two pieces of fabric for the back of the pillow 20" by 12 1/2". I turn under a hem on one of the 20" sides on each piece of the backing fabric and sew it. With right sides together I sew on one and then the other so it is overlapping the first, the hemmed sides at the opening. This creates like a pillow sham with a finished overlapping opening in the back. I turn the thing right side out and I slide my pillow form in and that way if (or should I say when) the pillow gets dirty I can remove the pillow form and toss the sham in the washer. I have never tried this method with piping but I have done it with a ruffle and it works well. The overlap of approximately 3 1/2 to 4" inches doesn't open up in the back either. Hope this explanation makes sense.

I do it the same way as feline - if you want to change for seasons or anything, it is easy to just pop another cover on. sometimes I put a velcro dot in the middle of the overlap if it does not seem wide enough.

Tks feline and moonpi - I'm taking all of the info. in and will try a form soon, too, I like the idea of being able to change the cover. I did do what ninnie said on the second one. Worked nicely. Getting better at cutting with the rotary, too. I recycled one pillow cover into drawer sachets for a friend, none of the corners lined up!

When it's made with love, it's all good!! :wink:

I'm always a hand stitcher with a blind stitch.

I also make a removable cover as suggested, unless it is just a pillow for "show." But my family tends to USE throw pillows, so washing is good! I also have 3 friends I get together with on occasion. I've made one a pillow with removable cover and the other two are getting them for Christams. Then for birthdays through the coming year I'll make new covers for them to change their pillows out. One form but seasonal changes of the covers!

i do it the same way as feline, but i close the overlap with ties. sometimes ribbons. that way the back and the front look like fronts. i've used piping and ruffles, always with forms.

All these ideas are wonderful thanks everybody.

Here is a link to an easy pillow sham, you don'e need to put the embroidery in, you can do anything on the front that you would like.

http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/elproje...log=Elprojects

i make a overlap an put a hidden zipper in under the flap an you can also change out the covers that way to
dorothy

You are all so helpful!! Great to know there are a number of ways this can be done. All I know is I would lose my momentum and patience with things if it weren't for the great answers I get here! : ) Much appreciation!

I do basically the same but if it's just a casual throw pillow I use 1 piece of material. Cut it wide enough to cover the pillow form and long enough to go all the way around the pillow plus 8 inches or so. I hem the two short ends, then wrong side out I fold the two ends to the middle, overlapping them about 4 inches, then just sew the two sides together.

Buttons are good for holding it closed too.

I slip stitch them closed by hand,,or used to. Now I always make envelope style pillow covers so I can take out the pillow for laundering or to change them out.