Fixing my dirty pillows

I can't wait to see what kind of search engine traffic that title pulls in.  I had 3 different people find my blog last week using the search term "Britney Spears bikini wax".  Um...what?

ANYWAY, shall we talk about cleaning up and fixing some dirty pillows?  Get your mind out of the gutter; I mean actual pillows!  These pillows:

They're only about 3 years old, but what you can't see in the photo is all the stains left by, um, well...let's be honest - breastmilk.  If you've been to my house in the last three years and sat up against our couch pillows, you touched breastmilk stains.  Not gross to me, but I imagine some people find that icky.

My dilemma was that I didn't want to shell out money for new pillows when these were just fine.  And I knew if I washed them, the batting inside would just ball up and look gross.  Ball up and dirty pillows?  I'm classy like that.  Also, I wasn't seeing anything in the stores that tickled my fancy.

I found a very simple pattern on Sparkle Power.  And when I say simple, I mean "so simple that Sarah can make this".  Do I need to bring up the fact that I spent 15 minutes trying to trouble shoot why my sister's sewing machine wasn't working, only to realize that I hadn't turned it on?  So, yeah, they're that simple.

Saying I am good at sewing is like Bill Murray strapping himself to the main sail and calling himself a sailor.

I found some cool fabric a few months ago at Joann's, and realized that I needed to put a bird on it!  <------- you need to watch that video.  If you've ever visited the northwest, you'll find it funny.

Just a word of warning about these directions - I don't know proper terms for sewing stuff.  So while a good website will say things like "right" or "back" of fabric, I use "pretty" and "ugly" side.  Easier to understand in my humble opinion.

Super easy pillow covers
1) Measure your pillows, and cut your piece of fabric for the front of your pillow to the measurements, but add 1/2 inch allowance on each side.  So, if your pillow is 18x18 (like mine), the fabric should be 18.5 x 18.5.

Then you're going to cut 2 pieces of fabric for the back of your pillow.  The length will be the same (for example: 18.5 inches), but divide the height by 2 (while rounding for whole numbers), and then add 2 inches.  Clear as mud?  If the height is 18.5 inches, half (while rounding for whole numbers) would be 9 inches.  Then add 2 inches.  So, you'll have 2 pieces of fabric for the back of your pillow that are 18.5 inches by 11 inches.  Got it?

I bought the green because it matched the green bird exactly and for a splash of color.  My MIL calls me "little miss earth tones".   These pillows really showed her!  You know, sitting on my brown couches...

2) Pin the pieces of fabric for the back on your pillow on the "long" side of the fabric with a 1/2 inch or so seam.  You can iron at this point, but I'm lazy and didn't.  Sew a seam where you pinned.  Do this to both pieces of fabric for the back of your pillow.

3) Put the piece of fabric for the front of the pillow, pretty side up.  The pretty side will be facing you.  Then, ugly side facing you, pin the 1 piece of fabric for the back of the pillow on to the piece of the front pillow fabric.

You can see how clearly I strive for exact measurements.  (insert fart noise here).  I'm bad at cutting in a straight line ok?  Lay off!

Then pin the other piece of the fabric for the back of the pillow, and overlap the other back piece you just pinned.

4) Sew the front and the back together with about a 1/4 inch seam around the outside.

5) When you've sewed all 4 sides together, cut the corners at an angle.

6) Turn your pillow cover inside out.

7) Slip your old pillow in to the cover.  Easy peasy!

Front

Back.  My co-worker suggested a cute button for decoration.  That's a no can do.  Pillows are weapons in our house; ninjas use them for training, Army guys use them for bunkers, and race car drivers use them for track (wall) bumpers.

My name is Jackie, and I approve of this pillow.  My stuffed monkey is in agreement.  And even if I didn't, momma doesn't care because the pillows were dirty because of me anyway.  Did my mom mention that going off in tangents is a family trait?  Ohhh, look, a bird!  Anyone want to ride bikes?

The green fabric was purchased with 50% off Joann's coupons, and was $4.49 after the discount for the yard.  The bird fabric is their "snuggle flannel" line and was $2.79 on sale.  That brings it to a total of $3.64 per pillow; not too shabby!  Plus, I had leftovers from each kind of fabric to use towards future projects.

These pillow covers came together so quickly - we're talking both completed in a nap time - that I have a feeling I'll be making new covers quite often.  You know, to change it up for a cheap price!  No one wants dirty pillows in their livingroom...well except for the newest round of pervs who have found my blog.