Sew a decorative bath towel pillow cover

Don't spend all your cash on a roomful of expensive accessories. You can update your decor at a reasonable cost by using terry cloth bath towels to create colorful pillow shams and covers. To begin, you will need the following supplies and equipment:

1. Standard sized bath towel, approximately 20 x 42 inches.

2. 17 inch square pillow or purchase a foam square at a fabric store

3. 14-15 inch dress zipper

4. Thread to match

5. Sewing machine

6. Scissors

Directions:

Fold the towel in half horizontally. Cut the towel in half on the fold to make two squares approximately 20 x 21 inches. Trim enough fabric from three sides of the towels so they are 2 inches larger than the pillow. For example, if you are making a cover for a 17x17 inch pillow, the two squares of fabric should be approximately 19 x 19 when you are finished trimming. Only trim three sides of the towel, leaving one factory finished edge on each towel.

The next step will be to sew the zipper into the two finished edges of the towel. If you insert the zipper into the unfinished edges of the terry cloth, you might have a problem later with the fabric getting caught in the zipper when you remove the pillow cover for washing.

Lay the two squares of towel together, with the right sides facing and the finished edges meeting at one end. Sew the two finished edges together by hand, 5/8 inch from the edge of the fabric, forming a temporary seam. Center the closed zipper equally from either end of the fabric, right side down, on top of the seam.

If you are a novice at inserting a zipper, it will be easier for you to hand sew or tape the zipper temporarily onto the seam. Once in place, use your sewing machine to stitch over your basting or tape. Sew one side of the zipper down from the top, stitching along the guidelines on the zipper tape. When you get to the bottom, leave the needle inserted and turn the fabric 90 degrees. Sew over the bottom of the zipper tape, just below the closure tab, making sure the seam is open flat.

Turn the fabric again and sew up the other side of the zipper. Your zipper is now permanently in place. Finish the rest of the seam by machine stitching it closed, beyond the zipper all the way to the ends of the fabric. Remove your temporary basting stitches and tape. The two finished edges now form the zippered end of your pillow cover. Test the zipper to make sure it glides smoothly. It is easier to correct any mistakes before sewing the rest of the edges together.

With right sides together, sew the remaining edges of the towel together, stitching 5/8 of an inch from the edge of the fabric. (If you want the pillow to fit more snugly inside the cover, sew a wider seam and trim the edges to 5/8. Be sure to leave enough room for the pillow to fit inside!). Turn the cover right side out. Poke the eraser end of a pencil or some other gently pointed object into the corners to push the fabric out and get the cover squared away. Insert the pillow, zip the cover, and toss onto your favorite couch.

Once you see how easy it is, you will want to make more pillow covers and shams in various sizes. Mix solid colors and florals or accent one side by stitching on a doily or an applique. To make an attractive bedroom sham, trim the edges of the bath towel pillow cover with lace. If you decide to replace your bed pillows, don't throw them out. Use two bath towels to make a cover for larger pillows. The kids will love to use them for floor pillows. Besides being decorative, the bath towel pillow covers are durable, washable and inexpensive to replace if a pillow fight gets out of hand.