How I Manage 100s of Pillows

It was a little challenging to determine the title for this post.  At first, I was going to title it “Let Me Introduce You to My Sewing System”.   Except it’s not REALLY a sewing system. Then, I decided I really liked: “How I Organize my Pillow Covers”. But, that sounds so boring!  So, I settled on “How I Manage 100s of Pillows” which, truthfully, is a little bit of an exaggeration. In all honesty, I really only have a couple of dozen pillows. 

Fall 2018: Pumpkin pillow covers sewn from a tablecloth. The green buffalo check is used…frequently!

 What I DO have, and want to talk about in this post, is more of a pillow “inventory” system.  And even though I sew 99% of my pillow covers, this system also works perfectly for anyone who buys all their pillow covers.   

But first, a few heads-up! 

To begin with, this post is long.  Like, around 2,000 words. 

Secondly, there are Excel spreadsheets involved. 

Thirdly, I am not going to talk about, or teach you about sewing pillow covers. I know my personal limits. There are hundreds of people on the Internet and YouTube that will teach how to sew pillow covers, and do a magnificent job of it.  I’m simply not one of them, but I will include links for those at the end of the post

Plaid pillow covers for Christmas…what else? The appliqué row of Santas was removed from a thrift shop dishtowel and added to this country plaid pillow cover.

Okay, if you’re still here (amazingly), let’s get started on how I manage 100s of pillows.  I sew (most of) my own pillow covers for a few reasons. I do it because I love to buy fabric, I love to sew, and I love to change out my pillow covers for a new season, or even every few months.  And since our new home in Indiana (also known as “the Dupont house”) has a living room couch AND a family room couch, now I can really go crazy with pillows and pillow covers! (As you can well imagine, Sailor is simply thrilled.)

Fall 2019: I used the small pumpkin print tablecloth pillow covers again; and the large pumpkin covers are from Williams Sonoma tea towels.

Now, to really dig in. To begin with, here is an overview of the 3 components of my pillow inventory system. The 1st component is the pillow forms (or inserts) themselves. The 2nd component is the collection of pillow covers I have collected or sewn.  The 3rd component is the pillow cover PATTERNS I have created.  

#1: PILLOW FORMS

Let’s start with the first component; the pillow forms themselves. Over the years, I have collected a rather impressive variety of pillow forms.  I have 9 different sizes, and a range of different fillings (feather, down, foam, etc). Some of them were bought at Calico Corners (in California), JoAnn’s or Michaels.  Some of them came home from a thrift shop, after I made sure I could take the cover off, and there was a pillow form inside. (They also had to pass the ‘stinky’ test.)

A couple of thrifted pillow forms that passed ‘the stinky test’.

And here’s another tip. You don’t have to use an uncovered pillow form.  You can use a pillow that already has a cover, AND put a new cover over it!  I do it all the time; it has helped expand my pillow inventory.  

A few years ago, I finally sat down one day to organize my pillow forms. It was then that I realized I have multiple pillows of the same size.  I have three pillows at 14.5 x 14.5; two that are 15” x 15”; eight that are 18” x 18”, and six that are 21” x 21”. I gathered my 9 sizes of pillow forms and gave them a number; 1, 2, 3…etc.  I created an Excel spreadsheet that showed their ‘identifying number’ and their measurements.  Based on their measurements, I wrote down the cut size of the FRONT fabric piece and the cut size of the BACK fabric piece.  (My method of sewing an “envelope” pillow cover, is to cut the back piece 7” wider than the front side piece.) 

This little chart is so helpful, especially when I have an odd sized piece of fabric.  Use these measurements, I can easily determine what size pillow I can sew from a window valance versus from a shower curtain.  

#2. PILLOW COVERS

Does this look like a cover-up to you?

The second component is the pillow covers themselves.  While I was building this inventory of pillow forms, I was also buying fabrics that caught my eye to use for pillow covers.  Sometimes I would shop for fabrics for an upcoming season.  Sometimes I was just wandering JoAnn’s on my lunch hour, and found a fabric that I simply could not live without.  All the while, I worked to combine floral patterns and seasonal colors along with window pane check, plaid, stripes or buffalo check to make pillow groupings that conveyed a season, or added to making our home feel warm and welcoming. Plaids, buffalo checks and pillow ticking all spell out welcoming, comfortable and cottage-y in my book. 

I’m still crazy in love with these pumpkin botanical pillows I made from Williams Sonoma tea towels in 2019.

These pillows all hang in a closet from hangers with clips.  They stay in good shape, and it’s easy to search for and find exactly the cover(s) I am looking for.  Sometime I am looking to combine pillow covers to create a pretty grouping;  having everything so easy to reach makes this process quick and fun!  

#3. PILLOW PATTERNS

Both the pillow covers and these pillow patterns hang on hangers in closets. It keeps everything organized, easy to find, and easy to put away.

The third component is the pillow patterns. At this point I need to introduce you to Ann Drake over at On Sutton Place.  Ann’s sewing posts over the years have really helped me be a better sewer.  But a huge light-bulb moment for me came when I read her post about creating pillow cover patterns.  Brilliant! Amazing!  Life would never be the same.

Are you seeing a pattern here?

With Ann’s help, I realized I had created a monster. This was when I first realized I was trying to manage 100s of pillows. I had a small army of pillow covers, and a small herd of pillow forms. And I had never really connected them into a system that provided a way for me to easily pick and choose pillows to create a Christmas grouping or a summer display. 

Let me explain. Up until this point, I had been struggling to cut out the pieces needed to sew my envelope pillow covers.  I would sit on the living room floor, fabric spread out everywhere.  I would measure the pillow, and then measure out and cut the size of the front piece or back piece. I wasn’t very good at it, so this process pretty much ensured I would fail at sewing a well-fitting pillow cover.  But when I read the post from On Sutton Place about creating pillow patterns, I was about to be the queen of my pillow world!   Just like you purchase a pattern from Vogue or Butterick to sew a dress or a skirt, I realized I needed pillow cover patterns to cut out correct-sized fabric pieces to sew the pillows.

How was I going to go about creating these desperately needed pillow cover patterns?

Well, this is where I caught a lucky break.  At the time I was busily creating my queendom of pillow cover patterns, I was still gainfully employed. The company I worked for had big sheets of heavy paper, and big cutters to cut those big sheets of heavy paper.  I asked one of my co-workers to cut ALL 18 of my pattern pieces (9 front & 9 back) for me out of big sheets of heavy paper using the big cutter.  Because this was such a monstrous ask, I gave him a month to do it. To this day, I am still grateful.

PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER:

Okay, the first spreadsheet I create showed the pillow numbers, as well as the cut sizes for the for both the front piece and the back piece. (I’m showing this again.) 

In addition to the spreadsheet I created for the pillow patterns, I created a second Excel spreadsheet. This spreadsheet includes the pillow numbers (1, 2, 3…), their sizes and a list of ALL the pillow covers that were made for, and fit each pillow number.

Also, I cheat a little too! I ‘label’ the actual pillow covers themselves.  I write the “pillow” number inside the over flap on the back side. This is a big help when I quickly need to know what size a pillow cover is; I just check on the inside flap for the size number.

These two fall print pillow covers on the left are both sewn from tablecloths from Home Goods.

I’m laughing a little bit as I am writing it; it all sounds so ‘Dewey Decimal System’ or ‘Periodic Table of Elements’! Let me assure you, it is not.  

This little method has saved me hours of time trying to put together a pillow combo for an ‘early winter’ look, or ‘late-summer’ feel.  It has helped with determining what size pillow cover I need to sew if I am adding to the inventory, and how to keep from sewing too many pillow covers that are all the same size. Pure and simple, it’s how I manage 100s of pillows.  

Bunnies and buffalo check! The perfect match. The hydrangea print is still one of my favorites.

CONCLUSION:

(You’re still here? I feel like you deserve an award!)

Here is the beauty of this system. When I say I love to buy fabric, let me illustrate:  After thrift shopping, my favorite way to unwind is to wander through the fabric section of Hobby Lobby or JoAnn’s.  If we had more high-end fabric stores (Calico Corners for example) here in NE Indiana, I would be in heaven (and in trouble!).  Over the years, I have also found Home Goods to be an excellent resource for fabric.  Between their tablecloth section and the shower curtain aisle, I have found some beautiful fabrics.  Thrift shops can be a gold mine too. One can find window valances, table runners, curtain panels or tablecloths, even other pillow covers that can all be re-purposed into hand sewn pillow covers.  

Neutral buffalo check pillow covers from Amazon are a recent addition to the collection. These navy blue floral covers are sewn from a thrift store window valance.

With an entire wardrobe of pillow covers (around 60 at last count), I can dress up my home by combining and recombining pillow covers (along with throws) on the couches and the side chairs in our family room and living room.  Using my thrift shop treasures, I can create displays and vignettes that include runners, baskets, candles, books, plants, finials, greenery, shells, white pitchers and lanterns. I am constantly puttering around, re-arranging the coffee table, the dining table, the fireplace mantle, or the side tables.  I always change things around for an upcoming season, and sometimes I even move things around every couple of months! What’s funny is I hate change in my day-to-day routine or schedule, but I love visual change in my home.

“You Do You” is a mantra I believe in, as well as many other bloggers who encourage readers to stay true to their personal style, regardless of the trends. When you follow your heart, your home becomes an artist’s pallet.  You find yourself surrounded by colors, patterns and collections you love, lifting your spirits and your sense of well-being and contentment. We, all of us, approach this differently.  Some prefer to paint furniture, some craft, some thrift shop (raising my hand over here!).  For me, sewing pillows is my springboard for seasonal decorating, or just just doing a quick refresh or update. 

As promised, here are some links to sewing videos and tutorials.  Or do your own search using: “how to sew an envelope pillow”.  If you don’t sew, find a friend who does, or better yet, a friend who can teach you. (You may even be able to find classes!) Sewing gives you a wide range of options for not just pillow covers, but table runners, curtains, napkins, or even placemats.

If you already are a proficient sewer, and want to learn how to sew a pillow cover with a zipper, add welting or a flange (raising my hand here), there are plenty of Youtube resources for that method too. 

https://youtu.be/6-QV3kA8WIM  – She will show two different methods of sewing pillow covers;  the second method is for an envelope-style pillow cover (which is the only kind I sew). 

https://youtu.be/l-PfkdN2DSA  This video is also a good one for a beginner sewer.  In the beginning part, she does talk about picking out fabric from the JoAnn website, which I don’t think is necessarily useful, unless you live in an area not close to a store that sells fabric.   

https://www.heytherehome.com/how-to-make-an-envelope-pillow-cover/   This is not a video, but she does provide excellent step-by-step instructions. 

Just because I love to sew, it doesn’t mean I am not a huge fan of shopping for pillow covers. Amazon and Etsy offer an amazing plethora of pillow covers.  Here are some Amazon links for buying pillow covers. 

 These green sage pillow covers have become a staple in the Dupont house.  They act as great ‘background pillows’.  I have 4 but may buy a couple more.  

These  taupe buffalo check pillows are a recent purchase, but have been on my search list forever.  They are beautifully made. 

These two pillow covers were part of my Summer 2023 Living Room: magnolia print cover  and ladybug print cover 

And here are some Etsy shops that sell pillow covers.

 Elemeno Pillows   //   11 White Lane  //  Porter Lane Home   

Wait!  There’s more! Here are links to 3 of my Pinterest boards that relate to this subject: my Sewing board, my Pillows board, and my Fabric board. 

If this helps anyone at all, in any way, I will be so happy.  Maybe like me, you have a closet full of pillow covers that you use during different parts of the year.  Or maybe you already have a few pillow covers, but would like to expand your pillow cover wardrobe by buying (or sewing) some new covers, or seasonal ones. If you have any questions about any of this, please leave it in the comments below, or email me directly at kristine@redshuttercottage.com. 

From our home to yours~

Kristine

I am sharing at these link parties! 
Country Road 407 – Farmhouse Friday   //    House on Silverado – Sundays on Silverado  //   Life and Linda – Love Your Creativity   //    A Pinch of Joy – Busy Monday   //   Between Naps on the Porch – Monday Metamorphosis   //   My Wee Abode – Tuesday Turn About  //  A Stroll Thru Life – Inspire Me Tuesday   //    Our Hopeful Home – Vintage Charm  //   French Ethereal – Share Your Style   //   Follow The Yellow Brick Home – Thursday Favorite Things   //    Modern Monticello – Home Matters //  2 Chicks & A Mom – Fantastic Friday   //