Every year I like to refresh my home decor and the easiest, least expensive way I do it is by changing up the pillows around my house. Not only is it really easy to do, but it’s sustainable! This year I decided to jump onto the African indigo and mud cloth train, and I was able to find the mud cloth fair trade online. This DIY tutorial is not for a specific size pillow, but I do have the option for one just in case you want to make the same ones I made above.
you will need.
- 1 piece of mud cloth (purchase it fair trade here!)
- 1 yard of linen fabric (purchase it organic here!)
- Pillow(s) (purchase them sustainable here! I am using the FJÄDRAR pillow (16″x26″)
- Scissors
- Thread (in this case black and linen color)
- Pins
- Tape measure
- Sewing machine
Step 1: cut the fabric
- Using the measuring tape and scissors, cut the mud cloth 1″ larger than the length and width of the pillow (if you are using the FJÄDRAR pillow, cut the mudcloth into a 17″x27″ rectangle)
- Cut the linen into two pieces: Each piece should be 4″ longer than 1/2 of the length of the pillow and 1″ larger than the width of the pillow (if you are using the FJÄDRAR pillow, cut the linen into two, 17″x17″ pieces)
Step 2: prep the linen fabric
- fold and pin back one side of each of the linen fabric pieces and sew them down. I will call this side the clean edge.
Step 3: Assemble and pin
- Figure out what size of the fabric you want the pillow to show. I like the faded side of the mud cloth more than the painted side, so I will first lay the faded side to face you.
- Place the first piece of linen on top of the mud cloth, lining it up with the left side. Made sure the clean edge is the side in the center of the pillow and that the ugly side with the fold is facing you.
- Place the second piece of linen on top of the mudcloth, lining it up with the right side. Made sure the clean edge is the side in the center of the pillow and that the ugly side with the fold is facing you. The two pieces of linen should be overlapping.
- In front of you, you should have one big 17″x27″ piece (if you are using the FJÄDRAR)
- Pin all around–the mud cloth to the linen.
Step 4: Sew
- Sew all around the piece leaving a 1/4″-1/2″ edge around the cloth.
Step 5: Finish it off
- Turn the pillow case you just made inside out.
- put the pillow inside of the case you just made and you’re finished!
Happy DIY-ing!
xo,
