DIY XO Valentine Pillow Covers Made With Drop Cloth Fabric

XO DIY Valentines Day Pillow Cover

When time allows, I love pulling out my sewing machine. It was a bit dusty (from lack of use), and I had to pull out the user’s manual before firing it up. I also had to change out the needle, run the thread through all the loops, load the bobbin, and finally figure out the setting for a zig-zag stitch. You guessed it; I’m not by any means a seamstress, so when I share a sewing project with you, it’s beginner-friendly. 

I used a linen lumbar pillow cover I already had on hand, overlayed the XO design over the pillow cover, and sewed it in place. It was that easy! The drop cloth I used to make the XO is lighter in appearance than the linen pillow and a great option that made the XO design really stand out. A cotton print would also look nice if you want a bit more color in your room.

Here’s what you’ll need to recreate this adorable neutral Valentine’s Day pillow.

SUPPLY LIST: 

• linen pillow cover (lumbar) or pillowcase
• pillow insert 
• drop cloth (pieces of fabric)
• paper for the template ( I used an old paper bag)
• scissors
• sewing machine
• thread
• straight pins

Valentine Design XO Template

STEP 1: To make this simple XO template, I used a brown paper bag (or a piece of cardboard), a pencil or pen, and a ruler to make the straight lines on the X. The O was pretty straightforward. I freehanded it to the best of my ability.

The best way I found to determine the letter size is to measure the surface of the pillow before removing the insert. Leave enough space so the letters will not be cut off when adding the insert. Leave approximately 2 inches from the top and bottom of the pillow cover. I made each letter 8 inches in height for this pillow. The size of the block letters will depend on the size of the cushion you want to decorate. 

Next, remove the pillow insert and lay your pillow cover flat.  

STEP 2: Cut out the X and O template and center the letter templates on the front of the pillow cover. 

Tracing The Design On Fabric

STEP 3: Center the XO templates and align them where you want them to be. Trace around the letters leaving them a bit larger (1/4 of an inch seam allowance) than the template. This will allow for some fraying of the edges of the drop cloth after it’s applied. I told you this is simple. No hemming.

STEP 4: Secure the right side of the fabric (drop cloth XO letters) to the front side of the pillow cover using straight pins. 

Zig-Zag Stitch

STEP 5: Set your sewing machine to a zig-zag stitch. I like my zig-zag stitch a bit on the tighter side to prevent the fabric from unraveling. Sew carefully around the letters on the inside and out, leaving about 1/4 inch from the edge of the fabric for fraying. 

STEP 6: I did have a bit of a pucker in a few places after sewing the letters on the pillow cover, but it wasn’t much.

I used a steam iron and press cloth to smooth the fabric to lay flat on the pillow cover.

DIY Valentines Pillow Covers

My inspiration for this project was an Anthropologie pillow with a similar design. And we all know how expensive they are. Since I already had everything on hand, the cost was just the labor. Ha! I don’t call that labor. I call that having fun. It’s a great way to add a little love to a sofa, bed, or chair. 

If I want, I can flip it over and re-use it as an everyday look, or I might even try adding another fun design on the opposite side. Maybe a heart shape design! A heart stencil would be super easy to make. I can see endless possibilities for applying cotton fabrics to create unique designs on different pillow covers. 

What do you think about creating your own DIY Valentine Pillow Covers? I’d love to hear your feedback and if you have tried this applique method. Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below, or say hi so I’ll know you were here. 

Thanks for joining me today while I share another DIY home decor project that is sure to please those that would like to sew but are like me and need a beginner-friendly project. Don’t be afraid to try because you never know what you can accomplish. 

Until the next project… xo, Do