Free Pillow Sham Pattern

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Originally published August 2, 2016 and updated July 26, 2023.

This simple tutorial, plus free pillow sham pattern will having you sewing your own pillow sham today, even if you have beginning levels sewing skills. This is a fun way make a personalized gift or refresh your home décor.

black and white patterned pillow on pink quilt.

I’ve blinked and suddenly it’s time to send my seconddaughter off to college already. I’m not sure how it happened so quickly. But here we are. Mydaughter found a comforter that she liked but couldn’t find a sham cover to coordinate with the comforter. No problem. I told her I’d make a one for her. She and I went shopping together so that she could find a fabric that she loved.  I created a this free sewing pattern that’s truly easy to make with just beginner sewing skills.  

Free Pillow Sham Pattern

Trust me when I tell you I am not a seamstress. For those of you who are, please forgive my elementary explanations. But if I’m able to create this gorgeous pillow sham with my limited sewing skills, then anyone can, no matter what your sewing skills are. Really. 

white fabric with women's fashion silhouettes laying on top of new pillow in bab

I started with a pillow and fabric that my daughter fell in love with at first sight. She enjoys fashion and retro fashion at that, so this fabric is perfect for her. I had to reverse engineer the pattern, so I made it easier than using 3 pieces of fabric for the sewing pattern. I chose to use just one piece of fabric, so making the pillow cover isn’t complicated, 

Flanged Pillow Sham Tutorial

Supplies 

  • Standard Size Pillow
  • Washable Fabric measuring at least 24 inches by 65 1/2 inches –  If you purchase fabric with a pattern that needs to be lined up and has a right-side-up (on our fabric, the women need to be upright), then plan for that and purchase enough fabric to accommodate the pattern. 
  • Coordinating Thread
  • Sewing Machine
  • Scissors
  • Fabric Pins
  • Pillow Sham Pattern – You can get your free copy of my pattern for your personal use.
  • Pillow Sham you already have – if you have a pillow sham, it is helpful to use it as a guide and to help you follow the tutorial steps.

Make a Pillow Sham Steps

Cut your fabric so that you have one piece that is 24 inches tall and 65 1/2 inches long.  You will use this single fabric piece to create the front and back panels. You do not need to cut any additional fabric pieces.

Start by sewing a seam on the two short sides of the fabric. Turn the raw edges 1/2 inch  under and then fold it over again. Sew this seam down. 

ruler on edge of fabric with red pins

Fold the fabric over with the right sides of the fabric together. You will need to leave an envelope opening on the the back of the sham to insert the pillow. This means that you will overlap the edges of the sides with the hemmed edges. You can fold the fabric so the opening is in the back center of the pillow sham, but I chose to offset the opening towards one side of the pillow. The short side of the two back pieces should be 8 3/4 inches long. The entire pillow sham should be 31 inches wide. 

pillow sham pattern in blue with black text and red arrows

You can adjust the size of the back panel pieces by shifting where you place the overlap for the opening. This allows you to customize the pattern to your preferences. 

Because of the pattern on my fabric I had to sew two smaller pieces of fabric together to create the one  24″ by 65 1/2″ starting fabric, so I had a seam that I had to plan to accommodate. I used a pillow sham that I already have as a guide, so I laid it out to plan for my seam to be on the back of the pillow sham. 

red pillow sham laying next to white and black fabric inside out with red arrow pointing to a seam

Pin the edges of the sham together and sew the long sides together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

back side of white and black fabric laying on wood table

Clip the corners. Turn the pillow sham right side out. Poke out the corners so that they’re neat and smooth. Straighten all the seams and pin around the edges. Pay attention to pinning the ends that will overlap to keep the fabric in place so they don’t move while you sew the next step.

Sew a seam 1 3/4 inches from the edge to create the pillow flange. You can adjust the size of your flange depending on how full the pillow form you’ll be inserting is.  Sew around the entire edge of the pillow sham cover. 

Pin and then sew the long sides together with a 1/4 inch seam.

black and white fabric pinned together with red arrows pointing at the pins

Turn the pillow sham right side out. Straighten all the seams and pin around the edges. Sew a seam 1 3/4 inches from the edge to create the pillow flange. 

close up of black ribbon embellishment on corner of black and white pillow

Upon seeing the almost finished flanged pillow sham, my  daughter immediately realized it needed a bit more embellishment. We added a black ribbon. I hand-sewed the ribbon onto the pillow sham.  

Adding the ribbon embellishment really took this fashionable pillow sham to a classy level, don’t you agree?

close up of black and white pattern pillow sham with black border.

Now each night when my daughter is away at college and heads to bed, she’ll see a concrete reminder of how much I love her and miss her. Who do you know that would appreciate a personalized pillow sham that you can make from this free pillow sham pattern?

Find the printable tutorial below.

Yield: 1

Free Pillow Sham Pattern and Tutorial

black and white patterned pillow on pink quilt.

Make a personalized pillow sham with this easy Free Pillow Sham Pattern that you can sew with beginner sewing skills.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Difficulty Beginning

Materials

  • Standard Size Pillow
  • Washable Fabric measuring at least 24 inches by 65 1/2 inches – If you purchase fabric with a pattern that needs to be lined up and has a right-side-up (on our fabric, the women need to be upright), then plan for that and purchase enough fabric to accommodate the pattern.
  • Coordinating Thread
  • Pillow Sham Pattern – You can get your free copy of my pattern for your personal use.

Tools

  • Sewing Machine
  • Scissors
  • Fabric Pins

Instructions

  1. Cut your fabric so that you have one piece that is 24 inches tall and 65 1/2 inches long.  You will use this single fabric piece to create the front and back panels. You do not need to cut any additional fabric pieces.
  2. Start by sewing a seam on the two short sides of the fabric. Turn the raw edges 1/2 inch  under and then fold it over again. Sew this seam down. 
  3. Fold the fabric over with the right sides of the fabric together. You will need to leave an envelope opening on the the back of the sham to insert the pillow. This means that you will overlap the edges of the sides with the hemmed edges. You can fold the fabric so the opening is in the back center of the pillow sham, but I chose to offset the opening towards one side of the pillow. The short side of the two back pieces should be 8 3/4 inches long. The entire pillow sham should be 31 inches wide. 
  4. Pin the edges of the sham together and sew the long sides together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
  5. Clip the corners. Turn the pillow sham right side out. Poke out the corners so that they’re neat and smooth. Straighten all the seams and pin around the edges. Pay attention to pinning the ends that will overlap to keep the fabric in place so they don’t move while you sew the next step.
  6. Sew a seam 1 3/4 inches from the edge to create the pillow flange. You can adjust the size of your flange depending on how full the pillow form you’ll be inserting is.  Sew around the entire edge of the pillow sham cover. 
  7. Pin and then sew the long sides together with a 1/4 inch seam.
  8. Turn the pillow sham right side out. Straighten all the seams and pin around the edges. Sew a seam 1 3/4 inches from the edge to create the pillow flange. 

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

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10 Comments

  1. How fun is that! What a great way to personalize her dorm room. She will think of you every time she sees that pillow…and everything else you have made for her. She is one lucky “baby” to have you!!!!

  2. I love this pillow sham. I am so in love with the fabric. I bet this sham reminds your baby of you overtime she sees it. Such great instructions too.

  3. I have actually been needing to make a sham for a pillow in my son’s room – adding this to this week’s to-do list. Thanks so much for the free pattern!

  4. Hang on! I did it, too. Then I blinked again. And now he’s 43 years old, married, and raising a teenager!
    Thanks for the tutorial. I’m making shams for my new quilt my sister-in-law made me.

    1. Yes, I think so, Barbara. We added it after we’d finished the sham and felt like it was too plain. If you plan ahead, you should just be able to machine sew it before you assemble the front and back of the sham. I’d love to see a photo of your finished one!!!

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