• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Polka Dot Chair logo

  • SEWING
    • Free Sewing Patterns
    • Bag Patterns
    • Costumes
    • Apparel
    • Learn to Sew
    • Beginner Friendly
    • Embroidery Projects
    • Tips & Techniques
    • All Sewing
  • QUILTING
    • Quilt Blocks
    • Learn to Quilt
    • Free Patterns
    • Quilt Patterns
    • All Quilting
  • CRAFTS
    • Disney
    • Cricut
    • Printables
    • All Crafts
  • HOLIDAYS
    • Seasonal Projects
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • All Holidays
  • TUTORIALS
  • ABOUT
    • About Me
    • My Fabric Collections
    • Published Books
    • Press
    • FAQ’s
    • Contact
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • SHOP
menu icon
go to homepage
  • SHOP
  • TUTORIALS
  • SEWING
  • QUILTING
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • CRAFTS
  • HOLIDAY PROJECTS
  • ABOUT
    • Published Books
    • My Fabric Collections
  • CONTACT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • SHOP
    • TUTORIALS
    • SEWING
    • QUILTING
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CRAFTS
    • HOLIDAY PROJECTS
    • ABOUT
      • Published Books
      • My Fabric Collections
    • CONTACT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Sewing » Pillow Patterns

    Giant Pocket Pillow Sewing Tutorial

    Updated: Jul 29, 2021 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 14 Comments

    This giant pocket pillow sewing tutorial first appeared on the Riley Blake Fabric’s Blog as a part of their Design Team Wednesday series. Be sure to stop by their blog for great free sewing tutorials. There is something new every week!

    Free sewing pattern for a giant pocket pillow (fits on a standard body pillow form)

     

    When I saw the new  Snapshots fabric line I knew right away that I wanted to work with it, I have two teenage daughters and this fabric is perfect for them.

    Free sewing pattern for a giant pocket pillow (fits on a standard body pillow form)

     

     

    My oldest daughter just started her second year of college. On her list of “wish I had last year, time to buy this year” was a body pillow. Last month we picked one up at the store to lug out to her new apartment.

     

     

    Free sewing pattern for a giant pocket pillow (fits on a standard body pillow form)The only problem with the pillow was that it had a boring white cover on it.  With about and hour, some cute fabric and a sewing machine, I was able to quickly remedy that problem.

     

     

    Free sewing pattern for a giant pocket pillow (fits on a standard body pillow form)This GIANT pillow cover features a zippered back (to make it easy on and easy off) and a pocket in the front, which is just the right size for an iPad mini or a favorite book.

     

    If you’d like to make a pillow of your own, it’s easy you will need:

    1 yard each of 3 different prints for the pillow front and back

    18″ zipper

    Body Pillow Form

    Optional: Iron on letters (cut yourself at home or purchase at a craft store)

    Cut:

    5 fabric pieces each 11″ wide x 20″ tall from the first two fabrics.  I cut 3 pieces out of one print and two pieces out of a second print.

    2 fabric pieces each 20″ tall x 26″ wide from the 3rd fabric for the back of the pillow.

    2 pieces  8 ½″ wide x 10″ tall for the pocket in the front (I used the same fabric that was on the back).

    Construction: All seam allowances are ½″  unless otherwise noted.

    Sew the 5 pieces of 11″ x 20″ fabric together along the 20″ sides, alternate prints. Press seams open.

    Giant Pocket Pillow Sewing Tutorial by Melissa Mortenson of polkadotchair.com

    Sew the two 8 ½″ x 10″ pocket pieces of fabric together, right sides facing around all 4 sides, leave an opening in the bottom to turn the pocket right side out. Clip the corners of the pocket and turn right side out and press. Top stitch along the top edge.

    If desired apply iron on letters to the pocket.

    Giant Pocket Pillow Sewing Tutorial by Melissa Mortenson of polkadotchair.com

    Pin the pocket to the sewn pillow front in the desired location. Stitch around 3 sides to secure, make sure you back stitch at the top and bottom of the pocket.

    Giant Pocket Pillow Sewing Tutorial by Melissa Mortenson of polkadotchair.com

    Pin the right side of the zipper to the right side of one of the 20″ x 26″ pieces of fabric, along the 20″ edge. The raw edge of the fabric will be flush with the edge of the zipper. Using a zipper foot on your machine, stitch zipper to fabric. Just a note, an 18″ zipper will be a bit shorter than the fabric, just center the zipper, you’ll make up the difference in the seam allowance later.

    Giant Pocket Pillow Sewing Tutorial by Melissa Mortenson of polkadotchair.com

    Pin the right side of the other side of the zipper to the right side of the other 20″ x 26″ piece. Sew in place.  Press seam allowances away from the zipper and top stitch along the sides of the zipper.

    Unzip the zipper.

    Pin the pillow front and back pieces, right sides together. If necessary, trim the pillow back a bit so that it’s the same size as the pillow front piece.  Sew around all 4 sides.  Clip corners. Make sure you back stitch over the sections of the seam where the zipper is for extra durability when taking the cover on and off the pillow.

    Giant Pocket Pillow Sewing Tutorial by Melissa Mortenson of polkadotchair.com

    Turn the pillow cover right side out and you’re done!

     

    Free sewing pattern for a giant pocket pillow (fits on a standard body pillow form)

    If you liked this project, you may also enjoy the projects in my Book, Project Teen... click here for more info!

    21 Handmade Gift Ideas for Teens from Project Teen

     

     

    A free body pillow sewing pattern. Cute pillowcase for a body pillow that you can DIY, makes a great gift or a dorm room decorating idea.

     

    More Projects You May Enjoy

    • Hot Chocolate Christmas Neighbor Gift Idea
    • Gifts for Babies & Toddlers; Things to Make & Buy
    • 25+ Things to Make & Buy for Kids as Gifts
    • 25+ Gifts for Mom; Things to Make and Buy

    • Share
    • Email

    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cindy says

      September 22, 2014 at 8:11 am

      That is adorable and such a great idea for kids (and us parents!) My husband uses my old U-shaped pregnancy pillow and I may have to give it a facelift with something like this 🙂 Thanks for sharing and congrats on your new fabric line too!!

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        September 23, 2014 at 12:54 pm

        Those pillows are so comfortable! I’ve been tempted a few times to get one for myself!

        Reply
    2. Megan says

      September 22, 2014 at 3:10 pm

      Nicely done! I am loving the fabric choices for this and perfect for a college student and her apartment! I wish I had this when I was in school!

      *Mental note for when I have kids and they are older.

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        September 23, 2014 at 12:53 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    3. capturing joy with kristen duke says

      September 22, 2014 at 5:39 pm

      Love it, just pinned! Such cute fabric!!

      Reply
    4. Sandy K says

      November 22, 2014 at 3:27 pm

      Love this pillow cover and plan on making it. I went to Walmart to buy a body pillow and the dimesions were 20×54. That would make this cover too small. What were the dimensions for your pillow? Thanks for the tutorial.

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        November 24, 2014 at 1:22 pm

        The one from Walmart will work, my guess is that mine is a typo. I’ll double check.

        Reply
    5. Toni Neeley says

      October 26, 2015 at 10:52 am

      Can’t find iron on letters large enough to match yours. Any advice?

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        October 27, 2015 at 5:27 pm

        I’d check etsy. There is probably someone on there that will custom cut a set for you. Also try SayitwithApplique.com – I’ve ordered from them in the past

        Reply
    6. Ashlin says

      December 01, 2015 at 11:07 am

      Hey I was wondering what the final dimensions of the pillow are?

      Reply
    7. Sonya Gardner says

      June 24, 2017 at 9:57 pm

      Hi…love these pillows…..great fabrics too…especially the camera fabric…my son is a professional photographer so it really caught my eye….could you share with me where you got the fabric from….I won’t be making him a reading pillow but will come up with an idea…thank you…

      sonya

      Reply
    8. Samal says

      April 27, 2018 at 3:31 pm

      Good night here,

      What sewing machine would you advise to start with?

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello! It’s nice to meet you.

    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

    COPYRIGHT POLICY

    All my images and text are copyrighted. You may NOT use any images from this site in any kind of Video (this includes YouTube). If you would like to feature my work, you may use ONE (1) NON-COLLAGED image and must “follow” link back to my original blog post. You may NOT edit, crop, or change my images in any way without written permission. You MAY NOT print out or copy and distribute any text, images or patterns from this site. All patterns, content, instructions, and templates are for personal use ONLY! Thank you! Violators will be reported.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimers
    • About Melissa
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Press
    • Published Books
    • Fabric Collections

    Welcome to the Polka Dot Chair! Here you’ll find easy, step-by-step, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects. We design projects for Makers of all skill levels. Beginners are welcome!

    DISCLAIMER:

    While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content on this website, the information is made available without warranty of any kind. The Polka Dot Chair accepts no responsibility or liability, whether direct or indirect, as to the currency or accuracy of the information, nor any consequence of its uses. This website is not intended to substitute the advice of a professional.

    Copyright © 2022 Polka Dot Chair

    [ Placeholder content for popup link ] WordPress Download Manager - Best Download Management Plugin