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Nice and practical: sewing a pillowcase with a hot water bottle compartment

25.08.2019 by Sabine Schmidt

Schön praktisch: Kissen-Bezug nähen mit Wärmflaschen-Fach
Sewing a cushion cover: With a hot water bottle pocket, this beautiful decorative cushion becomes a super cozy affair. You can also garnish the cushion with a trim whenever you like!
What could be cozier than relaxing on the sofa nestled against a cozy cushion? Well, cuddling up to a hot water bottle cushion, of course! :)Sewing a cushion cover

4 variations: Cushion cover with hot water bottle pocket

Why didn't I think of this much sooner? You surely already know that I like hot water bottles from my tutorial for a turtle-shaped hot water bottle cover, right? You can also close the bottom of the hot water bottle pocket by topstitching it onto the bias tape with a straight stitch before you sew the cushion together. The double layer of the hot water bottle pocket ensures that the cushion fabric doesn't show through. Of course, you can also sew the cushion without the hot water bottle idea in mind.
  • Variation 1: Instead of painting the pocket, you can also use a contrasting fabric.
  • Variation 2: Instead of finishing with bias tape, you can cut the pocket with a 1 cm seam allowance and stitch the folded hem down with a straight stitch.
  • Variation 3: Place the two fabric pieces for the hot water bottle pocket right sides together and sew the two long sides. Turn inside out through the side opening, iron, and topstitch the seams from the right side.
  • Variation 4: Alternatively, sew the cushion with an envelope closure!
If you would like to embellish the cushion with ric-rac or pom-pom trim, you can topstitch these within the seam allowance after sewing on the pocket. Extra tip: The firmer the base fabric of the cushion is, the better the cushion will hold its shape later! Sewing a cushion cover

What you need for sewing

(for an insert 50 x 50 cm in size) Sewing a cushion cover

Images: This is what it looks like finished

Sewing a cushion coverSewing a cushion coverSewing a cushion coverSewing a cushion coverSewing a cushion cover Do you like this tutorial? Leave me a comment if you like! Happy simple sewing, your Sabine Sewing a cushion cover

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Step-by-step instructions

Sew a cushion cover with a hot water bottle pocket

Step-by-step tutorial for a cushion with a patch pocket for a hot water bottle (50 x 50 cm). The pocket can be painted or sewn from contrast fabric and the zipper is sewn in concealed.

  1. Step

    Prepare the hot water bottle pocket

    Place the two white or natural-coloured cotton fabrics wrong sides together and pin them along the short sides. Sew the short sides together with the overlock or sewing machine.

    Prepare the hot water bottle pocket
  2. Step

    Mark lines for painting

    Prepare the fabric for painting: at the top and bottom, mark a line 2 cm from the long fabric edge with the iron-away disappearing marker.

    Mark the centre. Fold the outer markings to the centre and mark the next lines at that height.

    Mark lines for painting
  3. Step

    Paint the hot water bottle pocket

    Paint the hot water bottle pocket with fabric pens.

    Paint the hot water bottle pocket
  4. Step

    Sew on the bias binding (first side)

    Finish the open sides of the hot water bottle pocket with bias binding. Start on the back: pin the bias binding right side down to the back of the pocket with the edges aligned and sew it on with a straight stitch in the first fold.

    Sew on the bias binding (first side)
  5. Step

    Fold over the bias binding and topstitch

    Fold the bias binding over the edge to the right side and edgestitch it with a longer straight stitch. Repeat these steps on the second fabric edge.

    Fold over the bias binding and topstitch
  6. Step

    Topstitch the hot water bottle pocket onto the cushion

    Pin the hot water bottle pocket centred on the cushion piece.

    Stitch the hot water bottle pocket on along both short sides within the seam allowance. If you want the pocket closed at the bottom, stitch it along the bottom bias binding now as well.

    Topstitch the hot water bottle pocket onto the cushion
  7. Step

    Optional: sew on a trim

    If you'd like to sew on a trim, now is the right moment: stitch it on within the seam allowance with a straight stitch. Start and end the trim at the 10 cm mark of the zipper opening.

    Optional: sew on a trim
  8. Step

    Close the bottom seam for the zipper opening

    Pin the front and back of the cushion together along the bottom edge and mark 10 cm in from each side. Sew the marked seams with a straight stitch.

    Press the seam allowances open.

    Close the bottom seam for the zipper opening
  9. Step

    Place and sew in the zipper

    Place the zipper centred on the opening and mark the ends on the zipper.

    Sew in the zipper with a straight stitch and about 5 mm seam allowance. Ideally, use the zipper foot of your sewing machine.

    Place and sew in the zipper
  10. Step

    Secure the sides of the opening

    When you reach the side of the opening, leave the needle in the fabric and sew across the zipper at a right angle 1 cm beyond the opening (ideally using the handwheel).

    Secure the sides of the opening
  11. Step

    Close the cushion and trim the corners

    Leave the zipper partly open so you can use it as a turning gap.

    Place the cushion right sides together, pin everything and sew the three open sides with a straight stitch. Trim the seam allowances of the corners diagonally.

    Close the cushion and trim the corners
  12. Step

    Turn the cushion right side out

    Turn the cushion right side out through the zipper opening. Done!

    Turn the cushion right side out

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.