Stay Cozy Winter Throw Pillow Cover (Free SVG Cut File)
Make a Stay Cozy throw pillow for winter with iron-on vinyl and a plain pillow cover. Free SVG, sizing for common covers and tips for zippers and seams.
- Skill level
- Easy
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Made on
- Pillow
A Stay Cozy pillow is winter decor that can stay on the couch after the Christmas tree comes down. Put it out in the first cold week and leave it through February. You press the phrase onto an empty ready-made cover and put the insert back in, so there is no sewing. The file is two script words set on a step, with a small heart at the upper right. Use a plain cover, keep the heat off the zipper and place the design a little above center.
What you need
- Plain pillow cover with a zipper or envelope back natural cotton canvas or cotton-linen; 18 x 18 in is common
- Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) plum in our picture; charcoal also works; one 12 x 12 in sheet
- Cutting machine and mat a standard mat cuts a little under 12 in wide
- Weeding hook for the letter centers
- Heat press or iron follow the vinyl maker's heat guide
- Pressing pad or folded towel goes inside the cover
- Parchment paper to cover the design
- The free “Stay Cozy” cut file sign-ups for the file open soon
Sign-ups open soon
The free SVG and PNG for “Stay Cozy” will be sent by email. We are still setting that up, so there is nothing to fill in yet.
The steps on this page are ready to read now. Come back to this page for the file once sign-ups open.
How to make it
- Take the insert out of the cover. Wash and dry the cover if the label allows, then iron it smooth.
- Measure the front. Size the SVG to a little over half the cover’s width. On an 18 inch cover, that is 10 to 11.5 inches. On a 16 inch cover, aim for 9 to 10 inches.
- Mirror the design so it reads backward on screen.
- Cut the HTV with the shiny carrier side on the mat, using the iron-on setting for your vinyl. Then weed the background and the letter centers. The heart is a loose piece.
- Unzip the cover and slide a pressing pad or folded towel inside. The front panel should sit raised, with the zipper and the side seams falling off the edges of the pad.
- Pre-press the front to remove moisture and any last wrinkles.
- Find the center of the cover by folding it in half both ways and pressing light creases with your hand. Place the middle of the whole design, heart included, where the creases cross, then nudge it up about half an inch.
- Cover with parchment and press firmly, using the time and temperature in your vinyl’s heat guide. Move across the design in sections if it is wider than your iron. Peel the carrier as the guide directs.
- Let the cover cool fully before stuffing the insert back in.
Tips
- Keep the upward nudge from step 7. A filled pillow bulges, and a design placed at the exact center tends to look low.
- Keep heat away from the zipper. Plastic teeth can warp, and a metal pull stays hot for a while.
- Choose a smooth, tight weave. Velvet, faux fur, chunky knit and heavily slubbed fabric do not give vinyl a flat surface to grip.
- A cover one size smaller than the insert gives a plump pillow and pulls the lettering smooth.
FAQ
Does this work on a pillow that cannot be unstuffed?
It is not a good idea. A stuffed pillow is too soft to press against, so the vinyl will not bond evenly. Use a removable cover. Plain ones are sold on their own in craft and home stores.
Can the cover be washed with the vinyl on it?
Yes, if the cover itself is washable. Give the vinyl a day first, then close the zipper, turn the cover inside out, wash cool on a gentle cycle and air dry or tumble on low.
Would adhesive vinyl work in place of iron-on?
No. Adhesive vinyl is made for hard, smooth surfaces and peels off fabric quickly. For anything soft that gets handled or washed, use heat transfer vinyl.
