We’re doing a Make {Stuff} Better post today (our first!) by reader demand. Inquiring minds want to know what I plan to do with all the kitchen goods I bought for our bedroom restyling. There’re lots of options, but placemats and napkins both make really easy, affordable, and cute pillow covers.

To wit:

Let’s start with the remedial version.

The place mat pictured here, you may remember, hails from Goodwill via the Target section. I got two for $5 and knew I would make pillows out of them. Place mats like these are begging to be turned into pillow covers because they require almost no refashioning at all. Cloth place mats are often actually two pieces of fabric sewn together. So here’s how you do it:

Either take a sharp pair of scissors like I did and cut a slit along the top of the back fabric to create an opening, leaving the existing seam intact, or use a seam ripper to remove the seam connecting the front and back panels completely.

Either way, you now have a pillow case. See?

Then, you can either create a permanent installation by sewing or using hem tape to seal the edge, or you can do what I did and use no-sew fusible hook-and-loop (mine was Velcro brand) along the entire open edge. Don’t do what I tried, initially to do, and cheap out by using little pieces of Velcro – that’ll create gaps along the edge once it’s stuffed with a pillow. Just line the entire inner edge of each side of your opening with opposing sides of hook-and-loop. Then insert your pillow, close, and use ‘til you’re sick of it.

The second project is marginally more difficult. Like anything I’d actually attempt to undertake myself, it’s still really easy. It involves more no-sew hem tape. I feel the need to note that I actually own not one, but two sewing machines. Even if my level of intimidation did not far outstrip my level of skill with said machines, they’re in storage. So no-sew hem tape it is. But for this project, the tape was actually a blessing in disguise.

Take your two napkins (I used two of the same here, but you can obviously use any two you want, as long as they’re the same size and shape) and place together, right side out.

Cut a strip of no-sew tape to fit, iron on according to directions, and then move to the next side of the napkins. Do on three sides until you have a recognizable pillow case.

Why hello there. You are handsome.

This is also a pretty good opportunity to iron out the folds from the napkins. Now use the same Velcro no-sew tape to close the fourth edge. Don’t try to use a couple small pieces: Line the entire inner edge of both sides with opposing sides of hook-and-loop.

And, as they say, voila. I said the no-sew tape was pretty cool for this project because by using it you create a flat outer edge that I think looks pretty snazzy.

These napkins, if you’ll remember, are from TJ Maxx. I paid $6 for 4, so for this pillow cover, the grand total comes to about $5 - $3 for the napkins, plus all the no-sew tape.

Not too shabby.

If you don’t have a pillow form, you can of course get them all over. I also find it’s often cheaper to just buy an ugly pillow, from places like Ross, TJ Maxx and Ikea, than to buy a form itself. Or go green and use what you’ve got – deconstruct a bed pillow that’s seen better days, use old tee shirts or the pile of unmatched socks you’re inexplicably hoarding.

Have you made a pillow cover from something interesting? Used kitchenware in another space? Do tell!