How To Make Five Fun Pillows

HOW TO MAKE TWO TONE FUR PILLOW

Materials Needed:

3/4 yards of 60″ wide pink faux fur
1/2 yard of 60″ wide lavender faux fur
One lavender marabou boa
One 24″ x 24″ pillow form

Cutting Instructions

Step 1. Out of pink fur, cut one square 25″ X 25″, and two squares each 13″ X 13″. Set the large square aside; this will be the back of your finished pillow.

Step 2. Out of lavender fur, cut two squares each 13″ X 13″.

Sewing Instructions

Step 1. With RIGHT sides together, stitch one small pink square to one lavender square on one side only, in a 1/2″ seam. Repeat with the other small pink and lavender squares. You will have two separate two-tone rectangular pieces.

Step 2. With RIGHT sides together, join the rectangles along one long edge, making sure to alternate colors, as shown. Stitch along this edge in a 1/2″ seam. This will form the color-blocked front of your finished pillow.

Step 3. With RIGHT sides together, pin pillow front to pillow back. Stitch around all edges in a 1/2″ seam, leaving 10″ along one side for turning and stuffing.

Step 4. Turn the pillow right side out. Insert pillow form inside pillow. Hand stitch the opening closed, turning the cut edges to the inside.

Finishing Instructions

Step 1. Cut the marabou boa in half, then half again; you will have four equal lengths of marabou trim.

Step 2.Beginning from the outer edges of the pillow, hand sew marabou to pillow front along seam lines, working towards the center. When all four marabou pieces have been attached, use the excess “tails” to form a decorative knot at the center and hand-stitch in place.

HOW TO MAKE AN ISLAND DREAMS PILLOW

Materials Neeed:

5/8 yard of 54″ wide print fabric
1/8 yard of 54″ wide stripped fabric
3/4 of 54″ wide solid colour fabric
2 3/4 yards of 1/2″ diameter cotton cording
7/8 yard of 3/8″ wide gimp trim
One 1 1/2″ diameter half-ball button to cover
One 3 1/2″ long tassel
1″ length of 3/4″ wide hook-and-loop fastener
One 20″ x 20″ pillow form

Cutting Instructions

Step 1. From the print fabric, cut one rectangle 21″ X 24 1/2″ for the pillow front. Cut the pillow back/flap section using the following diagram:

Step 2. From the striped fabric, cut two 3″ X 18″ bias strips ?for the flap banded trim.

Step 3. From the solid fabric, cut one triangular piece the size and shape of the flap only for the flap facing. Cut enough 2 1/4″ wide bias strips to cover 90″ of cotton cording. Cut one circle 2 1/2″ in diameter to cover button.

Sewing Instructions

Step 1. With WRONG sides together, stitch striped banded trim strips to the flap edges, matching raw edges, in a 1/2″ seam. Miter corners of trim where they meet at the flap point. Trim the edges of the bands, so that they are even with the sides of the pillow back.

Step 2. Center gimp trim over flap/band seamline and stitch in place.

Step 3. To make piping, piece solid fabric bias strips on a diagonal in a 1/4″ seam allowance, until you have one long continuous strip.

Step 4. With RIGHT sides together, wrap fabric strip around cording, matching cut edges. Using a zipper foot, stitch through both layers of fabric, as close to the cord as possible.

Step 5. Place piping on RIGHT side of back/flap, matching cut edges; clip piping fabric up to stitching when reaching corners and flap point. Using a zipper foot, stitch piping to back/flap in a 1/2″ seam, as close to the cording as possible.

Step 6. Press under 1 3/4″ on one 21″ edge of the pillow front. Fold cut edge under to meet fold; press, then stitch close to inner fold, forming narrow hem.

Step 7. With RIGHT sides together, pin pillow front to lower edge and sides of back/flap piece, matching cut edges and enclosing piping. With RIGHT sides together, pin flap facing to flap, matching cut edges and enclosing piping. Using a zipper foot, stitch around all outer edges in a 1/2″ seam allowance, as close to the cording as possible.

Finishing Instructions

Step 1. Turn pillow right-side out and press. Insert the pillow form.

Step 2. Sew half of the hook-and-loop fastener under the flap point. Sew other half of hook-and-loop fastener onto the pillow front in a corresponding position.

Step 3. Cover button with solid fabric circle and attach to flap point band trim, as shown in finished pillow photo. Loop tassel over pillow.

HOW TO MAKE A PERSONAL OASIS PILLOW

Materials Needed:

1/3 yard of 45″ wide solid fabric for pleated panel
3/4 yard of 45″ wide print fabric for side front and pillow back
2 3/4 yards of brush fringe trim with header
One 18″ x 18″ pillow form

Cutting Instructions

Step 1. From the solid fabric, cut one 10″ by 40″ rectangle.

Step 2. From the print fabric, cut one 10″ X 19″ rectangle for the side front. Cut one 19″ X 19″ square for the pillow back

Sewing Instructions

Step 1. To pleat front panel, snip-mark the solid fabric 2 1/2″ across each long edge, snipping 1/8″ into each seam allowance. Be sure to make sure that the snips on both edges are even.

Step 2. With WRONG sides together, match snip marks two at a time forming folds. Stitch 1 1/4″ from each fold along the fabric width from snip mark to snip mark, forming pleats.

Step 3. Turn all of the folds in one direction, but do not press. Baste the pleats along the cut edges, holding them in place.

Step 4. Place fringe trim along one long side of pleated panel, matching heading edge to fabric cut edge. Using a zipper foot, stitch trim to panel in a 1/2″ seam allowance, as close to the base of the fringe as possible.

Step 5. With WRONG sides together, pin long edge of side front to trimmed edge of panel, matching cut edges and encasing fringe. Using a zipper foot, stitch together in a 1/2″ seam, as close to the fringe as possible. Open and press seam lightly to one side, forming completed pillow front.

Step 6. Stitch fringe to perimeter of pillow back, using a zipper foot and 1/2″ seam allowance. Clip fringe header at corners as needed to keep corners smooth.

Step 7. With WRONG sides together, pin pillow front to pillow back, matching cut edges and encasing fringe. Using a zipper foot, stitch in a 1/2″ seam allowance, as close to the fringe as possible, leaving a 10″ opening on one side for turning and stuffing.

Finishing Instructions

Step 1. Turn pillow right side out. Insert pillow form and slip-stitch the opening closed, turning cut edges to the inside.

HOW TO MAKE TOILE TRADITIONAL PILLOW

Materials Needed:

1 yard of 45″ wide print fabric
5/8 yard of 45″ wide solid fabric
1/4 – 3/8 yard of 45″ wide toile fabric
1 5/8 yards of narrow fringe trim
2 yards of narrow cording with trim
Four 3/4″ diameter buttons
One 16″ x 16″ pillow form

Cutting Instructions

Step 1. From the print fabric, cut four 3 1/2″ X 17 1/2″ strips for outer border. Cut one 17 1/2″ X 17 1/2″ squarefor pillow back.

Step 2. From the solid fabric, cut four 3 1/2″ X 14 1/2″ strips for inner border.

Step 3. From the toile fabric, cut one 8 1/2″ X 8 1/2″ square, centering design as desired for central motif. NOTE: this may require more than the recommended yardage of toile fabric, depending on the location of the featured motif.

Sewing Instructions

Step 1. With RIGHT sides together, stitch one inner border strip to each side of the central square in a 1/2″ seam allowance, mitering corners. Trim excess length of each border strip at corners, forming a new perfect square.

Step 2. Sew a button at each corner of the central square, as shown in finished pillow photo.

Step 3. With RIGHT sides together, stitch one outer border strip to each side of newly-enlarged square, mitering corners and trimming excess.

Step 4. Place straight edge of fringe trim along seam line between inner and outer borders, with fringe facing towards the pillow front center. Stitch in place along straight edge.

Step 5. Apply cord with lip to RIGHT side of pillow front around the entire perimeter, matching edge of lip with cut edge of front. Using a zipper foot, stitch cord to pillow front in a 1/2″ seam, as close to the cording as possible. Clip cording lip at corners as needed to keep corners smooth.

Step 6. With RIGHT sides together, pin pillow front to pillow back, matching cut edges and encasing cord. Using a zipper foot, stitch in a 1/2″ seam allowance, as close to the cording as possible, leaving a 10″ opening for turning and stuffing.

Finishing Instructions

Step 1. Turn pillow right side out. Insert pillow form and slip-stitch opening closed, turning cut edges to the inside.

HOW TO MAKE A GIRL POWER PILLOW

Materials Needed:

1 yard of 45″ wide print fabric
5/8 yard of 45″ wide striped fabric
1 yard of 45″ wide print fabric
1 yard of 1/8 diameter cord with lip
Polyester fiberfill

Cutting Instructions

Step 1. From the striped fabric, cut two 16″ X 16″ squares for pillow.

Step 2. From the print fabric, cut two 16 1/2″ X 17 1/2″ rectangles for cover. Cut four 2 1/2″ X 10″ strips for ties.

Sewing Instructions

Step 1. With RIGHT sides together, pin pillow front to pillow back, matching cut edges. Stitch around perimeter in a 1/2″ seam allowance, leaving a 10″ opening for turning and stuffing.

Step 2. Turn pillow right side out. Stuff with fiberfill to the desired firmness and slip-stitch opening closed, turning cut edges to the inside.

Step 3. With RIGHT sides together, pin both long sides and one short side of cover together, matching cut edges and leaving one short side open. Stitch in a 1/2″ seam allowance. Turn right side out.

Step 4. Turn opening of cover under 1 1/2″ and press. Fold cut edge under to meet fold and press in place. Place cording lip under opening edge as shown. Using a zipper foot, stitch cording to cover, as close to the cord as possible while still catching cover fabric in stitching.

Step 5. To make ties, fold each tie strip in half lengthwise, with WRONG sides together and press. Fold each long cut edge in to meet center fold and press in place. Match these folded edges and edge-stitch together, encasing cut edges.

Step 6. Pin one pair of ties along one side of cover opening, underneath cording; place each tie 4 1/2 ” from ends of cover opening. Repeat with remaining ties on opposite side of opening. Stitch ties in place, following cording stitching line.