Pretty Pillow Tutorial

 

I've been so looking forward to joining Sarah and Pam for Pinning it Down! Every Tuesday, they host a linking party so we can see what's happening in the real world after people pin great ideas to Pinterest. Sarah's hosting today. Do go visit; she's about to have a baby, so welcoming visiting bloggers is the perfect hostessing for her to do.

Pinterest is my favorite social network. Really. I just peruse eye candy. Conversation is lowkey and always friendly and I really do pin things that I turn around and do. Pinterest inspires me and lulls me into believing that if I can see it and I can pin it, I can do it. I might be delusional, but for now, it's working.

A few months back, I pinned an image of a pretty log cabin pillow from Soule Mama's site to my quilting pin board. The pillow caught my eye because it's made of Little Folks Voile. I love Little Folks so much that I have an entire pin board dedicated to just Little Folks Quilts. And I just might have a sketch of my own Little Folks Quilt (but it's a surprise, so shhh...) I like Amanda's pillow.

We have no throw pillows in our house. The dog ate all the covers. The dog now resides with Kristin. They're great friends. He's a very happy dog. Please, don't judge.

So, I've been thinking about all these naked pillow forms that I've stripped of their dog-chewed covers.

When I was stitching my Loulouthi cross stitch, various and every family member had an opinion. They ranged from "why bother?" to "what is that?" 

Because it's beautiful.

and

A Curated Bloom.

Those are the answers to the above questions.

One Monday morning I woke up so frustrated with the lot of them that I was determined to make something beautiful just to smooth my own ruffled feathers. I pulled from all the loveliness I'd stashed with Christmas money: the needlework to be the centerpiece, Loulouthi quilting cottons and velveteens, even some remarkable ribbon. And then, I just let my fingers go.

Several people asked for how-to details on the pillow cover, so I'm going to do my level best with an envelope pillow cover tutorial today. You might make an envelope cover out of just two pieces of fabric--a top and a bottom. The envelope part would be the bottom. I chose to make a log cabin square for the top piece. 

I trimmed my needlework to make it perfectly square. Unfortunately, in order to leave enough room for a seam allowance, I had to leave a wee bit of pattern from the adjacent design in the lower righthand corner of the piece. It bothers me a little, but not nearly as much as I thought it would.

Then, I cut a strip from Loulouthi Curated Bloom to frame it. My hope was that if the Bloom fabric rested right next to the needlework, people would stop arguing about what it was. This has not been the case, I'm sorry to say. Michael still insists he sees birds in branches. I keep insisting they are blooms. Alrighty then, I did my best there.

For the fabric to frame the needlework,  I fussy cut so that the whole bloom and the branches could be seen, even when sewn on with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Whatever that width is, that's what I cut and then I framed the top and the bottom of the needlework, sewed a 1/4 inch seam, and trimmed so it would be flush with the needlework on the sides.

The side strips of the same fabric are the same width as the others, trimmed to come to the top and bottom of the Curated Bloom strips.

I continued on in this manner, first cutting to fit the top and bottom and then cutting to fit the sides, choosing somewhat random widths. I just picked from a fat quarter bundle, as I went. This is a traditional log cabin square. {The pinned pillow has intentional wonky strips. That's not really my style. I like my strips square. I'm kind of straightlaced that way;-)}

The ultimate goal here was a square that measured 17 inches, because my pillow form was 16 inches square.

To make an envelope pillow case, measure your pillow from seam to seam and then cut the front cover to be one inch wider than your pillow on all sides. If your pillow cover isn't to be pieced (as mine is here), but is to be cut from whole cloth, that whole cloth square would be one inch larger than your pillow, both widthwise and lengthwise.

I decided to finish the square with ribbon because the ribbon was exactly the right size to make my square come out to 17 inches. This is a lovely idea when it's draped over the pillow form. It's not the greatest idea when it comes to sewing. All my log cabin seams are 1/4 inch seams. I was sort of in 1/4 inch mode when I came up with the ribbon idea.  I forgot that I 'd figured my measurements for the front square to account for 1/2 inch seams to sew the pillowcase top and bottom together. A 1/2 inch seam would have swallowed all the ribbon. In hindsight, a wider ribbon would have been more appropriate. In this case, I made my seams allowances smaller so that you can see more ribbon and I reinforced within the seam allowance at stress points to keep the ribbon from unravelling. It's beautiful, but it would fit just a little better if the seam allowances had been that 1/2 inch I had orginally planned. 

Once the front is finished to the rght dimensions, it's time to cut the back.

I used a luxurious piece of Loulouthi velveteen.

The back piece is cut one inch longer than the pillow form and four inches wider. Those four inches become the overlap for the envelope closure. (In my case, the pillow form is 16 inches, so the velveteen was first cut to 17 inches high by 21 inches wide.)

Lay the piece out with the long side on the top and the bottom and cut it in half from top to bottom. (I cut the 21 inch width to two pieces that were each 10 1/2 inches wide and 17 inches high.)

Turn one of the just-cut edges under 1/4 inch and press. Turn it under another 1/4 inch and press again. 

Sew the hem down close to the fold.

Repeat for the other just-cut edge.

Put the front cover on the table in front of you pretty side up.

Is it pretty side up?

Now line up one unhemmed edge with the edge of cover. Pretty side down. The pretty sides of the front and the back are facing each other inside. Pin carefully, matching it all up along the edges.

Line up the other unhemmed edge on the still exposed pretty side of the front of the cover. When you line up the raw edges of the front and the back, you'll find the hemmed edges overlap. This is a good thing!

(this picture is a corner folded over so that you can that at this stage the ugly sides show on the front and the back)

Almost finished:-)

Sew a 1/2 inch seam all the way around the perimeter of the cover. That's it,  just around the perimeter.

Trim the corners.

Turn it right side out. Stuff with pillow form.

See how pretty?

Easy. 

And so worth every single stitch.

Just because it's beautiful.

(Why yes! I do believe you're right, it does match the boxes in my sewing room.  Hmmm...)

Moments Like These

On Thursday Night

Dear Karoline,

I sat in my studio this afternoon, catching up on paperwork and gridding a busy weekend into my planner. I could feel my shoulders rising to nearly touch my ears. I know my forehead creased with concern. Heavy thoughts. Creeping cold.

I heard the gathering storm downstairs. You, with all your creative ideas and grand plans for elaborate play. Your sister, with her own agenda. You kind of fell apart. You burst through my doors, earnest tears streaming down your face and big sobs sucking air from your lungs. Why did they not understand, you demanded. Why didn't they know that you saw this whole play scheme so clearly in your head? Whatever the reason, they didn't. 

I glanced at the flannel stacked neatly on the shelf and remembered that I'd promised to sew with you today. 

"Let's make something."

The clouds parted and your smile shone sunshine all over that room. You pinned intently. You sewed on the machine with utter glee. For the first time ever, you pressed the pedal all by yourself the whole time. And you filled your cozy with corn. 

Tonight, you are tucked up in my bed with the work of your hands, claiming that you want to share its warmth with me. 

We are both warmed.

Sweet dreams, sweet girl.

xo

mama

A Beautiful Scarf from Start to Finish {Even you don't sew it, skip to the end to see how to tie it}

Mary Beth is my best encourager when it comes to handwork. She's happy to listen to my sewing ideas or help me hunt down the perfect yarn or knitting pattern. She even likes to sew a bit herself (though she doesn't quite admit it). But as many moms of teenagers know, it's not always easy to make something for them. They don't seem to appreciate the fine line between handmade and homemade;-).

So, when I hit upon these scarves and I stitched the first one up( a gift for my mom) and Mary Beth looked more than a little interested, I pounced. I made one for her--my very first middle-of-the night sewing project. It was ready when she headed off to the mall with her oh-so-stylish dance friends the next morning. She wore it well and was rather delighted when even store clerks commented and asked her where she got it. 

I had had grand plans to make a jacket from Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush velveteen for me to wear for Christmas Eve. I never got to it. Not even close. So, Mary Beth graciously offered me her scarf so that I could have just a little bit of that lovely AMH color to wear after all.

 

Together, we decided we needed a few more. So, when I should have been packing for Disney, I did a little sewing.

I highly recommend buying the kits, unless you are going to make several scarves of the same fabric combinations. It's two long, narrow pieces of fabric in lovely, luxurious voile. The kits are actually a more affordable way to manage the fabric purchase. (Besides, I love to order directly from the artist. In this case, it was late at night when I started to do my first and I emailed "the company," confessing I needed some direction. Anna herself emailed me back lickety-split. That was an unexpected bonus. My personal rule is always to order from the artist or author directly if possible. It's just the nice thing to do, all around. And I know firsthand that authors like to hear from you.)

Even if you buy the kit, expect to do some trimming. Both fabrics need to match each other exactly. Pin right sides together, being generous with pins because that lovely voile is a bit slippery.

Use a fine needle. I used these and I was very glad I did. It makes a big difference when machine stitching voile. I started in the middle of a shorrt row--it doesn't work so well to start at the corners. I left about a three inch opening so that I could turn the scarff right side out. I marked the opening by putting two pins at the beginning and end of where I'd stitch, so that I remember to stop. I used my quarter inch foot so that my seam would be super-straight, stopping with the needle down and pivoting around the corners. I backtacked at the begnning and end.

Then, I trimmed the corners to reduce the bulk. 

Turned the whole scarf rightside out.

Poked those corners nice and square with a chopstick.

Then I really took my time rolling that seams out as flat as possible to press, so that only the right fabric would show on either side.

Lots of steam. Press well. (Make a note to make a new ironing board cover before ever showing pressing pictures again.)

I tucked the unfinished edges of the hole where I'd turned the scarf under and pressed those well and pinned a bit. Then I stitched all the way around, using about an 1/8 inch seam.

Then I looked to my expert for a tying tutorial.

Grab the scarf in the middle and hold the loop.

Pull it around your neck.

Take one tail and put it through the loop.

Take the other tail and put it over the top of the loop.

And then put it under the bottom loop.

Fuss with it a bit to show the sides of the fabric you want to show.

Very pretty!

We might have made a few!

(Oh, and when I went to link today, I noticed all sorts of new things in Anna Maria's shop. My birthday money has been allocated accordingly;-).

Handmade Flannel Comfort

My friend Barbara got me all excited about these microwaveable cozy bags this Christmas. She suggested we go in on a bag of feed corn together. I demured. Said I was ssure my mom would like one and that I'd make one for us, but I didn't think I needed feed corn in bulk. I made my two. Then I emailed about more corn. Much more corn. My kids were all wanting the one I made. I wanted the one I made. Mike ended up with the one I made. We need many, many more.

Now that the gifts have been given, I can share them with you.

This is an excellent step-by-step tutorial. And here's a little play-by-play of our making.

Two squares of lovely Sandi Henderson Farmer's Market Flannel, right sides together.

Stitch all the way around, leaving an opening to use to turn it right side out. I usually double pin at either side of that opening so I don't get distracted and forget to stop and then stitch the whole thing closed.

Trim the corners so there's no bulk.

This was a great tip: slip a paper towel holder inside to help iron the seams flat.

Turn the square right sides out and use chopsticks to gently push those corners square.

Then, use that paper towel holder again to pour the corn feed corn into the square. I sprinkled my corn liberally with eucalyptus essential oil before pouring it into the square. Then I just stitched that hole closed. Ta dah!

Then, I moved on to make some narrower, long bags for necks and shoulder.

I have a thing for ric-rac. Love, love, love it! So when I saw these, I was sure they were for me. Only I wanted prettier. And pinker. But of course:-). Again, click on the tutorial for the full details. Everything you need to know is right there.

Both the neck warmers and the cozy can be used in the microwave to heat or in the freezer for an ice pack. We need ice packs all the time around here, so I'm making many--some to store in the freezer awaiting the next need for a cold pack and some for warming. 

It gets a little tricky to sew those channels with the rice in the bag. I found it helpful to push the rice all the way down into the bag and then pin right above it, all the way across, to try and trap the rice. It was also helpful to use striped flannel, so I didn't have to mark my stitching lines. See the sole green pin on that blue line? That's where I'm going to sew. The line of pins below is the rice-trapping line. It's a bit tedious, but so worth it.

Never Enough Fabric, Right? (it's a giveaway)

When I first started sewing, I was sort of a stash snob. What I mean is I really thought people who stashed piles of fabric were clutterbugs. I figured that it was probably best to find a project and then buy fabric for it. Clearly, I didn't understand fabric. I didn't understand that I could fall so in love with fabric that I'd dream about it and then POOF! it would go out of stock. Then, I'd have to start a long involved quest to find just enough for what I dreamt. I also didn't really understand the creative impulse that can sometimes sweep over one  (or one's children) unexpectedly. The machine begins its sweet, alluring song, just the right project presents itself, and bummer, no fabric. Have to order. And wait. Hate that.

So, now I stash with the best of them. I moved another couple of rows of very dated media and production guides out of what used to be called Mike's office and decorated the shelves with stacks of lovely color. I like to sit in the chair across from the shelves and just inhale deeply. Love that cotton smell. Fabric makes me happy. And the promise of creating beautiful things with fabric makes me smile a hopeful smile.

The Fat Quarter Shop is offering to give away $50 worth of fabric. That is fifty dollars towards stashing something amazing. Something that might not be there next year. Something beautiful and inspiring and, well, happy.

What would you stash if you could? What are your favorites in your fabric stash? I really want to know--because suddenly, I'm sort of obsessed with fabric.

Oh, and speaking of tucking it away now, while it's available, and you're thinking about it, have you clicked around The Christmas Cloth Store? It might make you behave really irresponsibly and drop everything you thought you should be doing the week before Christmas in order to make something pretty terrific with Christmas Fabric (which I have stashed with reckless abandon, by the way).

Stashing. It's a good thing. And pretty, too.

Leave a comment. Win some fabric:-)