Simple Pillow Tutorial

When I make a pillow cover, I like to make it as a pillow sham. This way the stuffing is easily removed for cleaning.

The first thing is to make two panels for the back of the pillow. I cut each two-thirds of the width of the pillow and the same height of the pillow.

back pieces overlap to match top

fold back edge and stitch

Then, I hem the exposed center edges of the back panels. I fold the edge back once or twice (depending on the heaviness of the fabric and its end use). In this case, this fabric is a quilted ticking. The pillow will be used on the back porch swing...it is not precious! For a fancier finish, I would fold the fabric twice and stitch with a fancy decorative stitch.

Pin Pin Pin

With right sides together, overlap the two back pieces (with the hemmed edges in the center of the pillow)and lay them onto the front. Pin, pin, pin.

Old Lady Pin Cushion

TANGEANT ALERT!
I knew you were admiring my "Old Lady" pin cushion. This pin cushion began with a soap dish. I cut a piece of practice quilting to fit. I stuffed the soap dish with wool roving, glued the quilted piece to the edges of the dish, then finished it with gluing three windings of wool yarn. My sister, Mary Ann, gave me the little old lady (flea market find!) and I slipped her over the ornamental metal piece of the soap dish.

Back to the pillow tutorial:

Use a Sturdy Stitch

  Stitch all around the the pillow edge with a sturdy stitch. I like this one in the photo. It is a slanted zig-zag stitch, sometimes called a lightning stitch. This stitch will be very hard to pull out. I use regular Dual Duty sewing thread for stitching the pillow together.

turn right side out

 Now, turn the pillow right side out.

back of completed pillow cover

Now, Stuff It! I use a pillow form that is one size bigger than the pillow cover. This gives a nice full pillow. Sometimes, I make my own pillow form with leftover quilt batting and insert that into the pillow sham.

showing back of stuffed pillow

If you want, at this point, you can slip stitch the pillow closed.

pillow on back porch swing

Special Textile Pillow

I have collected interesting textiles since I was a teenager. However, my collection has not stayed intact. I have used what I collect in my own mixed textile work, framed things and given things away to people who have a particular interest in a piece.

Molas and base fabric

I found these two wonderful molas at a flea market for $2 a piece! I made them into a pillow. The black striped fabric is a piece of nubby silk.

A mola is a form of applique needlework originated in South America. Layers of colored fabrics are basted together with a picture drawn on the top layer. Areas are cut out of the top layer, edges are folded under and stitched. Each time another layer is cut into a shape and stitched, the color fabric underneath is revealed. There is 6 layers of fabric in these molas and they are hand stitched. There is additional hand embroidery. These two little works of art did not deserve to be hidden away!

Additional hand embroidered details

           

2-sided fabric for pillow back

The photo on the left shows the black fabric for the back of the pillow. I could use either side to show.

Use a lint roller when stitching on black fabrics

When using black fabrics, I like to have a lint roller handy because every piece of lint and string shows up.

interfacing on back of silk

 My first step is to iron a piece of fusible interfacing to the back of my silk. This will stabilize the fabric for stitching.

Dual Duty red thread

 

 

 

 

 

Next, I will position my molas on the black silk and pin, pin, pin. I chose to use two red threads to stitch . The reds are very close in color (just a little different). Follow your sewing machine book's instructions for threading a twin needle in your machine. Then, use a size 90/14 embroidery needle and thread both threads through the eye of the needle. You will have a nice full stitch. You should also lessen the top thread tension on your sewing machine to around half of your normal stitching tension. (For more information about this go to my youtube page and look at "Threads and Settings").

Stitch Saved on my Bernina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the stitch I will use to applique my molas to the silk. I have it saved in my favorites because I use it a lot.

Position work on center of foot

The next step is to stitch the molas to the silk. You can use the presser foot of your machine to guide the stitches along the edge of the mola.

Edge stitching

Here is how the stitch looks. I stitched on the inside edge of the mola. It gives the mola a finished look as well as stitching it to the silk.

Here is the pillow on the chair. In its cozy little spot.....and the grand kids love the "toy quality" of this pillow.