Basic Pillow Sewing Tutorial | Days of Chalk and Chocolate

Basic Pillow Sewing Tutorial

Share It:
If you are a regular reader you know I'm a very novice sewer. My heart is there but my skill is not. That being said, I keep trying!  My mom was a sewer so growing up I watched her and gleaned this and that from watching her. I hope to use a lot of the blog tutorials to make my sewing more advanced and start doing more intricate projects. But until that happens THANK GOODNESS FOR PILLOWS!!  And I figure I can't be the only starter sewer out there so here is a tutorial for all of those who sew a button on and need 4 Band Aids afterward.

I made these pillows last week:



This is how I did it:


Step 1:  Choose your fabric. I chose cotton duck because my original pillows were brick red and I wanted to cover them. It wrinkles so easily that I don't know I'd use it again but it certainly is durable.



Step 2:  Measure your pillows and add an inch to all the sides for your seam allowance. Cut out two pieces. Lay them so their right sides are together. Pin if you need to. I did not.


Step 3:  Start sewing. I create a knot by running the needle on 0 a couple of times and then move forward. Love sewing in a straight line. Love. It.  To make neat and clean corners bring the foot of your machine up and  manually bring the needle down and turn your fabric.  Release the foot back down and continue sewing on your next side. Don't make a knot and start over.



Step 4: Continue sewing. Depending on the size of your pillow leave an unsewn opening so you can insert your pillow. Obviously, you're thinking, right?  Yeah, obvious. I have almost always  never stitched it up.




Step 5: I like to trim my seam allowance a bit at this point and I also make a small slit in the corners so they don't bunch when you turn it right side out which is the next step.

Step 6: Turn right side out. Use a long, not sharp, object to help you get the corners out perfectly. I use a long knitting needle because it works perfectly.


Step 7: Insert pillow and seal up the opening. Now here is where real sewers should look away and sew a prom gown or something. I don't sew my openings up. They never look good to me because it should be done by hand and it looks different from the rest of the stitching. I use Liquid Stitch which is essentially a really strong fabric glue.  Run a small bead of glue along the seam you need to close and clip it closed with clothes pins, paper clips, magnets shaped like fish...whatever!   Leave overnight.






Step 8:  Rest your weary, all-sewn-out head on the pillow you just created!




For these specific pillows I glued the ribbon trim on before I sewed the pillow. I used hot glue (technical, I know) and extended it past my seam allowance so it would be neatly sewn in between the seams.



The flowers are just hot glued on too.

I will have more pillows to show you soon!  I really have to learn to slipcover this sofa so I can stop making pillows.  It's not leaving me much time to make flowers. HA HA HA!


Enjoy your long weekend!

Cheers!
Jenny

11 comments:

  1. I am your new biggest fan! I love these pillows. I'm sure they look awesome on your couch. And even better under your head!!! :-))

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL at "this is where real sewers should look away and sew a prom gown or something..."

    I just broke my sewing machine out after a long time...I might have to try to make some pillows! I want to know how to make the cute flowers too...

    ReplyDelete
  3. You may think you are a novice, but I think it's awesome that you have inspired me to break out my needle and thread to try sewing again. I love these pillows and I am a new follower. I also really like your wreaths, Those are right up my alley. I'll have to practice more on the flowers. Hope I can make a Christmas one (if I can learn this in time) Thanks for sharing.
    Happily Scrapbooking My Memories~S`andraV.
    Http://ohmyscraps2u.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. you are talking my language sister! with the glue on that one piece.. I can barely sew a straight line on a sewing machine so hopefully I'd be able to glue a straight line :) cute pillows!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. these are really cute! i just made some pillows too, but i'm loving your liquid stitch method much more :) now following your blog, follow mine if you'd like! :)

    http://www.capernaumhome.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Very cute--I love their simplicity!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love your pillows and your glue tip! I love Liquid Stitch and have even glued metal hardware to burlap with it! Couldn't live without it. I haven't used it to finish a pillow but I certainly will now! Thanks for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Tres Magnifique!!! I am featuring this post today on my blog with a wink and a link back to you of course!!! I hope you don't mind:)
    XOXO,
    Tasha

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really like this idea. It's hard to know what to do after you add your pillow to the cover. Liquid Stitch is something I must try@ Thank you for sharing this @ Show & Share!

    ReplyDelete
  10. these pillows are so cute! I love them! I would love it if you would share this and/or any other projects you have been up to at Tuesday Talent Show at Chef In Training! Thanks so much and I hope to see you there!
    -Nikki
    http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love this! SO good! Thanks for linking up to Things I've Done Thursday! Hope you'll join in again this week!

    Melanie
    bearrabbitbear.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your comments!