Time to Sew

I've been making panels to cover the mural in my nursery in such a way so I don't have to paint over it and can take them down later for our kids to enjoy. Anyway, they required fabric, and there was about 1 foot of the one type of fabric left, and 2 ft of the other. So, I decided to have some fun and make some decorative pillows for the nursery with the leftovers... especially since I love the fabrics!

When covering the panels I needed to sew two pieces together as the bolt was only 44 inches across, and I needed 49. In the end, I chopped about 4 inches off the one end near the top of the panel, and decided to use the chopped off extra as a ruffle on a small 6inch square pillow. There was enough that it was 1.5 times the length of the perimeter of the pillow.

Pillows are relatively easy to make, but I'd never done a ruffle on one before, and the extra fabric bulk can be tricky.

Directions:
1. I "quartered" the ruffle after sewing it together and ironing it (sew right sides together at the end of the length, then fold right sides out and iron. Then sew near the base of the ruffle, again RST).
2. Where I made my marks, I pinned them to the corners of one piece of pillow fabric (on the right side of the fabric, with the stitching near the edge and the ironed portion near the center). I then proceeded to "halve" each section, pinning it each time, until each side was "quartered".
3. Using the iron, I pressed the ruffles the way I wanted them. I then sewed around the edge.
4. Once done, I added the other piece of pillow fabric, right sides together with the ruffle hidden inside, and sewed around three and 1/2 sides, leaving an opening big enough to pull the pillow right side out.
5. After stuffing it, I hot glued it shut and whip stitched as well (it was difficult to stitch due to the thickness of the fabric, so hot glue was my backup).

The next pillow was a neck roll.

Directions:
1. I had an 12x8 inch section of fabric on the leafy type, so I cut 2 of the same size with the blue fabric. I sewed them long sides together with the leaf fabric in the center.
2. I added string to the ends of the blue fabric (hem on either side of where the string will come out first to give a finished edge), stitching it inside so it can "gather". I then folded each side in 3-4inches, and ironed and stitched it on the previous stitch line used for the string. (Make sure to "hem" the edge of the fabric where the string is positioned before sewing the folded section).
3. Once this is done, fold entire pillow lengthwise and sew, right side together, along the long edge, keeping holes open where the string will come through.
4. Flip right side out, roll batting 8-10 inches wide and stuff into the center of the pillow.
5. Tighten the strings, wrap around the tied area once or twice, and tie into a bow. There you have it, a neck roll pillow!



The last two pillows were 12x12 pieces of fabric stitched to make an 11 inch square pillow. I used one of each type of fabric so these pillows are the same, blue on one side and leaves on the other.

Directions:
1. Basically, sew starting 2/3 down one of the sides of the pillow around all three sides and then another 1/3 down the starting edge. To make nice crisp corners, stop at each corner, lift the presser foot and rotate fabric 90 degrees.
2. Once sewn, clip each of the corners of fabric off (not too close to the stitch).
3. For nice edges once the pillows are turned right side out, iron the seams "in" flat against the pillow. This will create a nice ironed edge to the opening as well to make whip stitching the pillows shut a lot easier.
4. Stuff the pillows and stitch shut. Voila! Two pillows to match your decor!

Anyway, I have a little bit of fabric left. I just need one more coordinating fabric in the room (probably whatever I'll use to make the diaper stacker with... in a green matching the bedding), and then I want to make 3-4inch blocks out of fabric... I'll post pics of them when I do them...

That's all for now folks! Have fun sewing! ;)