Ruffle Pillows

Hi! Just wanted to share my ruffle pillows again that were included in the Simply Handmade Holidays 2011 issue. I know someone had asked for a tutorial and there are step-by-step directions included in the magazine that are super easy to follow and much better photographed than I could have done!

So happy to finally have these pillowcases back home to me! They are the perfect neutral accessory and pretty much the only thing that works with these purple couches my husband brought home! sigh.

Chevron Quilted Pillowcase

In case your not tired of the chevron trend just yet, take a peek at this pillowcase I pieced together last week for the living room. It's so cheerful in yellow!

Here is the tutorial I used at Bee Square Fabrics. Just cut out some squares, cut those squares in half and piece together. Easy peasy! I machine quilted around the edges of the yellow to give it extra definition and pom pom trim on the short sides to make it extra fun.

A bright striped fabric on the back for a little surprise.

And an opening to insert the pillow and remove for washing.

If you find a couple spare hours this weekend, you should totally make one too. Have a good one!

Ruffle Pillows

Ruffles, ruffles everywhere! I seriously love them! Have been working on decorating our living room and made these pillows out of some muslin to match the couch slipcover.

 I love the texture they add and will be a nice neutral compliment to the blues, greens and yellows I'll be adding to the rest of the room. Hope to share more pics of this room soon!

Doily Pillow

Here's a project I've been wanting to make forever and finally got around to this week. I am trying to get my courage up to do a little quilting so practiced by sewing material from an old pillowcase to some fleece leftovers to make it extra cushy. I sewed a pretty thrifted doily to the front with embroidery thread to hide my crooked stitching ;) and to give it that shabby granny look. It's 20x20 and stuffed super full so I can use it in to prop myself up in bed and read.

Have a great weekend!

k monogram pillow

So I finally made something boy-ish. It was really simple and I kind of feel bad for putting it off because my step-son really likes it. He sleeps with it at night and has told me several times, "I LOVE my new pillow!" I always thought decorative pillows were the kind of thing boys could care less about, just a nuisance making it harder for them to sit down comfortably. Or maybe he's so happy because it's finally his turn.

The back and sides are brown corduroy, the gray material was a pre-packaged fat quarter from Joann's, and the "K" is felt, ironed on with fusible interfacing. I used an applique stitch around the "k" to secure, in orange to match the quilt I will one day finish. (I vow not to let it carry out until next year!) Oh and by the way, the interfacing says not to sew through it, but I had no problems and no gunky needle either. Just wait for the glue to dry.

Have a warm and wonderful weekend!

PS. The giveaway from this post is still open until Sunday night!

'K' Birthday Pillow

My little niece turned 5 this week and will be celebrating her birthday this coming weekend. She since has enough clothes and toys for 3 or 4 kids, I decided to be the un-fun aunt and get her something educational - a big book of classic fairytales. To go along with it and to make reading a little more fun, I also made her a decorative pillow to go on her bed and to snuggle with.

First I pinned on the letter K and used an applique stitch to attach it. In hindsight, it would have worked better to use fusible interfacing. Then added the patchwork squares and hand quilted around the letter K and the outside of the pillow with embroidery thread. (The blue thread was machine stitched).

It was so fun to make and turned out so cute, I may just make one for every kid I know!