Shortcuts for Making Perfect Pillows (Sew or No Sew)…

 

 

I am knee deep right now in organizing my new office/craft room and doing all of the little projects.  Today, I’m sharing some great shortcuts for making pillows (sew or no sew).

I hope to have the final craft room reveal post up soon but it’s been a little slow going because I have veered off from my plan a little bit.    If you have missed any of the updates and videos along the way, you can find them by clicking the image directly below:

 

 

So in the meantime, I thought I would share my pillow project that I’ve been working on for my new office space. Over the years, I have picked up some great shortcuts that really makes popping out a perfect pillow so much easier (say that 10 times fast!).  These little tricks that I’m sharing with you today have saved me so much time and I can now make a gorgeous perfect pillow in less than 30 minutes.

For “No-Sew” pillow making, follow the same instructions below until you get to #3 and then skip to #7 for the rest of the ” No-Sew” instructions.

So let’s jump right into my little shortcuts!

1) I always start off by creating a poster board template of the size of the pillow that I want:

 

 

 

The reason I always use a template is because it guarantees that my pillows are perfect in the dimension and pattern layout.  It also helps a lot of you are using a different fabric on the front and back.  Because my Schumacher Kirbati fabric was so pricey, I am only using it on the front and using a beautiful (much less expensive) Danish Linen on the back:

 

 

2) I center my template on the fabric and then with a ball point pen, I trace the template:

 

 

Because I sew on the inside of the pen line, the pen line is hidden on the inside of the pillow.  If you’re more comfortable, you can use fabric/chalk marker sold in the sewing section at craft stores.

I also trace the template on the fabric that will be on the back of the pillow.

3) I then cut out my traced fabric (both front and back panels) 1 inch beyond my pen lines:

For No-Sew Instructions, skip down until you get to #

4) I then place my front panel (pattern side facing up) on the table and lay my back panel on top of it with the pen lines facing up (because you will turn your pillow inside out when you are done sewing, the pen line on the back panel will be on the inside of the pillow as well):

 

This is why the pen lines are so great, all I have to do is line up my pen lines corner to corner and pin:

 

 

5)  I the begin sewing halfway down on the pinned pillow (following along the line on my back panel) just about a 1/4th inch inside of the pen line:

 

 

I sew all the way around the pillow staying inside of the pen line until I get about a 1/3rd of the way down the first side where I started to sew.  In other words, I leave a small opening for my hand where I can slide in the pillow fluff:

 

 

Next, I turn the pillow inside out, which is really the pillow cover itself:

 

 

6) I always make my pillows using polyfill that you can pick up at the craft stores or Walmart:

 

 

the reason I do this is that the pillows are way fluffier, it’s far less expensive than buying a pillow form and I can make custom size pillows. The other thing is you can better fluff up a pillow as well over time. Polyfill is only about $2.99 and one bag is enough to fill a 20 inch standard pillow.

Another trick that I use is that as I pull the polyfill out of the bag, I pull it apart over and over, like I’m shredding it and then I stuff my pillow and this makes the pillows even fluffier and fuller:

 

Once I fill my pillows, I pin my opening using my fabulous pen lines as my guide and I stitch the opening with the sewing machine.  Once my pillow is finished, I punch it and push it until the fluff is just right!

7) ***For No-Sew pillows:

Once you have your front and back panels cut (cut an inch beyond your line), lay your front panel pattern side up (facing you) and Cut a narrow 3/4th inch strip of Heat n Bond Ultra Hold (available at all craft stores in the sewing section)  and place it and iron it 1/4th inch beyond your drawn line on the pillow front.  (You can also use the Heat N Bond 7/8th Ultra Hold Strips as well):

 

Do four strips around the pillow on each side this way and iron it according to the instructions. When it cools, pull the backing off the Heat n Bond and iron your pillow back panel (line to line) to the heat and bond BUT… leave a small opening for your hand in one of the sides for you to fill with pillow fluff.

 

Once you are done ironing and it has completely cooled (I give it 30 minutes just to be sure), turn the pillow inside out and this is actually the right side of how the edges of your pillow will look:

 

 

Then follow the directions for filling with polyfill and once filled, iron the two panels together where you have the Heat N Bond strip.  To make it easier, you can push all of the fluff to the other side of the pillow and iron. I saw a great tip to use a hair flat iron!!

Then re-fluff your pillow.

 

Well it’s back to pillow making I go! I sure hope you guys can use these tips and shortcuts and if you have any tricks to add, I would love for you to share them with us in the comment section.

 

I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as I start to do the finishing touches. I can’t wait to be able to finally get it finished and share it with you all!

Cheers!
Cyndy