Andrea Schewe Design
  • Home
  • Costumes
    • Reader's Gallery
    • Fantasy Costumes
    • Theatrical
    • Historic >
      • Easier to make
    • International
    • Costumes for Kid's and Babies
  • Crafts
    • Home Decor >
      • Pillows
    • Fashion Accessories
    • Doll Clothes
    • For Kids and Babies
  • Blog
    • Past Blogs by subject >
      • My patterns by number
      • Sewing basics
      • Personal sewing Projects
      • Fashion History
      • Fun and funny stuff
      • Guest Bloggers
      • Crafts and Home Dec
  • Links
  • Contact

Pillows are done!

11/25/2013

0 Comments

 
Well, I put my nose to the grindstone and made made my pillows over the weekend. 
Picture
Picture
And the upholsterers came and took away the two Queen Ann's chair for recovering and refurbishing.  They are 20 years old and need new springs and new foam. I am so looking forward to when they come back.  They will be better than they were when new.

So, let me show you how I made these pillows.  I started with the one in the middle.
Picture
I only bought a half yard of this fabric.  I knew I wanted a rectangular pillow. When I started to make it, I looked at the pattern on the fabric and let that determine the size the pillow would be.  I made is as large as possible while still keeping the diamonds and dots centered.  The measurement ended up being 18 1/2" x 12 1/8". Good thing I am making my own pillow forms with muslin and loose stuffing. That is most definitely NOT a standard size. I added 1" in each direction for a 1/2" seam allowance all around and cut 2 pieces of muslin and 2 pieces of my pillow fabric 19 1/2" x 13 1/8".  
Picture
I stuff my finished pillow form into my finished pillow ... Now had I been smart, I would have put the unstuffed muslin pillow form inside the pillow THEN put the stuffing in. It would have been easier.
Picture
and carefully hand sew up the opening. I used to always put in zippers, but considering how many times I actually take the covers off to clean them, I think I save time this way.
Picture
Plus, if you do a good job, it can almost look like a machine sewn seam.
Then other two pillows will be a little more work, because they have fringe in the seams and the two pillows need to look the same.
Picture
First, I recommend using the muslin that will be the pillow form as a pattern for the actual pillow fabric.
Picture
Then, if you are making 2 or more pillows that should be the same size ... weigh them. That is really the only way to be sure there is the same amount of stuffing in each one.
Read last Thursday's blog for the explanation of how I decided on the size for these two pillows.
Picture
Apply the fringe to one side of the pillow.
Picture
Butt the ends when they meet and zig zag across to secure them.
Picture
Again, do not expect really sharp corners. It is just not possible.
Picture
It is impossible to make really square corners with fringe like this. In no circumstance clip into the trim. It will start to come apart.
Picture
When sewing the two pieces together, have the side with the fringe sewn to it on top so you can follow the first stitch line.
Picture
Now take off the chain stitch that has kept the fringe tidy.
Picture
After stuffing in the pillow form, I hand sew the opening. This one is hard to do. Sewing through the stiff upholstery fabric AND fringe is very thick ... a thimble helps.
Picture
Ready for company
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    From Andrea 

    I am a commercial pattern maker who is now "sewing over 50"!
    I love to sew and hope to encourage others to come back to sewing.
    The water is fine!!

    Archives

    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Archives by Subject

    To search for blog posts in specific categories, use the drop down menu above by hovering over the word "Blog"

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

    Andrea Schewe participates in Amazon's associates program.