Pillows for ME!

My new couch needs accent pillows!

Well, actually, things are still in a very unfinished state, we need new lamps, new pictures,  the new table coming from Bali and my two old chairs will be taken away for recovering on Saturday. 

But, pillows are something I can do!

First I have to determine how big I want these pillows and what style do I want.

I found a neat page with line drawings of a bunch of pillow styles.

So, I could make a square with cording around the edge like this middle one.  This is what all the other pillows on the couch are like.  Or, I could put a button in the center, or purchase some interesting fringe to put around the outside. OR, I could make a pillow with gathered corners like the first illustration. 


And what size do I want?  Well, I need something to look at to decide. And I will use the pillows from my old couch to try out different sizes.

First I try this old paisley pillow, it is 16" x 16", a bit too small and flat.

Don't quite like that.

Then this green pillow. It's 19" x 19", way too big! I feel like Goldilocks.

Not here, either.

So I try folding and pinning the green one to make it a rectangle.

But, if I wrap the paisley on with my new fabric, it makes it just a little larger which is "just right".

The pillow I like is 17" x 17", which is not a standard pillow form size, they are all made in even inch sizes (14" x 14", 16" x 16", 18" x 18", etc). I almost always make my own pillow forms anyway, it's cheaper and I can stuff them just as hard or soft as I like.

So easy ... for a 17" x 17" pillow form I cut square of muslin 18" x 18" which gives me a 1/2" seam allowance all around.

After sewing I turn it to the right side and stuff it just how I like.

I squeeze it down to be able to sew the opening closed with my machine.

I want to look for an interesting cord or fringe, but if I can't find anything I will cover cord with the same fabric.

More tomorrow.