18 February 2011

Pillow Talk

I have been on a pillow making spree, I tell ya.


It all started, really, with receiving Stacey's pillow that I showed you here. It looked lonely on my couch. Then, Sew Mama Sew is having their pillow contest, there's the blogger's pillow party on Stitched in Color...and I gave in to my impulses.  What can I say?  With all the sickness going around our home, sewing helps me feel better.



Each pillow has a zipper closure, based on Creative Little Daisy's tutorial on Sew Mama Sew.   I love that the flap can be matching or contrasting.


The first pillow I completed was based on Jessica's tutorial.  I loved this pillow when first saw it featured on UCreate.  I've wanted to make one ever since. 


The only big change is that I used Jessica's other method of making small appliques here, rather than satin stitching the leaves on.  The backing is a used dryer sheet. 


The back is a brown print I've had in my stash for a while. 
==========================

Second pillow I made was based on Vanessa's tutorial.



I used my finished edge heart tutorial for the opening.   The fabric is some of the scraps left of my beloved Savon Bouquet fabric.

Here's a little photo essay of how it came together...and how I screwed up!  I first sewed the whole thing up, and turned it out just to realize I'd put the wrong sides together.  Thank goodness I have a really great seam ripper.

==========================

Once warmed up with those two pillows, I really had fun.  We now have a separate living room, which I love.  It needed some accessories, and pillows were a perfect start.  I  made two coordinating bolster pillows. 


The first pillow is based on Elizabeth's Yoyo pillow tutorial shared on Sew Mama Sew a few years ago.  The second, based on Make it Do's Crazy for Zigzag pillow.  The fabrics are a mix of Heather Bailey's Fresh Cut, Anna Maria's Chocolate Lollipop, Del Hi's Butterflies, and Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet...with a few other scraps I had in my stash. 

I'm calling my yoyo bolster, the Little Gems pillow.  The zigzag, I'm dubbing the Breaking Out pillow.  Fun!  The color scheme all stems from my prized Greg Olson print, O Jerusalem, with a bit of turquoise thrown in for pop.

Photo of O Jerusalem from our old house

First off, each pillow started as 19" by 11" rectangles, sewn together with 1/2" seams.  In  making the Little Gem pillow, I made two different sized yoyos.  The larger ones started as 5.5" diameter circles, and the smaller ones as 3" diameter circles.  I followed Elizabeth's method for the most part.  I did find that when using the "knotless" knot, that it was easier to leave a large loop like this:


The larger size yoyos were all the same color, and then I used several different fabrics for the smaller size.  Elizabeth's yoyos were all one size, and linked side by side.  I sewed mine together in a diamond pattern.  Hence, Little Gems. 


I sewed each yoyo in the diamond pattern by hand.  Then using heat n bond lite, I fused the yoyos to the background fabric as a way to baste them, and then sewed each yoyo on to the fabric by hand.  When all the yoyos were secure, I added the pillow back.


I am in L.O.V.E. with this pillow.  It has a lot of heft to it, the texture is phenomenal.  Now my brain is buzzing with all the other things I could embellish with yoyos. 

The Breaking Out pillow was put together following Make it Do's tutorial a little more strictly.  I did use heat n bond lite to keep the zigzags together prior to sewing them on.


When I applied the zigzags, I decided I wanted to add one as the transition between the solid color and the patterned.  I really like how it came together.


When the sun comes back, I'll take some photos of the pillows in the living room.  So, that's my long pillow story.  I'd love to know which ones you think I should add to the Sew Mama Sew contest.  I'm adding a poll to my sidebar, please let me know what you think!


UPDATE:  Here's the poll results:


Featured on Tatertots and Jello  Creation Corner, and Humble Homemaking!

Sharing with:
Blogger's Pillow Party

Freckled Laundry, Creation Corner, Tatertots and Jello, Along for the Ride, Be Different Act Normal, Creative Jewish Mom, Sew Many Ways, and Get Your Craft On.

linkpartyThe Girl Creative

33 happy thoughts:

Becky said...

Seriously?! I adore this tutorial! Nicely done. Thanks, now I have to work on these pillows this weekend, like I didn't have anything else to do! :)

Have a great weekend!

Becky
www.liberatecreativity.com
Unleash your creativity

Impera Magna said...

Wow... what incredible pillows you've made! I'm liking that zigzag pillow a little too much... might be one in the offing here soon...

Humble Homemaker said...

All of these are adorable! So cute. Feel free to link them up to my Weekend Review Link Party. I know everyone else would fall in love with them too. ;) Have a great day!
http://humblehomemaking.blogspot.com/

Tasha said...

Oh my word Chris they are FABULOUS. All 4 of them. Seriously I am in love with them all. I do not even know which one to vote for. I like each for different reasons. So very very fun.

Becky McKenzie said...

I love your pillows! The yo-yo's are my favorite!
Have you ever used the tool for yo-yos that Clover has? It makes them so easy, I showed my 7 year old how to make them with it! I think you can get them at JoAnn's or my local quilt shop carries them, too...
I think I will have to make up a few and stitch a pillow this long weekend.
Thanks for the inspiration!

Jess@craftiness is not optional said...

these are amazing Chris!!

Katie @ Creatively Living said...

Fasntastic Job! Love them all!!!

--Katie
www.blah2beautiful.blogspot.com
Creatively Living Outside the Box

chris said...

@Becky McKenzieI haven't tried a yoyo maker, but Elizabeth's method was super easy to follow.

Unknown said...

Oh my heavens!!! These are gorgeous, Chris. I am so making that heart one. Love these. What a labor of love the yo-yo pillow (C) was. I'd love to make that but I'm too ADHD.

xoxo,
Jami

claudia b said...

omg your pillows are awesome! that's funny about our post titles ;D

Heidi Wilcox said...

Love, Love, Love them!!!! I got the car seat cover today too and all I can say is THANK YOU! I'm so lucky to have a sister like you that is so generous with her talent!! Love you sis.

Heidi Wilcox said...

Love, Love, Love them!!!! I got the car seat cover today too and all I can say is THANK YOU! I'm so lucky to have a sister like you that is so generous with her talent!! Love you sis.

Caroline said...

Love them all but the yo-yo one is my fave.

Sarah Marie Kathleen said...

You are like the pillow queen! I love them all, I think the yo yo one is my favorite though and something I am going to have to make for myself.

Stephanie said...

Wow,Chris you out did yourself with these! They are so unique and creative, but go together so beautifully. I think I will pull out that yoyo thing one day and try it again. Love tthem all!

Anonymous said...

Wow, these are gorgeous!! I love them all, but am particularly taken with the yoyo one! So beautiful.

Tiffany said...

Yo yo, fo sho. I thought it was the heart but once I saw the yo yo up close, sealed the deal.

Kim said...

I love all of them! I really can't pick a favorite but I was immediately drawn to the yo yo pillow. They are all darling and you did a fabulous job! Thanks for sharing your talent!!

Sarah @ Modern Country Style said...

I think I like the zig zag one the best.

I can't believe how busy you've been!! Four pillows in one post!!!! This is like craft heaven!

Sarahx

Anonymous said...

My goodness, you are on a roll! :-) I can't even pick a favorite, I love them all!

{oc cottage} said...

Wowie! Wow! Wowzer!

m ^..^

Gwen @ Gwenny Penny said...

Wow, Chris, that's a whole lotta pillows! I think my fave is the zig zag (so cool), followed closely by the bird on the branch. Beautiful work!

Kathryn said...

Those are awesome! I love every single one, don't make me choose. It's like choosing a favorite child :)

Unknown said...

I love each one of these! Makes me want to break out my sewing machine!

Katie @ This Chick Cooks said...

All of your pillows are so cute! I especially like the bird pillow! Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my cheesecake bites.

Katie
Ps- Every Wednesday I feature recipes from all around blogland. I'd love for you to stop by.

Diana said...

I really like B & C but they are all adorable.

Unknown said...

so beautiful!

Nanna Soozanna said...

These cushions are lovely. .... my favourite is the one with the yoyos ... hmm or maybe the bird ... or maybe the heart .... lol they are all delightful. Thanks for sharing.

KJ@letsgoflyakite said...

WOW what superduper post! these are amazing pillows Chris. I have been wanting to create a yo-yo pillow for over a year now. Your yoyo is especially beautiful, as is your Greg Olsen print. I absolutely adore artist renditions of Jerusalem.

Rachel at Stitched in Color said...

Definitely love that little gem! Thanks so much for entering the Pillow Party!

Prudently Painted Vintage said...

Love your pillows! Especially the gem one. I may have to try this!

Visiting from the blog hop

prudentlypaintedvintage.blogspot.com

Humble Homemaker said...

Hi! Thanks for hooking up to my Link Party last weekend! I have picked your projet to feature on This Weekends Party. :) Thanks for the inspiration. Click on the link below to check it out and get your featured button! Have a great day.
Humble Homemaking

Melissa said...

I like the heart pillow but I think my favorite is the No. 6.

:)

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