How To DIY: Sewing a Trellis Patterned Pillow

What You’ll Need (measurements are for a 14×14 pillow):

• 1 yard of Brown Cotton Fabric (cut into a 17×19 square – rest of the fabric will be used for the pattern)
• 1/2 yard of Cream Cotton Fabric (cut into a 17×17 square)
• Sewing machine
• Chalk
• Scissors

Steps:

1) Using chalk draw out the shape that you’ll want to sew onto your maine colored fabric. For this particular pillow I drew five shapes that were 8 inches tall and 7 inches wide. The reason you use chalk is because it will wash off easily with water, and doesn’t leave a permanent mark on the fabric.

2) Cut out the five shapes. If they aren’t completely even it’s okay, it will be fixed when you sew over the edges.

3) Map out how you want the pattern to look on the fabric:

4) Using safety pins, secure each pieces onto the larger fabric. This will ensure your pattern is easier to keep in place while you’re sewing the different pieces on. 

5) Sew all five pieces to the base fabric. You should use a tight zig zag stitch right on the edge of the brown fabric and have it overlap onto the cream fabric. Once you’ve sewn all five pieces, the reverse side should look something like this: (remember this is when your pillow is inside out).

6) Finish off the pillow by securing the back with a sleeve insert. Instructions for a sleeve pillow cover can be found here.

7) Flip the pillow right-side-out and insert your 14×14 inch pillow!

I am so excited about these throw pillows. And although they did take some time to finish, it was completely worth it! Stitching your own pattern makes the pillows look like you got them straight out of a designer store, but only costing 1/4 of the price!

{I Do} It Myself Pillows!

The Brother sewing machine has come in and I’ve spent the last week going sew crazy! I’ve wanted plain tan/beige pillows but in my search they were all over priced and I knew I could do it for less. So I headed to JoAnn fabrics and purchased standard canvas cotton fabric. For the pillows I did an open sleeve. Here are some photos of the process:

For a 18×18 Pillow follow this how to:

1. Cut a 20×20 square of fabric. Then cut a 23×23

2. Cut the 23×20 piece in to 13×20 and 10×20

3. Fold one end of the the 13×20 and of 10×20 one inch down.

4. Sew the folds on each piece.

5. Match up the ends of the larger piece of fabric (9×20) with the larger 20×20 piece. Sew along the three edges to seal.

6. Repeat step 5 with the 12×20 piece, creating the sleeve.

7. Flip the pillow cover right side out and put in your pillow insert.

Finished product:

On the couch! (sorry about the terrible pic! When I was done the sun was down and natural light wasn’t an option)

Next up is the gorgeous coffee table turned bench with matching pillow!