Beautifying a Boring Pillow
I’ve recently been “trying” out sewing ~ with a machine that is. I really don’t know how or what I’m doing, but I wanted to recover my pillows in the family room – so I figured I’d give it a try. My mom gave me her old sewing machine, so I had no more excuses.
I had leftover fabric from the family room curtains. I measured the pillow forms and added an inch. Then inside outed the fabric… pinned it together & sewed 3 sides… it was a bit scary trying to get the hang of the speed with my foot pedal. But I did it. I hand sewed the 4th side after stuffing with the pillow form. So this is what I had…
Nice, but not super cute! I saw this adorable felt pillow adorned with rosettes and my brain started to spin… hum???
I had left over material from making the pillow cover. I started cutting circles like a madwomen. I made the circles about 2-3 inches. They weren’t all the same size and they certainly weren’t perfectly round.
I then folded them in half like this…
and then again in half like this…
Then I took a needle with my almost matching brown thread and stitched it about 1/2 inches up from the bottom… about where my nail is pointing to above.
I’m sure there’s some technical sewing term to better describe this, but like I said… I don’t sew… so I went from front to back, back to front and then once more front to back. Then I sewed the rosette right onto the pillow. I stitched it on about 3 times, tying it off.
My plan was to make a rosette stripe. Halfway through I ran into a problem ~ I ran out of material…oops!
I put on my thinking cap & remembered this old skirt I had.
I wore this skirt pre-3-kiddo days. Even if I could get it over my hips it is WAY to short for a mom of 3 to wear doing any “mom” duties. 🙂 I had put the skirt in a garage sale pile, but I figured ~ why not ~ just use the material.
Here the pillow is all beautified!
And of course a close-up!
This was such a fun project… I want to ruffle everything right now.
Update… I’m joining The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursday!
That pillow is absolutely darling! I am inspired to make one and I don't sew, either. Thanks for sharing.
Darn cute! I liked that pre-kiddo skirt too-LOL! Maybe I should keep my pre-kiddo clothes around after all.
Lovely idea. Keep going with the sewing.
Very nice idea. Great job. Laura @ the mansion
I am so going to do this. I think it looks great with the 2 different materials. Thanks for sharing. I'm having a giveaway this week if you'd like to stop by.
Reminds me of a cute little toddler butt in "cha cha" onsie (that's a good thing). LOVE IT!!
LOVE it! Super cute ruffles – I'll have to try this one 🙂
Good on ya for using that sewing machine! And those ruffles are a.ma.zing.
Love ruffles and love that pillow!
Well how clever was that!!! WoW!! Darling!
Mama Holli
super cute! looks like something that would fly off the etsy "shelves." 🙂
You can sew! I can not. I try! Love the pillow.
"Sew" cute. 😉 I like the way you described/photo documented each step. Thank you!! 🙂 Thanks for the visit. 🙂
Love it. I think I would just sit on the couch running my fingers up and down the ruffles while I watch TV. 😀
cute!! i love the ruffles…thanks for the easy tutorial
I'm seeing ruffles everywhere these days and loving how everyone is using them just a bit differently. Your project turned out so cute!
pk @ Room Remix
Very cute! I love the ruffles and using an old skirt was genius! It makes me want to go thru my goodwill pile and see if there is any fabric I like. hmmm..
Cute! I think I may need to make some ruffles of my own. Thanks for the easy tutorial!