Pillow Tutorial

Many of the blogs I have visited lately have featured beautiful rooms and pillows done in shades of cream. I am usually more of a color girl and have lots of rich, deep colors in my home but after a long, long winter I have been inspired to play with lighter colors. I decided to make a couple of ruffle pillows in some creamy whites, so I dug through my fabric cabinet and came up with these pieces left over from previous projects. I ended up choosing the cream quilted diamond fabric and the taupe and cream diamond print.

I took one basic ruffle and made two different styles. For the first pillow I did a ruffle straight across the pillow and for the second, I took the same ruffle but tacked it into a circle to create a flower.

 We will start with the straight ruffle first. Choose your pillow form and measure the length and width. Add one inch to each measurement, this extra inch will be your seam allowance. I used a 14 X 14 inch pillow so I cut two squares of fabric 15 x15 inches. Set these pieces aside while you make the ruffle.

To determine the length of fabric you will need to make your ruffle, multiply the width of the pillow by 2 1/2. This will make a nice full ruffle.  I took 14 inches (width of pillow)  x 2.5= a strip of fabric 35 inches long. Now to figure the ruffle width.
 I wanted a ruffle that when finished was 2 3/4 inches wide so I cut a strip of fabric 6 and 1/2 inches wide. This will allow for folding in half plus the seam allowance.
So, for the ruffle I cut a strip that was 6 1/2 inches wide and 35 inches long.

To sew the ruffle, fold the right sides together lengthwise and press the fold. Sew the raw edge lengthwise using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Sew one end leaving the other end open for turning. Turn right side out and press so that you have a long flat tube.

To gather your ruffle you can use a basting stitch on the sewing machine but if the ruffle isn't very long I just baste it by hand, weaving up and down through the material about every 1/4 inch or so, be sure to tie a knot in the end of the thread before you begin. Leave some extra thread at the end so that you have room to adjust your ruffle without it falling off the thread.

Once you have the ruffle gathered lay it across the pillow where you want it, I chose to have my ruffle off center. Adjust the ruffles so they are evenly spaced. Pin in place. Make sure the ruffle is straight before you begin, mine looked a little wobbly in this picture.

Sew down the center of the ruffle over your basting thread to attach it to the pillow.

Now you are ready to sew the pillow. Place the front and back of the pillow together with right sides facing each other, sew around the outside of the pillow using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Leave an opening on one side that is large enough to put your pillow form through. Clip the corners as shown and turn right side out.

                                    Put the pillow form in through the opening.

Fold the raw edges in toward the inside of the pillow and pin the opening closed. Sew shut by hand.

There you have it. I am loving the cream!

 Now I'll show you how to make a flower. Measure, cut and sew the same ruffle as instructed above but once you have turned the tube right side out baste the open end closed by hand. Press flat. This will give you a long tube with no openings. Gather your ruffle as before.

This time, once you have the ruffle gathered, sew right down the middle of the RUFFLE ONLY right over your basting stitches. Do not sew it to the pillow. You will end up with a loose ruffle that looks like this.

Next start shaping your ruffle into a flower. Holding one end start turning the ruffle in a circle around its self

As you form the flower tack it on the back side to hold it together. I like to use Embroidery floss instead of thread for this, it is much stronger than thread. I cut a length of floss and divide out 3 strands to use.

Continue turning and tacking. Be certain to look at the front as you go along to make sure you are getting the look of a flower.

When you reach the end of the ruffle tack the end and knot your floss to secure.

Make your pillow as above sewing right sides together leaving an opening on one side big enough to fit your

pillow form through. Clip the corners and turn right side out.

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Place your completed flower in the center of the front side of your pillow. Tack in place.

Now you are ready to insert your pillow form and sew the opening closed as with the pillow above.

For a little sparkle I added a vintage broach to mine.

There you have it, one ruffle, two styles!

                                                                                 Jodie

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