Sewing Up a Storm : Part IV

Oh, yes. More pillows.....

These are the last ones for now.

I promise.

Made from Dwell Studio fabric from Tonic Living 

My favourite Canadian fabric store!

FYI: The bird pillow is purchased from Dwell Studio, I didn't make that one, just the pair behind it.

{But don't look too closely, I forgot to match the side seams, oops}

But I still have a stash of fabrics, that I am itching to get at. 

***********

Sorry for the next sappy bit. 

Lately my energy has been focussed on organizing university and scholarship applications for my eldest. It feels so daunting and overwhelming. I am having a hard time because it means that my "baby" is going to be leaving the nest soon. Hard to fathom that the little newborn you held in your hands is going to one day grow up to be the most amazing individual and will leave you to embark on their own adventures, ones you may or may not be part of.

Hard to let go. 

Anyone out there relate?

***********

Ok, sap is over.

Have a fabulous weekend my peeps!

XO Barbara

Sewing Up a Storm : Part III

There has been a lot of sewing going on around here. 

First this pillow and then this one.

Using my favourite black and white striped fabric from Ikea, I stitched up this one:

{I love taking photos of the house, you get to see the space through different eyes and realize how much more zhushing the place still needs - see my end table? Blank space. And that mirror niche - who the &*%$# designed that? One of the drawbacks of renting - can't tear that out. Wish I could....}

And ....

I also whipped up this one:

But that isn't all....

I have a few more to share. 

Maybe in a few days? 

Don't want you to get sick of seeing pillows.

XO Barbara

Sewing Up a Storm : Part II

Just as I promised pillow #2. 

This time one for my daughter's room.
Goes beautifully with the striped wall and roman blind fabric. 

Had fun with this one by adding pom-pom fringe that I unearthed in my sewing "stuff".

Love the whole vintage vibe with fabric and pom-poms. 

I am on such a roll sewing pillows. I have a few more to share, later this week.

Sewing pillows is like therapy for me. They cheer me up.

Strange. I know. 

But pillows are a great way to change things up in your house! Perfect for a fabric hoarder collector like me.

My son was impressed with my Imperial Trellis pillow as was my dear blogging friend Monika.

Both encouraging me to sell my wares. 

Maybe. One day.

XO Barbara

Visiting:
SNS @Funky Junk

Sewing up a Storm

This past weekend I dusted off the sewing machine and unearthed some fabrics in my pile and whipped up some pillows.

One pillow was made from another memo I had of Kelly Wearstler's Imperial Trellis fabric in green.

Using some linen I had in my stash I made this:

How I love free fabric samples of luxurious fabric!

Tomorrow I will share another fabulous pillow I made for my daughter's room.

XO Barbara

How to Sew a Pillow with an Invisible Zipper

It is the moment that you have waited for with bated breath, learning how to sew a pillow with an invisible zipper!

Once you have made one, you will realize how easy it really is, except if you add cording. Adding cording will add a bit more work, maybe another time I can show you how.

But today it's all about the invisible zipper. 

Adding one just gives your pillow that professionally made look. Your friends will come over and ask,"Where did you get that pillow?" {thinking you bought it at some high end store] and you can just shrug your shoulders and casually say, "I made it."

You will be the envy of all.....

Materials Needed:

Fabric {upholstery weight, heavy cotton is best}
Invisible zipper {either the same length as your pillow or longer, you can always cut it}
Thread
Pillow insert
Zipper foot attachment {this is important to have so you can sew a straight seam close to the zipper teeth}

How-to:

1. Measure your pillow and add 1" to the width and length of your pillow. Cut out two squares {rectangles} using that measurement.

2. Unzip your invisible zipper.

3. Pin one side of the side {face down} along the bottom edge of one of the pillow pieces. You want to start pinning it about 2 inches from the edge.

{Why the  bottom edge? Because if your pattern has direction, then you don't want your zipper on top, but on the bottom of your pillow}

The other end, also about two inches from the end. You will sew your seam at the end, up to where the mark is on the zipper.

4. Baste the zipper. I wouldn't skip this step as it is hard to sew over the pins with a zipper foot. Basting ensures that the zipper will stay in place.

5. Use a zipper foot to sew on your zipper. This is what one looks like.

6. Sew along as close to the edge of the teeth of the zipper. When finished zip up the zipper in order to pin to the second piece of fabric.

7. Lay the second pillow piece on the first piece, right sides together, lining up edges.

8. With all the edges lined up, and without shifting the top piece of fabric, start pinning the other side of the zipper to the top piece of fabric.

9. Once you have pinned in a few pins, start unzipping the zipper to make it easier to pin it to the second edge.

10. Baste and sew the zipper close to the edge of the teeth of the zipper.

11. Zip up the zipper. You will notice that the zipper makes one "seam". Pin all the other edges and sew all around starting 2 inches in from the bottom edge to the other side.  Stitch close to the zipper seam but just below it being careful not to sew over your zipper. See photos.

12. Clip corners. This will help with crisp corners once this pillow is turned right side out. Zig zag the edges to prevent fraying.

13. Turn right side out {unzip zipper to do so} press with an iron and insert pillow!

There you have it, sewing a pillow with an invisible zipper.

You did it! Pat yourself on the back.

 It might sound tricky at first, but once you try it, the next pillow will be much easier! 

If you have any questions, please send me an email, I would love to help!

barbaras{dot}hodgepodge{at}yahoo{dot}ca

What are your plans for the weekend?

I am just finishing up re-finishing my fabulous dresser find!

XO Barbara

How To Make a Pillow : Envelope Back Enclosure

Welcome to my first of two pillow tutorials! I first shared this one a few weeks back at The Crafty Bee, a sweet blog written by an equally sweet gal from Montreal!

Accent pillows are the greatest way to add colour, texture and inject some trendiness into your home.
And they don't cost a lot to make, usually one pillow requires about 1/2 yard of fabric. So to splurge on a  some high end fabric for one pillow can be feasible!

I had a fabulous high school sewing teacher who taught me all I know. I always say to anyone who is discouraged and intimidating by sewing, "If you can sew a straight line, you can sew." All it takes is patience, time and a good iron. Why a good iron? Using an iron throughout makes your project look crisp and professional.

Now onto sewing a pillow....

The key to a good pillow is to pick the right fabric. Make sure you use a good upholstery weight fabric or heavy cotton. This will ensure a nice crisp pillow.

Materials needed:

Fabric

Coordinating thread

Buttons

Pillow insert {I like to use down, the best deal in town is Ikea - $6!}

Sewing machine

Iron

How-to:

1. Measure your pillow insert. For front side of the pillow add 1" to both sides. This will allow for a half inch seam allowance. For the back side you will cut two pieces that will create the envelope back enclosure. For the width, add 1". For the height, add 4". 

2. You will now iron and sew a hem on the wide edge of the two pieces. Fold over 1/2", then another 1" to create a hem,  this will be where they overlap to create an opening.

3. Overlap and pin the two hemmed edges as shown in picture.

4. You can either stitch the edges of the enclosure to create an opening OR if you want the Sarah Richardson look you can sew buttons and buttonholes to keep the enclosures closed.

5. Buttons and buttonhole option:

Measure where you want your buttons to lay. I used three buttons. A rule I learned in my short stint at fashion design school was odd numbers look best to the eye.

6. Sew the buttonholes, on one piece along the hemmed edge. Snip open.

7. Sew buttons on other hemmed edge, lining up with the buttonholes.

8. Mark and stitch the opening of the back.

9. Lay the front and back pieces, right sides together, matching corners. Pin and stitch along all four sides. I then trim the corners and zigzag the edges of the seams.

10. Turn right side out and iron to give a nice crisp edge.

11. Insert pillow and then voila!

Hope you will try to make one for yourself!

On Friday I will show you how to make a pillow with an invisible zipper!

If you have any questions about this tutorial, feel free to email me:

barbaras{dot}hodgepodge{at}yahoo{dot}ca

XO Barbara