This guest post was written by Phyllis Dobbs from Phyllis Dobbs Art & Design Studio.
*This giveaway is now over. Please enjoy the free tutorial below.
Hi, I’m Phyllis Dobbs. I was delighted to meet Jessica Nichols, the editor of FaveQuilts.com at the International Quilt Market. I was even more delighted when she asked if I would write a guest blog. Since Earth Week is celebrated this month, I created a pillow that is repurposed from an article of clothing.
I love shopping thrift stores where you can find fantastic treasures just waiting for you and your imagination. Don’t shop with just the thought of reusing something; shop thinking of how you can turn it into something else. Yard sales are another treasure trove. Another place that I look for treasures is my own closet. If I love the fabric or accents on a piece of clothing or accessory, I add it to my stash for repurposing that is tucked away in my attic (and a step away from my studio). A former resident of my closet is the source of this project – a pair of capris that I bought a few years ago and have never worn. (I think it had to do with the thought that they made me look fat.) I loved the fabric so I had added them to my stash.
Materials :
- Pillow form (I reused a form from a pillow I had also discarded).
- Cotton batting
- Beads (an old necklace is great for recycling beads).
- Surface threads – both metallic and non-metallic
- Fabric for pillow back
(The threads were furnished by Gutermann and the batting by The Warm Company.)
1. Determine the size of the pillow and add a couple of inches to the width and height. Cut the clothing to get fabric this size – it’s okay to include seams. From the pants, I cut across one leg, then opened one side seam.
2. Spread the fabric over a piece of cotton batting that is a little larger than the fabric. Pin or baste together.
3. Sew wavy lines across the fabric and batting top to bottom multiple times as desired. I used 2 colors of non-metallic Gutermann thread – light and dark coral, and 3 shades of metallic for sparkle – light and dark turquoise and black. Stitch the lines using long stitches, criss-crossing over each other.
4. Sew beads randomly on surface. I used 2 different size turquoise beads to sew randomly, then sewed small red beads to the flower centers. Large yellow teardrop beads were sewn to the flower centers.
5. Lay the finished top face down on backing fabric and cut back. Pin right sides together, and then sew, leaving a 7” opening along bottom edge. Turn right side out and press. Insert pillow form and hand stitch the opening closed.
Have fun! Choose your fabric and make your pillow adding your personalized touches with your wonderful thrift or closet finds!
Phyllis Dobbs
Phyllis invites you to visit her blog www.phyllisdobbs.info to read about her new quilt book “Asymmetrical Quilts” and to get a sneak peak of her newest fabric collection “Celebrate”.
Want more ways quilt pillows? Check out these free patterns too!
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How to Make a Patchwork Pillow
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