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Tapestry Pillow Tutorial

 

Sewing machines and I don’t get along.  It’s not that I’m holding a grudge, because, you see, there’s not just ONE thing that makes me dislike them.  We have a long history of conflict.  And so, I’ve been putting off this pillow project.

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But I finally got it done tonight.  It was another project for What Woudl You do with It Wednesday at The Country Chic Cottage.  Angie’s been waiting patiently for my pictures and text. :)

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But there were patches and snags all over it, and there wasn’t enough to make one big pillow.  Enter the stripes.

 

 

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I love stripes.  Like totally, LOVE them.  My best friend has to keep encouraging me to look at other fabrics.  LOVE STRIPES.

And I love this fabric.  So I finally bought some at Hobby Lobby last weekend.  The colors were good with the tapestry, but the white was just TOO bright.  So decided to do an experiment (that smelled really good, by the way.)

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img_0702It was hard for me to capture the difference in the camera, but the coffee took out the harshness of the white for me.  How do you dry coffee soaked fabric quickly so that you can sew it?  I had wet clothes in the dryer, so I tried my hair dryer without luck.  Then, I hung them outside on the porch in the gale force winds we have in Iowa today.  Took a break to put my son to bed, and voila!  They were dry!

 

I drew out this fancy pattern.  The left picture is the front of the pillow.  The 10 inch piece in the middle is the tapestry.  The right is the size I needed to cut the striped fabric.

img_0687I cut out my tapestry, taking care to make sure that the pattern was centered. (It’s not…oops!)img_0688

Wait a minute – doesn’t my pattern say 24 inches?  How did I end up with 22?   Hmmm…things like this always happen when I sew.img_0689 img_0690

Then it was time to get my old friend out of the china cabinet.  Yeah, that’s where she lives.  Under the wine glasses.

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Then I sewed.  I hate sewing.  Started off, and it came unthreaded immediately.  Not my friend.

Got it rethreaded and then it wouldn’t go.  Just wouldn’t go.  Made noise, but no sewing.  Took me a few minutes and some swearing to realize that I had the little bobbin thingy pushed over.  If you sew, you know what I’m talking about, right?

 

I guess I forgot to take pictures of this part, but here’s what I did.

1. Side of tapestry to stripes, right sides together. 

2. Other side of tapestry to stripes, right sides together.

3. Tops, right sides together.

4.  Bottom?  I’d love to tell you how I finished it up, but I didn’t finish it.  Shhh, don’t tell….I send all my pillows “out” (to Grandma) to get finished.

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Oh yeah, I also made this dorky tassel.  :)

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Would you like to comment?

  1. I think you did a fantastic job!! Love your pillow...I mean really love it!! And your tassel does NOT look dorky silly!! The pics were worth the wait! ;) Once I got them to load that is... :)

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  2. Hey Katie! Wow what a small world, I did used to work at Kids Club. I worked at the Boone site for a summer and then moved to Roland-Story, and I was there for 3 years before I had our son and stayed home with him.
    I am loving looking through your blog, we have a crazy amount in common...almost scary. :) Lol. That striped fabric you used here....yeah check out the curtains I made for my son's room....same fabric! Like I said...almost scary! Haha!

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  3. Thanks, Katie! You're one to talk - I bet this one took you just as long. :) And I LOVE stripes, too! This is starting the wheels turning for another cover...

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  4. Thanks for visiting my blog. I love that tassel. It's beautiful- I want one.

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  5. The pillow turned out great!

    Nancy

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  6. absolutely delightful! You (and Grandma) did a great job! I hopped over from Fingerprints on the Fridge and am so happy that I did... I am now a follower. Please accept my invitation to drop in at my place one day soon. Have a fun weekend! until later...

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  7. Looks terrific! Love how you used the stripes!

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  8. I loved it! Thanks for sharing!
    I have a great interview with a savvy blogger on my blog right now with great tips on how to help your blog grow.
    Come check it out http://bloggerchixdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/04/aprils-featured-interview-april.html
    Also a giveaway for a Trendy Diaper Changing Pad if your interested :-)

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  9. I sympathize with you about the sewing machine. Sewing Machine + MessyMissy in a room together = Kablooey. But, from time to time I get something close to what I intended to be the finished product. :-) I think your pillow turned out lovely. The color combination is FANTASTIC!!

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  10. Oh that's beautiful! And your tassel is so not dorky! Good job!
    ☺ Celeste

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  11. So pretty and different! Thanks so much for linking up to the Weekend Wrap Up Party! It's so fun to see your projects!

    I hope you will come back and link up again!

    XOXO
    Jen

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