Company’s coming and you’re determined to whip up a new pillow.
Because logically when you’re short on time and should be cleaning potties the best choice of action is to sit down and sew a new pillow.
If this is how your brain works this pillow is for you.
Quick, Easy and Super Cute.
This pillow gives you the satisfaction of making something fast with the cutest bit of detail rather than a settling for plain pillow.
The fabric I’m using today is a small print and quite subtle. It works fine for this style but this pillow is a great option when you really want your fabric to be the focus. Like this red damask pillow.
What Size Will Your Pillow Be?
The first step is to determine the size for your pillow.
This easy flange pillow can be almost any size or shape. Square, rectangle or triangle. You could even make a circle flange pillow! But circles can be a bit tricky I’m sticking with a square for today.
- Determine the size you’d like the center of your pillow to be OR what size your pillow form is.
- Determine the size of the flange (the somewhat floppy part around the outside of the pillow).
My Measurements
- I’m using a 22″ feather pillow insert so I’m making the pillow cover 20″ in order to have a nice firm pillow. The 20″ will be the center measurement.
- This particular flange is 1.5″. For best results your flange should be between 1/2″ and 3″ wide.
The Math
- 20″ (pillow cover size) + 3″ (2 flanges @ 1.5″ each) +1″ (2 @ 1/2″ seam allowances) = 24″
- Cut 2 pieces of fabric 24″x24″.
Place fabric pieces right sides together matching pattern (if applicable).
Pin in place.
Stitch together using a 1/2″ seam allowance all the way around leaving an opening large enough to insert the pillow form.
Trim corners. This allows for a sharp corner when turned right side out.
Iron all seam allowances to create a crisp, flat edge. At this point I also iron the opening seams flat as well. This helps when you’re sewing the pillow closed.
At this point your easy flange pillow cover should measure 23″ wide.
Pin around the entire pillow where the flange seam will be. This helps hold the fabrics in place as you sew the seam which creates the flange.
At this point you’re going to topstitch a seam to create the flange. For today’s pillow it will be 1.5″ in from the edge. If your flange is 2″ you’ll be stitching in 2″ from the edge.
You can use a thread that matches and blends with your fabric or you can be bold and choose a contrasting or accent colored thread.
Beginning at one edge of the opening, stitch all the way around the pillow cover stopping at the opposite end of the opening.
Pillow Insert
In most cases I use feather pillows approximately 1″ to 2″ larger then my pillow cover. This helps create a more firm finished pillow. Today I’m making a 20″ pillow cover and using a 22″ insert.
If you prefer your pillows to be a bit less firm then create your pillow cover the same size as your pillow insert.
To stuff a pillow cover fold the pillow in half…
and insert it all the way into the cover while folded in half.
Once it’s in place unfold the pillow while making sure the pillow is pushed as far into each corner as it can be.
As you begin to pin the pillow cover closed pin along both the flange stitch line and the outer stitch line. As you go along push the pillow further into the cover making sure it’s clear of each pin.
Stitch the inside flange line first. You can use a ruler to help you keep the 1.5″ measurement as you sew.
What Not To Do
The above pic shows what happened to the underneath side of my pillow as it stitched it closed.
This is soooo easy to do!
If you’re careful it’s easily avoidable. But I was probably rushing and not thinking ahead. If it does happen to you carefully, using a seam ripper, undo the stitching…
In my case, I’d already stitched both seams before I realized I’d messed up. If this happens you’ll need to undo a portion of the outer stitch line as well. This allows you to reach inside and push the pillow insert out of the way so you can re-pin the flange stitch line.
Re-pin everything back in place.
As you begin to stitch…
pull the pillow taut along the upper left side.
Also, keep an eye on the underneath side of the pillow cover pulling this fabric taut and smooth as you sew.
When you’re done you will have two stitch lines. The seam at 1.5″ in will go all the way around your pillow while the outer seam is just long enough to close the opening.
Quick and Easy Flange Pillow
And you’re done!
Except for the slight trickiness of machine stitching closed both seams of the opening this Quick And Easy Flange Pillow really is quick and easy!
For pillow inspiration be sure to visit The Gallery to see more examples of flange pillows!
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