Even if you’re staying home for the holidays, kids would love crashing near their own Christmas tree in this cozy sleepover bag and matching pillowcase made in pretty holiday flannel and cotton. It’s big, but it’s not complex.
Truly the Art of Thread; this pillow combines dense decorative stitching with machine embroidery accents and cool corner tassels. A décor or upholstery weight fabric gives the proper stability – a dark, solid makes the stitching pop.
This pretty pillow is an example of fast and easy patchwork using a grid. The design is the same on both sides, but we turned one grid panel 90º to create an interesting effect front to back. Use some of your favorite small scraps.
This time of year, baby showers seem to come in waves! Stumped for a great gift idea? This adorable pillow pair is one of our “Baby Shower Power Gifts.” The basic piped pillow pattern is fast and simple and the free, downloadable animal appliqués are super cute.
One of the reasons Sew4Home came into existence was our desire to get new people interested in sewing. We wanted to prove sewing was within anyone's reach, even if you'd never even turned on a sewing machine before. It's why we're so focused on providing detailed instructions with helpful photos and make-no-assumptions steps. It's also
Looking for a Halloween pillow pal? How about a full size body pillow – maybe one that glows in the dark?! We used an envelope style closure for the bottom of the pillow that hides the end of the pillow inside a hemmed pocket.
Cute toss pillows in interesting shapes are a great way to interject a bit of playful zest into children's décor (although, we will allow you to make this for grown-up types as well). Our ukulele pillow tutorial certainly qualifies as an interesting shape, and we include a free downloadable pattern for it. Can’t you just
English paper piecing is handwork not machine stitching. Most people associate it with beautifully intricate quilt tops, but the precise, perfectly shaped pieces were just as wonderful for our pair of graphic pillows.
These handy heating pads are fast and easy, and make a very useful gift. Good for muscle aches or when you feel a chill but don’t want to crank up the thermostat. They’re also freezable for a pleasant cooling effect.
Freshen up the pillow-scape on your bed or sofa with this terrific trio. We used simple patchwork techniques to blend together 13 coordinating prints, creating three different pillow shapes: square, rectangle, and bolster.
We’ve all seen foam pool noodles. We invited them inside with our exclusive Land Noodles™. Thin, soft, and flexible, they’re made with rolled batting wrapped in cozy luxury fleece. For sleeping, lounging, and epic pillow fights.
Oilcloth is water resistant with a wipe-clean surface, making it ideal for patio living. “It will be too sticky for pillows,” you shout! These pillows are meant to be used as bright pops of color to decorate not for sleeping.
Around these parts, Spring through and early Fall are prime time for celebrating in the great outdoors. Seating for these kind of gatherings is often just the grassy slopes of a park. You gotta have something to sit on! A blanket is often too big and rather bulky to pack in. Instead, try this lightly
This lounger is made from simple rectangles. We suggest tough outdoor fabric so it can work on the patio as well as inside a bedroom or family room. Our sample is sized for kids, but we give you dimensions to up-size for adults.
Round things that make me smile: baby thighs, ice scream scoops, rolling hills, tufted cushions. Creating undulating curves across a flat surface is a wonderful way to add dimensional interest to a plain cushion. This pretty patchwork cushion provides a bit of tufting inspiration to make you smile. As listed below in Supplies, the proper
A “Word Pillow” makes a bright, bold statement to add to your pillowscape. We include the appliqué template for “Ahoy,” but this time of year, you could build your own to suit the situation. How about: Dad, Grad, Smile or Hug?!
Our wonderfully sneaky stuffed crocodile is an homage to the creepy croc in Peter Pan who was forever stalking Captain Hook. Soft fleece makes him extra huggable and two widths of rick rack form his teeth and spine.
Whip up these sweet treats for the sewers and crafters on your gift list... or better yet, make a set for them and one for yourself! Our stacked trio of pincushions is designed to look like a delicious three tier cake – complete with edge icing (aka: mini pom trim) and a cherry on top
A bolster is a long, narrow pillow, often used to support the back or neck. Our black & white version finishes at over 30″ with a flange at each end. It makes a dramatic statement across a bed or against the back of a couch.
Standard bench cushions are certainly available in stores, but I think we can all agree they never, ever, EVER fit right. Make your own using our easy-to-follow directions to get a perfect fit and a pro finish.
If you’re driving, your passengers are allowed to doze off, and this adjustable pillow lets them do that in comfort. No more banging their heads against the window or risking a neck cramp just to get a little shut-eye on the road.
Zippers are one of the trusty workhorses of the sewing world. They normally go about their jobs, opening and closing without much fanfare. But recently, it's become quite trendy to let them out from between the seams to shine on their own. Today's fancy and fashionable pillow does just that, featuring zippers on both the
The bolster is one of our favorite shaped pillows, we bet you will love it too – especially this classic style with closed, button-tufted ends. We added a touch of luxury with velveteen piping and covered buttons.
Our super soft body pillow offers 4½ feet of huggability. It’s a must-have for crashing on the family room floor, relaxing (I mean studying), and it can provide sleep support for pregnant moms or full body support for napping dads.
Create a fast, patchwork pillow using thin scraps. We dove into our stash for leftover Jelly Roll and Honey Bun strips. A variety of decorative stitching along each seam adds a dash of color and texture. Each one is different.
These eye popping pillows are created in Candy Shag Faux Fur. The long nap starts as pure white at the base with brilliant candy colors at the tips. As the nap shifts, so does the color. Wonder if that would work on my hair?!
We love sewing by machine! It's fast, it's easy, and when you have great machines like the Janome models in our S4H studios, it's almost effortless. But it doesn't mean you can't whip out the hand needle and thread now and then. A few well-placed hand-stitched accents add a unique decorative touch. Today's lovely lumbar
Great fabric, an interesting shape, and a few special bits of embellishment. We combined all three to create a fabulous 50" soft bolster pillow. Bolsters are usually round, but the Home Décor Rule Book allows you to vary both shape and size. Of course, there's not really a rule book, but if there was, you
It’s a hand-stitching technique! This classic finish for a pillow or cushion is not difficult, but for the best results, you need a longer, stronger needle, heavy-duty upholstery thread, and a soft yet stable mid-weight fabric.
Charm squares are just that: charming little chunks of fabric, 5" x 5" squares from all the patterns and colorways within a given fabric collection. A standard charm pack usually comes with approximately 42 pre-cut 5" x 5" squares. They're a real time-saver and can make patchworking projects a delight. We used a charm pack
For cats or smaller dogs, this pet bed is reversible. One side is a cool cotton, the other side is cozy fleece. There’s an easy-to-insert zipper along one side so you can remove the cover and toss it in the wash.
Two pillows are better than one – especially when they are in two different shapes and sizes. Our Square and Bolster Set also adds great texture and dimension with natural cotton webbing and twisted rope trim.
Our grandma was amazing in the way she could take cast-off bits and pieces and turn them into something so very sweet. These five pretty mix and match pillows are inspired by her inventiveness with a variety of scraps and textures.
What’s faster than a pillow. Well… cheetahs, Italian sports cars, and the time it takes for your kids to age from 2 to 20 to name a few. So, let’s be more specific. When it comes to sewing projects, what’s faster and easier than a pillow? Nothing! This pillow design is certainly quick and easy,
A classic triangle with a unique octopus appliqué plus a companion starfish pillow. Make one or make them both. Their brilliant colors and interesting shapes would be perfect as toss pillows in a sunroom or covered patio.
The box pleat is one of the easiest pleating techniques to master. We’ve used the inverted version to create a pair of simple yet stunning pillows. Use a single or double pleat; we give you measurements for either version.
If your sofa seems down in the dumps, the solution can be as quick and easy as a new set of pillows. A blast of beautiful fabric makes your whole room (and you) happier. This set is reversible with pretty flange accents.
Use your newfound heirloom-by-machine skills from the article above to create a unique decorator pillow. We incorporated straight tucks, wave tucks, entredeux, and lush ruffles into stunning tone-on-tone beauty.
We explain three different decorative stitching options for you to try, and have included three template downloads to re-create our exact designs. Vary the fabric, thread colors, and stitch patterns for dozens of options.
This clever pillow looks complex with its intricate lattice front and peek-a-boo inset, but it’s so easy. We love the splash of color behind the lattice strips. Just imagine all the wonderful fabric combinations you could try!
Did anyone ever try to teach you origami? If so, a paper crane was likely your first, and maybe your only, project. So here's your little known fact for the day: origami is Japanese paper folding; its predecessor is the Chinese paper art called zhe zhi. The graceful crane is revered in China as the
Floor it! This generous 24" diameter floor cushion is a comfy 4" thick - perfect for sitting or as a little foot rest. Make several to use around a low table for casual dining. Place one on the patio for meditation at sunrise. Toss a few in the TV room for extra seating. The wedges