Fall Yarn Fringe Pillows

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Fleece
• Big Twist® yarn
• Cardboard
• Sewing thread to match Yarn
• Ruler
• Pencil
• X-Acto Knife or box cutter
• Sewing Machine
• Scissors
• Pins
• Iron

DIRECTIONS:

1. For V-Fringe Pillow:


2. Cut one 20"x 20" square of fleece and two 15"x 20" rectangles of fleece. On one side of the 20"x 20" square, measure out and mark with pencil a centered 18"x 18" square. Next, make a mark at the center of the bottom line of the square. Finally, make a line connecting bottom center mark to the top left corner of the square and a line connecting the bottom center mark to the top right corner of the square, making a V. Baste over the V-line on the sewing machine to make an easy-to-follow guide for attaching the fringe.


3. Make a template for attaching the yarn fringe: Cut a 7"x 2" rectangle out of the cardboard. Measure in 1/2" on all sides, creating an inner 6"x 1" rectangle, and cut out with X-Acto knife or box cutter.


4. Take the yarn color that you want for the top stripe of the V, and wrap the yarn around the template. When the yarn is almost covering the inner slot of the template, line the center of the template up with the basted line on the surface of the fleece, and sew with a zigzag stitch down the center of the yarn on the template. Cut the yarn on either side of the template in a straight line, and remove the template.


5. Repeat until the first V is completed, and repeat all steps for the second color of yarn on the bottom V.


6. When all yarn fringe is sewn on, fluff up the yarn with your fingers, pulling the outside edges of the yarn to the center; and set aside.


7. Take one 20" side of a 15"x 20" fleece rectangle, fold in 3/4", and press with iron. Fold in again, press, and secure with pins, and sew. Repeat for the second 15"x 20" rectangle.


8. Pin one 15"x 20" rectangle to the top of the 20"x 20" square, right sides together. Pin the next 15"x 20" rectangle to the bottom of the 20"x 20" square, right sides together, overlapping the first rectangle. Trim the square all the way around so that the seam allowance is 1".


9. Sew all the way around the square, following the pencil line you marked at the beginning. Trim the points off the fleece at the each corner, to eliminate the bulk of the material in the corners, and flip right side out.


10. For Circle Fringe Pillow:


11. Cut one 18"x 18" square of fleece and two 13"x 18" rectangles of fleece. On one side of the 18"x 18" square, measure out and mark with pencil a centered 16"x 16" square. Taking a pie dish or something circular of a similar size (about 10" in diameter), trace a circle at the center of the 16"x 16" square. Baste over the circle on the sewing machine to make an easy-to-follow guide for attaching the fringe.


12. Make a template for attaching the yarn fringe: Again trace the pie dish to create an arc that is about 1/4 of the circle onto a piece of cardboard. Use a plate or something circular that is about 8" in diameter to trace the bottom of the arc, spaced 2" from the top of the arc. Connect the ends with a straight line and cut out with X-Acto knife or box cutter. Measure in 1/2" on all sides, and draw the 1" wide inner arc that will become the slot by hand, and cut out with X-Acto knife or box cutter. Make a second smaller arc template, this time use the approximately 8" plate to trace for the top of the arc, and a smaller plate or something similar that is approximately 6" to trace for the bottom of the arc. Connect at the ends and cut out. Create the arced slot in the interior by hand, in the same way as before, 1/2" in from all sides, 1" thick, and cut out.


13. Take the yarn color that you want for the outer circle, and wrap the yarn around the template. When the yarn is almost covering the inner slot of the template, line the outer edge of the template up with the basted circle on the surface of the fleece (lining up the outer edge of the template to the basted line this time instead of the center - simply to save having to scout a fourth circular plate to use as a guide), and sew with a zigzag stitch down the center of the yarn on the template. Cut the yarn on either side of the template in a straight line, and remove the template.


14. Repeat until the first circle is completed, and repeat all steps for the second color of yarn on the inner.


15. When all yarn fringe is sewn on, fluff up the yarn with your fingers, pulling the outside edges of the yarn to the center; and set aside.


16. Take one 18" side of a 13"x 18" fleece rectangle, fold in 3/4", and press with iron. Fold in again, press, and secure with pins, and sew. Repeat for the second 13"x 18" rectangle.


17. Pin one 13"x 18" rectangle to the top of the 18"x 18" square, right sides together. Pin the next 13"x 18" rectangle to the bottom of the 18"x 18" square, right sides together, overlapping the first rectangle. Trim the square all the way around so that the seam allowance is 1".


18. Sew all the way around the square, following the pencil line you marked at the beginning. Trim the points off the fleece at the each corner, to eliminate the bulk of the material in the corners, and flip right side out.


19. For the Striped Bolster Pillow:


20. Cut one 16"x 30" rectangle of fleece and two 16"x 19" rectangles of fleece. On one side of the 16"x 30" rectangle, measure out and mark with pencil a centered 14"x 28" rectangle. Next, make a mark at the center of the bottom line of the rectangle. Finally, make four vertical lines on each side of the center which mirror each other. For example, a line on the left side that is 2" from center, then a line on the right side that is 2" from center. Baste over the lines on the sewing machine to make an easy-to-follow guide for attaching the fringe.


21. Make a template for attaching the yarn fringe: Cut a 7"x 2" rectangle out of the cardboard. Measure in 1/2" on all sides, creating an inner 6"x 1" rectangle, and cut out with X-Acto knife or box cutter.


22. Take the yarn color that you want for the two stripes closest to center, and wrap the yarn around the template. When the yarn is almost covering the inner slot of the template, line the center of the template up with the basted line on the surface of the fleece, and sew with a zigzag stitch down the center of the yarn on the template. Cut the yarn on either side of the template in a straight line, and remove the template.


23. Repeat until the first stripe is completed, and repeat all steps for each additional stripe and corresponding color of yarn.


24. When all yarn fringe is sewn on, fluff up the yarn with your fingers, pulling the outside edges of the yarn to the center; and set aside.


25. Take one 16" side of a 16"x 19" fleece rectangle, fold in 3/4", and press with iron. Fold in again, press, and secure with pins, and sew. Repeat for the second 16"x 19" rectangle.


26. Pin one 16"x 19" rectangle to the left of the 16"x 30" rectangle, right sides together. Pin the next 16"x 19" rectangle to the bottom of the 16"x 30" rectangle, right sides together, overlapping the first rectangle. Trim the rectangle all the way around so that the seam allowance is 1".


27. Sew all the way around the rectangle, following the pencil line you marked at the beginning. Trim the points off the fleece at the each corner, to eliminate the bulk of the material in the corners, and flip right side out.

JOANN HACKS:

• To keep the the arc cardboard template from caving in the center as you wrap with yarn, insert a 1" wide piece of cardboard into the center as you wrap. (picture attached)