SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- 1/2 yd Fabric for Pillow Back
- 1/2 yd Coordinating Fabric for Pocket
- 1/2 yd Coordinating Fabric for Pillow Front
- Decorative Trim for Around Pillow, approximately 2 yards
- Coordinating Bias Tape
- Coordinating Webbing/Belting
- Basic Sewing Supplies
- Rotary Cutter, Ruler & Mat
- Pillow Form or Pillow
DIRECTIONS:
NOTE: Use 1/2" for seam allowance.For 16" x 13" Pillow:
- Cut 18"x 10" rectangle from pocket fabric.
- Cut 17"x 13" rectangle from pillow front fabric.
- Cut two 11"x 13" rectangles from pillow back fabric.
- On one 13" side of each back piece, fold under 1/2", press, and fold under 1/2" and press again.
For 16" x 16" Pillow:
- Cut 18"x 11" rectangle from pocket fabric.
- Cut 17"x 17" rectangle from pillow front fabric.
- Cut two - 11"x 17" rectangles from pillow back fabric.
- On one 17" side of each back piece, fold under 1/2", press, and fold under 1/2" and press again.
For both sizes:
- Topstitch near inner folded edge on back pieces.
- Sew the bias tape onto the top edge of your pocket.
- On the bottom of the pocket piece 1" in on each side fold a little 1/2" pleat.
- Secure the pleats 1/4" from the edge. This makes room in the pocket for more or bigger books.
- Pin pocket piece to front rectangle matching sides (raw edges) and bottom of pillow and baste edges 1/4" in.
- Cut 11" of belting/webbing to make a handle.
- Find center at the top of pillow front and mark with a pin.
- Pin the edges of your belting 3" from your center mark, making sure the handle isn't twisted & lays towards the center of the pillow.
- Sew the handle down 1/4" in.
- Sew decorative trim along outer edge of pillow front.
- Lay back pieces right sides together to the pillow front (good sides facing each other), overlapping the center finished edges to create an envelope back.
- Pin and stitch around outer edge using 1/2" seam allowance.
- Turn right side out and press.
- Insert pillow form.
JOANN HACKS:
- If your fabric is sheer, cut an extra piece in white solid. Sew (with a long stitch length) along edges 1/4" in to baste them together.
- Packaged bias tape overlaps farther on one side than the other. When sewing bias onto to a straight edge, put the skinnier side on the top & sew near the folded inner edge. This ensures you catch both sides of the bias in one stitch line.