I recently made an easy yet charming pillow in a craft class at a women's day out program I attended. As we walked out of the classroom carrying our completed pillows, we were the envy of all the other women in attendance.
The presenter was looking for a craft that we could put together with minimal tools and supplies and this certainly filled the bill. Most of us were done this no-sew craft in about 30 minutes.
Fleece is the ideal fabric for this craft as its cut ends do not fray and it comes in many attractive seasonal designs. Fleece also has a nice soft finish that is ideal for a cozy pillow.
Fleece also has a nice soft finish that is ideal for a cozy pillow that will make you feel as cuddly as these guys look in their fleece coats.
A 14 inch pillow form is ideal for this size of pillow. The one I used was bought for at Ikea for under $2.
Supplies:
- Enough fleece fabric so you can cut two panels that measure 20 inches or 50 cm. square.
- Ruler or yard stick
- Newsprint or paper that is at least 20 inches or 50 cm square
- Pen
- Scissors
- 14 inch pillow form
Instructions:
- Make a pattern with the newsprint. Cut a piece that is 20 inches or 50 cm. square. Pin it on to one side of the fabric.
- Cut the fabric so that you have 2 pieces that measure 20 inches or 50 cm. square.
- Make another pattern with the paper that measures 12 in. or 30 cm. square.
- Measure in 4 inches or 10 cm. from the edge of the fabric on all four sides. Place the 12 inch or 30 cm. paper in the middle of this piece.
- Draw a line around it.
- Use a pen to leave dots as you measure spaces that are 1 inch or 2.5 cm. around the entire inner square.
- Place the two square pieces of fabric together with the wrong sides facing so you can see the dots.
- Cut a straight line from the edge of the two pieces of fabric to each dot. These will become the tassels that you will knot.
- Remove the 4 square corners of the fabric and discard them.
- Separate the cut fabric and lay the pillow form on the wrong side of one piece. Cover it with the other piece so the right side is on the outside.
- You are ready to start knotting. Do the four corners first then carefully continue around the rest of the pillow. Make sure each knot is tied twice.
That's all there is to it. Most people who see it will not believe how easy it is to make. You can make it fancier by adding bells to some of the tassels or glue on felt designs that compliment the pattern.
Here are a few other projects you can make out of fleece using similar techniques: blankets and ponchos.
[Photograph by Linda Dunbar. Reproduction prohibited]
