There are many options when making decorative pillows. The first and most obvious is the fabric choice. It’s nice to repeat your main fabric from your windows and then have some in coordinating fabrics too.
The next step is to decide what you want to trim and finish the pillow with. Your choices are to make a self or contrast welt out of fabric, brush fringe, braided cord, bullion fringe and different styles of tassel fringe.
There are many choices for the type of form to use. My favorite is 10/90, it is a blend of 10% goose down and 90% goose feathers. It’s good to use on heavier weight fabrics because the more down that is in a form the softer and more light weight it is as well as being more expensive. I like these forms because you can karate chop them and they will stay.
Polyester fiber fill is a very inexpensive alternative to feathers and down but most clump or flatten and do not hold up to use. I like to use the cluster fiber forms for bed shams because they maintain their shape.
These pillows I made for my Dad’s new room. He took the pics and sent them to me but I forgot to tell him about the “Karate Chop” !
What about you…. Do you karate chop your pillows ?
I'm linking to BNOP Metamorphosis Monday
and Cottage Instincts for Make it Monday
14 comments:
Sometimes I do the karate chop on a couple of the pillows I put on my bed, but otherwise I don't. These are beautiful and I agree with you, Tammy. Usually when I have a client that is having custom window treatments done, I will ask if they want pillows, too. Whether they do or not, I have one made as a gift from the fabric and give it to the client at the end of the job.
i so agree with you. making your own pillows is the way to go.
love the blue ones....
I love the blue and brown...gorgeous!
I made some pillows for my living room from the same red fabric that you showed above. I can handle sewing four sides, adding a zipper is a challenge though. I wish I had your talent.
I need to make some pillows, they are so quick (usually) and so much more inexpensive than buying. These are great!
Why yes I do! And, I feel compelled to add trim since I sell it. It is something I'm trying hard to overcome on each and everyone. Plain is good sometimes.
I can sew a straight line, but have never made a pillow. I've had a friend make several for me - I need to get her to show me how to add trim. Nice job!
What wonderful pillows and making them yourself is so great! I sew too and you can do so much. I karate chop sometimes too!
be a sweetie,
Shelia;)
I do karate chop the pillows on the couch! Actually I saw it on Oprah, and really like the way it made them look. They aren't holding the "chop" these days though, so guess it's time for new ones. Ha! Have a wonderful week, and come by and visit me too, I'd love to see you there!
This is a very timely post for me. I have two pillows that I just started making today and was wondering if it would be ok to just stuff them with Polyfill. I have never heard of cluster forms? So I guess another trip to the craft store is in order unless there are specific sources for them. Let me know please! Your pillows are very pretty.
I have clumpy polyfill pillows on my couch right now, and they are driving me crazy :-) I'll have to do something about them. Your pillows are lovely!
Hi Tammy,
I karate chop most of my pillows...but with active people in my house, I'm afraid that they don't stay that way! I've never made pillows...I'm not much of a seamstress but I've made notes on what you suggest. Thanks so much for sharing!
Sharlotte
I Love those fabrics! I love pillows...perfect way to try out fabrics, especially if they're pricey...just need a wee bit for a big statement.
So lovely.
Thanks for linking up to Mi4M!
I really like the unique fabric on your pillows.
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