How to Sew a Pillow
Sewing a pillow is an excellent first sewing project to share with kids. A square pillow is simple to sew, and it teaches the fundamentals of the craft that can be applied to more complex sewing projects down the road. Once you learn how to sew a seam on the straight edge of a pillow, you have the skills to sew a hem on anything. Decorative pillows can also be very expensive to purchase. Sewing your own decorative pillow is a great way to add a personal touch to a room at half the cost.
Pillow Measurements
To start your project, you will need to determine the size of your pillow. For a 10-inch, square pillow you will need 22" by 22" of fabric. No matter what size of pillow you decide to make, you will need to add 1" to each of your measurements to allow room for your seams. You will also need to double your first measurement to take into account the front and back of your pillow. Write down your final pillow measurements.
Materials
Go to your local fabric store and find their yardage conversion chart. Find your pillow measurements on the chart and determine the corresponding yardage you will need to purchase. Buy any fabric of your choice, however, some fabrics are easier to work with then others. Knit fabrics, silky fabrics and fabrics with geometric patterns are hard to sew. If this is your first pillow, go with a solid cotton or polyester blend. In addition to fabric, you will need polyester fiber filling, sewing scissors, a yardstick, sewing pins, a sewing needle, thread to match your fabric and a sewing machine.
Cut the Pillow Panels
Layout the fabric you purchased on your table with the wrong side down. Take your original pillow dimensions, and with your yardstick, measure out the front of your square pillow and the back of your square pillow. Cut out the front panel and back panel with your scissors and place the fabric remnants to the side. The remnants can be used at a later date for another sewing or craft project.
Sew the Edges
With your sewing pins, pin together your front and back of your pillow with the right sides of the fabric facing each other. Take your pinned fabric to your sewing machine. Stitch a ½-inch seam around three of your edges. At each corner of your fabric, lift your foot from the pedal of the sewing machine, keep the needle inserted in the fabric and turn the fabric 90 degrees and continue sewing your hem in a straight line. On your third edge, leave a two to four-inch opening. Remove your fabric from the sewing machine.
Fill Your Pillow
Turn your sewn together pieces right side out through your opening. Next, place your polyester filling into your pillow through the opening. The more filling you use, the stiffer your pillow will become. Once your pillow has your desired level of stuffing, pin shut your opening with your sewing pins. Take your needle and thread and hand stitch your opening close. Tie off your hand stitch, cut the extra thread, and you now have your own, homemade decorative pillow!
