There are many different variations of a home pillow, and what makes them unique is you decide what to decorate your pillow with. I will show you how to make these two home pillows, but the possibilities are endless. Please note these pillows are not perfect, and there will be fraying with use. These pillows will look handmade, but if that is an issue, you can adjust accordingly to meet your needs. Happy stitching!
Supplies Needed:
Fat Quarters
1 Yellow Menagerie
1 Gray Day Parade
1 Citron Garden Pindot
2 Teal Dots
1 Natural Stripe
1 Red Check
1 yard of 1/2″ Antique Gold Ric Rac
dark thread for contrasting
Fusible interfacing
Ruler
Basic sewing supplies
Hot iron
Polyfill
Click the links to see the supplies.
*The instructions below will show you how to make and decorate a house pillow, but you can do anything your heart desires with these pillows. You can lay out your decoration pieces however you like.
Garden Pillow:
Step 1 – Construct the house frame.
For the body- Using one Teal Dots fat quarter, cut two 10.5″ squares.
For the roof- Using the Yellow Menagerie fabric, cut a piece 10.5″ long by 5.5″ wide. For one roof, I used an elephant, and for the second roof, I used a bird. At the top of the rectangle make a small mark that is center of 10.5″, which is 5.25″. Using your ruler, line up this mark to one edge of the rectangle, and cut. Line up the ruler again, and make your second cut. You should have a triangle. Repeat this step again to make a second roof.
* I know the Yellow Menagerie is not shown in this photo, so it isn’t a typo. 😉
Step 2– Interfacing
Cut out two pieces of fusible interfacing for the roofs, and follow the directions according to the manufacturer.
*If you prefer a more shapely pillow, apply interfacing onto the main body as well.
Step 3– Embellish the house
Using your Natural Stripe, Red Check, and Yellow Menagerie fabric, you will cut out decorations for your home. For the front of the house, I used Natural Stripe for the siding and Yellow Menagerie for the door. I cut out the stripes I liked best from Natural Stripe. Arrange your pieces on your home. Do keep in mind seam allowance is 1/4″ and you won’t be able to see things too well at the very bottom of the pillow because of stuffing. I raised my door and siding up about an inch and a half from the bottom of the fabric.
I used Red Check and Yellow Menagerie for my flowers on the back of the pillow for a little garden. Cut out pieces to make flowers. Get creative!
(This image shows the flowers already sewn on, but you get an idea of how I cut my flowers.)
Step 4– Pin pieces into place and sew along the edges of each item.
Step 5– Attach the roof
Place the front roof at the top of the house face down, and pin into place. Sew a 1/4″ seam along the top. Open the seams, and press with a hot iron. Repeat this step for the back roof.
Step 6– Attach the home pieces together
Place the right side of the fabrics together. Pin in place. Make sure your roof seams match up. Sew 1/4″ seam around the entire home except for two inches at the bottom.
Step 7– Fill the house and stitch
Using the two inch opening at the bottom of the pillow, pull the fabrics right side out. Use a dull pencil or small object to push the corners out. Stuff the pillow with polyfill. Slip stitch the opening closed.
Menagerie Pillow:
To make the Menagerie Pillow, you will construct the pillow using the same steps as the Garden Pillow. I made this pillow a little larger, so the cutting requirements are (2) 10.75″ x 15″ for the house and (2) 7.5″ x 10.75″ for the roof.
You should be able to cut out one tree, one peacock on a fence, one elephant, and a set of elephants out of your fat quarter.
If any of these items is cut off a little within the fat quarter, that is okay. You can arrange for those items to be at the edges of the pillow like so. Leave a 1/4″ edge around the objects. Cut your Ric Rac to fit, and place it along the bottom edge of the pieces.
Pin into place and sew near the edge on all the pieces. Sew in the middle of the Ric Rac.
Once all your pieces are sewn onto the main bodies of the home, continue constructing the pillow the same way as the Garden Pillow above.
My favorite thing about these pillows is bringing the fabric to life!
Check out more of Owen’s Olivia by clicking on the link.
There are tons of tutorials for the home and more!
If you have great tutorials and a fun idea you would like to share on The Ribbon Retreat Blog,
please submit a project.
Have a wonderful day!
