How to Create the Layout Pattern in Decorative Pillow Making

Decorator pillows add charm and warmth to your home, but they can be quite expensive. You can save money by designing and making your own pillows. After you've decided on the layout of the design and created a pattern, you can add a professional touch and apply gimp trim.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric for pillow front and back
• Gimp trim 6 times the width of your square pillow pattern
• Thread to match the gimp
• Fabric marker
• Scissors

1. Choose the gimp trim, which is a narrow braid of flat or rounded cord that comes in a variety of widths and designs. Your choice of gimp trim depends on the heaviness of your fabric. A thicker upholstery type fabric works well with a heavier trim, but if your fabric is more delicate, you may want to consider some of the more narrow choices of gimp.

2. Cut your pillow out and lay the front side on a flat surface, with the top side facing you. Cut 6 equal strips of gimp, each the length of the pillow square.

3. Use a fabric marker and straight edge ruler to mark a 1-inch seam allowance around the parameter of the pillow. Place the marking for the first row of gimp 1 inch below the seam allowance. The remaining placement lines should be 1 inch plus the width of the gimp trim. If it's ½ inch wide, place the marks 1 ½ inches apart.

4. Mark the top and right sides of the pillow for gimp trim placement. When you're facing the pillow, there'll be three horizontal placement lines on the top and three vertical lines on the right, which intersect at the top right corner of the pillow.

5. Sew the gimp in place with a matching color of thread. Once you've sewn your trim in place, you're ready to continue with the construction of your pillow.

Tips & Warnings

• It's a good idea to purchase a little extra trim to make sure you don't run short.
• Double check your trim placement before you sew it in place.