How to Make Fish Applique Pillow

This little pillow is made with jersey fabric so it's soft and comfortable. The fish applique is easy to draw, even for non-artists.Start to finish, this pillow can be created in about an hour and a half.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 yard striped jersey knit fabric
• 1/8 yard contrasting jersey knit fabric, for top trim and applique
• cardboard
• pencil
• about 8" gray lace trim
• 1 coin charm, as pictured, or button (for fish eye)
• polyfill fiber
• dressmaking pins
• needle and thread
• sewing machine
• scissors

Instructions

How to Make Fish Applique Pillow

1. Place 1/2 yard of jersey fabric flat on work table. Fold right sides together lengthwise. Measure an 8 inch square on fabric and cut.You now have two pieces of 8 inch square material.

2. Keeping right sides of fabric together, use dressmaking pins to hold the two pillow pieces in place, and machine or hand stitch a hem around three sides. Leave top unstitched. Turn pillow square inside out.

3. Lay contrasting jersey fabric flat on work table. Cut an 8" by 4" piece of fabric.Use a piece of cardboard to draw fish shape (as pictured). Lay cardboard on top of remaining fabric and cut around edges, leaving about 1/4 inch.

4. Attach the 8 by 4" piece of contrasting fabric onto the back of the pillow square, on the right side, either by hand or machine.Sew the piece of gray lace on the bottom, for a hem.You should have a "flap" that folds down over front of pillow, as pictured.

5. Position cut-out applique on front of pillow, and use dressmaking pin to hold in place. Machine or hand stitch applique into place.Use a needle and thread to sew coin charm or button into place for eye.

6. Stuff pillow loosely with poly-fill fiber.Use dressmaking pins to seal the top edge, and either hand or machine stitch closed.Pillow is done!

Tips & Warnings

• You can use leftover pieces of tee shirt fabric to make these soft jersey pillows, instead of purchasing fabric.

• If you are making these pillows for a child under age five, don't use buttons or charms on the applique.