How to Make a Heart Shaped Pillow With Lace Trim

Heart-shaped pillows with lace trim can make great gifts for Valentine’s Day, as well as nice ring bearer or quinceanera pillows. You can draw your own heart pillow pattern or use an already made pattern.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Heart pattern
• Paper and pencil
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Tape
• Fabric
• Matching thread
• Lace trim
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Hand sewing needle

1. Draw a heart pattern for the pillow or use the free template in the Additional Resources section. Since the template is fairly small, you may want to enlarge it using a photocopier for a larger heart-shaped pillow.

2. Make a copy of the heart pattern. Cut the copy in half widthwise.

3. Cut 2 1-inch strips of paper as wide as the heart. Tape the strips to the cut edges of the pattern.

4. Pin the whole heart pattern and the two half heart patterns to the fabric. Cut around the patterns.

5. Pin the end of the lace trim to the bottom corner of the whole heart, so that the right side of the lace trim is facing the right side of the fabric. Choose a lace trim that has a ruffled edge and a straight edge. You can also use lace that matches the pillow or contrasting trim such as white lace for a red heart. The straight edge of the lace should be pinned along the edge of the heart.

6. Wrap the lace trim around the edges of the whole heart, pinning it in place as you go. You may need to use extra pins around the curved areas. Butt the ends of the trim together at the pointed end of the heart and pin the ends of the lace trim together.

7. Stitch the lace trim to the fabric heart using a scant 1/4-inch seam allowance. Sew the ends of the lace trim together.

8. Fold the straight edge of each half heart over 1/4 inch toward the wrong side, then fold it over another 1/4 inch. Stitch the fold in place using matching thread.

9. Place the whole heart and the half hearts right sides facing each other, lining them up along the edges. The straight edges of the half hearts should overlap slightly. Pin the hearts together, making sure to keep the lace trim as flat as possible between the layers of fabric.

10. Sew the hearts together using a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance. Sew carefully to avoid puckering the lace trim.

11. Clip a small slit in the seam allowance between the two main curves of the heart, without cutting through the seam. Turn the pillow right side out and fluff out the lace trim.

12. Fill the pillow with fiberfill stuffing. Whipstitch the edges of the opening in the back of the pillow to hold the stuffing in place.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to embroider a name or add other decorations to the front of the heart pillow, be sure to do so before sewing the pillow together.
• Use caution when working with scissors, pins, sewing machines and sewing needles.