How to Make a Watermelon Pillow

This adorable watermelon pillow will make a cute addition to your porch or patio, or pack one to take along on a relaxing picnic. Don't forget to pack the real watermelon, of course. This project includes simple applique and sewing. Because it uses felt, there is no need to turn under the raw edges of the applique. Teach the basics of applique and sewing with felt to a kid's club or plan this craft for a teenage sleepover.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Green felt
• Red felt
• Light green embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle
• Hand sewing needle
• Black thread
• Green thread
• Red thread
• 22 black sequins
• Stuffing
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Compass
• Newspaper
• Pins

1. Draw an 18-inch half circle on newspaper using the compass. Cut out the half circle.

2. Draw a 14-inch half circle on newspaper using the compass. Cut out the half circle.

3. Cut out a 5 x 28-inch piece of newspaper for the watermelon pillow gusset. Mark one short end at 2 inches and 3 inches. Fold the strip in half, matching the short ends. Mark 2 inches from the fold on each side of the long edge. Using the ruler, connect the marks on the long edge with the marks on the short end. Do not cross the lines. Keeping the long strip folded, cut through both layers along the drawn line. Unfold the long strip. You should have a pattern that resembles a very long and narrow football shape.

4. Cut out two green felt half circles using the 18-inch half circle pattern. Cut out two red felt half circles using the 14-inch half circle pattern. Cut out one green felt gusset using the long football shaped pattern.

5. Lay one red felt half circle on top of one green felt half circle, centering and matching on the straight edge for the watermelon pillow side. Pin in place.

6. Blanket stitch the red felt edge using three strands of the green embroidery floss. Attach to the green felt as you stitch.

7. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 on the remaining green and red half circles for the other watermelon pillow side.

8. Pin the curved edge of one green watermelon pillow side to one long edge of the gusset with the right sides together. Attach using a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

9. Pin the curved edge of the remaining watermelon pillow side to the other long edge of the gusset with the right sides together. Attach using a 1/2" seam allowance.

10. Pin the straight edges of the watermelon pillow sides together and sew using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Leave a 4-inch opening for turning and stuffing.

11. Turn the watermelon pillow right side out and stuff. Stitch the pillow closed using the red thread.

12. Randomly attach 11 black sequins to each pillow side on the red felt of the watermelon pillow for seeds.

Tips & Warnings

• Black buttons, black beads or even embroidering black French knots can be substituted for the black sequins.
• Stuff the watermelon pillow with one small handful of stuffing at a time to help prevent forming a misshapen and lumpy pillow.