How to Make Large Decorative Pillows
Large decorative pillows can easily be made to match your décor. They can be used in the living room or family room for extra seating, especially for children. However, they can also be used in bedrooms by placing them behind the back while reading or if a sick person needs to eat in bed. Large pillows also make excellent dog beds. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sewing machine
- Fabric
- Quilt batting
- Polyester fiber filling
- Scissors
- Thread
- Needle
Instructions
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Consider the room decorating style and color pallet when you purchase fabric for your pillows. You might choose all the same fabric for three large decorative pillows, or you might decide on different patterns or three solid colors. If you are a new sewer, you may want to choose a cotton-based fabric for ease of sewing. However, choose a fairly hardy fabric if the pillows will be used often. The size can be whatever you want, but a good floor sitting size is 25 by 25 inches.
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Cut two pieces of fabric for the pillow size desired. Don't forget to add 5/8 inch seam allowance for each side. For example, if you are making a 25-by-25 inch pillow, cut the fabric 26 1/4 by 26 1/4 inches. Cut two pieces of quilt batting the same size. The quilt batting will make your pillow smooth without showing lumps from the polyester fiber filling.
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Sandwich your fabric and quilt batting as follows: quilt batting, fabric (right side up), fabric (right side down) and on top, the last piece of quilt batting. Pin all the way around except for a 3-inch opening at the center of one of the sides. Sew your large decorative pillow all the way around, with a 5/8 inch seam allowance, except for the opening.
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Trim across the corner to reduce bulkiness (not too close or it may come un-sewn). Trim the quilt batting close to the seam line. Now, turn your pillow inside out from the opening. Work all the corners out to a soft point.
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Fill the large decorative pillow with polyester fiber filling. Start back at the far corners, making sure they are filled in before proceeding to the bulk of the pillow. When you get close to the pillow opening, make sure the top corners are filled in as well.
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Fold the fabric at the opening inward to match the seam allowance, and crease with your finger nails. Pin the opening shut. Thread a needle with your sewing thread, and hand-sew the opening shut from the outside of the pillow.
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Tips & Warnings
Upholstery fabrics are a good choice for durability of large decorative pillows, especially if they will be used on the floor.
Resources
- Photo Credit Flickr
