How to Make a Round Bolster Pillow

Bolster pillows can be both functional and a decorating accessory in a room's design. Used as a pillow, a simply constructed round bolster filled with polyester stuffing or buckwheat provides neck support. As a decorative feature, the bolster pillow can sport piping, lace, ribbon, a zippered opening and a specially formed foam or down-filled tube for stuffing. Once you know the basic construction steps, you can create bolster pillows in any size, with materials ranging from simple to ornate. Let's start by making a no-frills standard 9 inch by 22 inch round bolster pillow.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard, poster board, or cardstock
• 1 yard fabric, preshrunk
• Stuffing

Instructions

1. Create a circular template 10 inches in diameter using the cardboard, poster board, or cardstock

2. Cut out two pieces of fabric using the template. (These will be the end pieces of the bolster pillow).

3. Cut a 29 and one-fourth inches by 23 inches rectangle out of the fabric. (This will be the tubular main body of the bolster pillow.)

4. Stay stitch one-half inch from the edge around each of the two circular fabric pieces.
   (Stay stitching is simply a row of stitching used to stabilize the fabric).

5. Cut notches from the fabric edge to the stay stitching, one inch apart around the circumference of the circular pieces.

6. Fold the fabric rectangle in half, wrong side out, matching the 23 inch edges. Sew together along this edge, leaving a five inch opening in the middle.
   NOTE: Use half inch seams for all steps.

7. Pin one circular fabric piece to one end of the tubular rectangle (right sides together), placing pins about one inch apart.

8. Sew over the stay stitching line using a stitch length of "2."

9. Attach the remaining circular fabric piece to the other end of the tubular rectangle of fabric, repeating Steps 7 and 8.

10. Turn the bolster pillow right side out through the opening.

11. Fill with stuffing using the 5 inch opening.

12. Whip stitch or blind stitch the opening shut.

Tips & Warnings

• Sewing a curved seam can be tricky. The secret is a lot of notching and pinning.

References

• "Sewing Basics;" Wendy Gardiner; 2003
• "Sewing Techniques & Patterns;" Marie-Noelle Bayard; 2007