How to Make a Bolster Pillow Form
Handmade decorative pillows are a fun and easy way to add a little personality to a room. By making a single pillow form, you can make multiple covers to quickly change the appearance of the room. Since covers can easily be removed and washed, this is a great option for pillows that will be used in high-traffic areas. A bolster pillow is a tubular pillow that some people like to use behind their backs or under their neck when sleeping. A bolster pillow can also break the monotony of plain square pillows.
Things You'll Need
- 1-inch-thick foam sheeting
- Ribbon or twine
- Tape measure
- Fabric
- Sewing machine
- Needle and thread for hand sewing
Instructions
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1
Cut the foam sheeting to the length of your desired pillow.
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2
Roll the foam tightly to form a cylinder. If you reach the end of the foam, use ribbon or twine to tie the cylinder, then proceed to wrap another piece of foam around the core.
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3
Use ribbon or twine to tie the foam cylinder securely. Do not pull the ties so tight that the foam compresses, just tight enough to keep it from coming unrolled.
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4
Measure the length of the foam bolster. Measure around the circumference of the bolster. Measure across the widest part of one of the circular ends.
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5
Cut one piece of fabric the length of the bolster plus ½ inch by the circumference of the bolster (for a nice snug fit, do not add a seam allowance to the circumference).
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6
Cut two squares of fabric the same size as the diameter of the bolster ends. Fold each square into fourths. Use a bowl or other round template to trace a curve from one fold to the other. Cut on this line. When you unfold the fabric, you should have a circle. It doesn't have to be perfect.
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7
Fold the rectangular fabric in half lengthwise and stitch a ¼-inch seam along the length to create a tube.
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8
Pin one of the circles inside one end of the fabric tube. Stitch a ¼-inch seam all the way around the circle. Pin the other circle inside the other end of the tubem and stitch a ¼inch seam about 2/3 of the way around the circle. Leave about 1/3 of the circle open for turning and stuffing the pillow.
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9
Turn the pillow right-side out through the opening. Stuff the foam bolster inside.
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10
Use a needle and thread to whipstitch the opening closed.
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