How to Make 14x14 Pillow Forms

High-quality pillows often start with a pillow form.

A pillow form is basically a plain pillow, sewn with muslin or a white cotton and stuffed with polyester fiber, that fits inside a decorative pillow covering. Some pillow makers opt for simply filling their decorative material with pillow stuffing, but using a pillow form creates a more durable pillow and allows the owner to remove the covering for cleaning.

Things You'll Need

• Muslin material
• Yardstick
• Tracing pencil
• Scissors
• Thread
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Needle
• Polyester filling or foam pillow

Instructions

1. Wash, dry and iron your material. You will need at least a 30-inch square of material.

2. Lay the material on a solid, flat work surface. Fold the material in half and cut it along the fold into two even pieces.

3. Lay the yardstick against the material and trace a 15-inch square with your tracing pencil. Cut along the traced line. Pin the material together, placing the pins perpendicular to the edge of the material on all sides. Leave a 6-inch opening unpinned on one of the four sides.

4. Sew the pieces together with a 1-inch seam. Leave the opening on the fourth side unsewn. Trim the excess material from the seams and turn it inside out. Iron the seams to a "knife edge."

5. Fill the form with loose polyester fiber or an appropriately-sized foam pillow. Slip stitch the 6-inch opening by hand so it is securely closed. Place your 14-inch pillow form into a slightly smaller decorative pillowcase to create a plump, cozy appearance.

References

• Pillow Form: What is a Pillow Form?
• Martha Stewart: Knife-Edge Pillow