striped pillow {tutorial}

As promised, here is the tutorial for that cute striped pillow in the july giveaway.

{have you entered to win the july goodies yet? click here for a chance}

A little back story : my in-laws were out of town this past weekend and we were at their house waiting for my brother & sister-in-law to come into town. The kids were busy playing with nonna’s toys, so I took it upon myself to raid nonna’s sewing supplies.  Had she not been snorkeling in the warm Maui waters, I would have called to ask first. Hope you don’t mind grandma nonna and thanks for letting me use your stuff!

Okay, on to the tutorial.

Here’s what you’ll need:

:: two contrasting fabrics

:: pillow insert {I used an 18 x 18}

:: scissors, pins, iron & sewing machine

STEP ONE: cut strips of fabric

Decide how large or small you would like your stripes, then add 1/2 to 1 inch for seam allowance. I cut these strips 3 inches x 20 inches. 

Do you know this trick? If you make a little snip in the fabric {with the weave}, you can tear a straight strip. Makes life easy.

Here are the stack of strips:

STEP TWO: pin one of each fabric right sides together

STEP THREE: stitch along one long edge

STEP FOUR: press seams open

Do the same to each set of strips.

STEP FIVE: put two sets of sewn pieces right sides together and stitch along one long edge

Press seams open again and continue with each piece until you’ll have this:

STEP SIX: add back piece of fabric, pin and stitch around the edges {leaving an opening to insert pillow}

STEP SEVEN: trim excess fabric

STEP EIGHT: turn right-side out, insert pillow and hand stitch closed

The finished pillow:

I want to try one with linen stripes, and a few more with outdoor fabric in thick black & white awning stripe.

Enjoy!