Button Monogram Pillow Tutorial

Here it is, the tutorial you've all been waiting for.  Take it away Sarah...

On a recent trip to my local thrift store, appropriately named Nifty Thrift, I struck gold pink. I pulled up in front of the outdoor clearance rack, and this full length silk dress was staring me in the face.

After making this pillow, I had in mind to make a pink one for my eldest niece. Even on sale, the silk fabric I used for the first pillow ran about $12/yard. Total cost for this lovely pink dress.....50 cents!

 

After freshening up the dress with a spin through the wash, I decided to try it on. Funny enough, it fit perfectly! However, since I didn't have any plans to go as Barbie next Halloween, I decided to stick with my original plan and use the fabric for a pillow case. Here's how you can make your very own button monogram pillow.

 

What you'll need:

-12" x 16" pillow form

-17" x 13" fabric, 2 pieces

-60" (5 feet) of 1/2" pom pom trim

-12-14" invisible zipper

-invisible zipper foot for sewing machine

-assorted buttons

-Iron

 

Wash, dry, and iron your fabric before beginning. Start by cutting two pieces of fabric, 17" x 13" each. Keep in mind the width of your trim. This is roughly the amount of seam allowance you will need for each side. For example, if the base of your trim is 1/2" wide, you will need a 1/2" seam allowance on each side of your fabric. If the width of your trim is smaller, you will want to cut your fabric a bit smaller so that your pillow case fits snugly.

 

Next, pin the trim to the right side of one piece of fabric, pom poms facing in. 

Using a basting stitch, sew the trim to the fabric. This will help keep it in place when you sew the two pieces of fabric together.

 

Pin your fabric, right sides together, making sure the trim is tucked in. You want to sew as close to the inside edge of the trim as possible (the edge nearest the pom poms). For our trim, we will want to sew about 1/2" in from the edge, around three sides of the pillow. IMPORTANT: Do not sew both long edges, one will be left open for the invisible zipper. Make sure to back tack at the beginning and end of your seam (To back tack, sew forward a few stitches, backward a few stitches, and then forward again, continuing with your seam. This will prevent your seam from unraveling.)

 

Snip both corners of your pillow so they look clean when turned right side out. Turn your pillow right side out and make sure your trim looks nice and neat.

 

To add the invisible zipper you will need a clothes iron and invisible zipper foot. The invisible zipper will come with installation instructions. Follow these exactly! If this is your first time to install an invisible zipper, you may want to practice first. The instructions are a little confusing the first time through.

 

Once you've added your zipper, you're ready to add your buttons! Using chalk (or a disappearing marking pen) trace your letter onto the front of your pillow. This will be your guide when adding the buttons. Sew the buttons on by hand. I like to tie off my thread after every few buttons. That way if I want to go back and move a button, I'm not undoing the entire letter. Make sure to use buttons in a variety of shapes and sizes, and layer them throughout your letter. I ordered my buttons in bulk off of Ebay for a few dollars.

 

Insert your pillow form, zip your zipper (if you can find it after the amazing job you did at making it invisible) and enjoy your personalized pillow!

**For more projects like this one visit Sarah's blog.