Thursday, April 15, 2010

Another pillow tutorial (and curtains)

It's time for another pillow tutorial.  This one is so easy, it's ridiculous.


This is the one that Jeff asked me if I knew the "pleats," as he called them, weren't even.  He's a perfectionist in regards to his own projects and I'm possibly the complete opposite so I'm good for him, right?  Right.

Step one.
Cut out your the squares (or whatever shape you choose) for your pillow.

Step two.
Cut a strip of fabric you want to use for the ruffle, or whatever that thing in the middle is.  You'll want it to be 1.5 to 2 times as long as the width of the pillow for making gathers.
The width of the strip is up to you. 

Step three.


The ends of the fabric won't matter, but you'll want to "hem" the long edges of the strip unless you want the edges to have a frayed look when your done making the ruffle.  I folded them under almost an inch and machine stitched it at the standard 5/8" mark.  I also plan to use this line of stitches as my sewing guide when I make it into a ruffle.

Step four.

 

Just eyeballing it, I pinch up the fabric and shove it under the foot all willy nilly with no rhyme or reason as I sew another line to hold these ruffles in place.  That's what gives it the nice (or as in Jeff's case, perplexing) uneven ruffled look.  The key to making this work is to sew slowly.

When your finished, it will look something like this:


Step four and a half.


Do it again going down the other side of the strip.
Oh!  This is important!  Make sure you're sewing in the same direction on both sides of the fabric to insure that your ruffles will want to fold in the same direction.  Whew!  I almost forgot that part!

Step five.


Iron the ruffles down into submission.  My goal, aside from not getting burned, was to get the folds in the fabric to all face the same direction all the while encouraging their unevenness.  You could skip this step if you want to go for a fluffier ruffle.

Step six.


Pin it to the front square of your pillow fabric and sew it on. 

Step seven through ten.
Finish the pillow in the usual way then enjoy.


A tutorial for the white pillow can be found here.  It's easy too.

I used the same ruffling technique for my curtains minus the ironing step.

After making a pocket for the rod, I pinched and gathered and sewed five lines across the width of the fabric then I stitched over those same lines a second time to reinforce them because I don't want the threads to break when I tug the curtains closed, and they will if you don't.  Trust me.

I made them from muslin which, I think, is typically meant as a backer for quilts.  Maybe.  I don't know.
You could use a sheet or whatever kind of fabric you wanted to make these.  Anyway, I use the extra wide stuff so that when the curtains are closed, there is enough fabric to completely cover the window, even with all those gathers.  My curtains are fully functional so that was necessary, but if yours are only for decoration it doesn't matter how wide the fabric is and you might as well save yourself the money and buy the standard 45" wide fabric.

Remember a while back, I said I wanted white billowy curtains that blow around in the breeze because that would make things seem light and airy and relaxing?  Well, it works.

   

The bed keeps them from billowing to their full potential, but that's okay,


it still has a very relaxing effect.


Ahhh.

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60 comments:

  1. Awww...I love the picture of your precious baby!

    And the tutorial was great! Thanks!

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  2. So beautiful -- the baby and all the rest. Love your pillows. I've been in a pillow making mode these days too. Yours are just beautiful!

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  3. WHAT are you doing to me with those pictures of that baby?! It makes my heart grow three sizes bigger. :)

    Very nice pillow. It looks good with the other ruffledy pillows you made. Isn't it nice to do little things to fix up your bedroom? It seems like a good place to relax. Lisa~

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  4. Beautiful Celeste!!! And what a nice way of showing the bed with your little baby realxing by the nice onpe windows, fresh air, beautiful pillows...sooooo realxing!
    Have a lovely and sunny weekend!
    Li :-)

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  5. Thanks for the tutorial. Love your pillows.

    Hugs
    Charo

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  6. Love, love, love the curtains! Thanks!

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  7. Man!! I need to come over and hug our little Sophie. I like your pillows--and the uneven pleats. I never would have thought to do it that way--I think I'm a little like Jeff when I do things. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! Maybe I need to relax a little--Ha! You think that's possible?

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  8. Precious baby!
    Thanks for this tutorial. This is on my to-do list:o)
    Angex

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  9. What a little angel! What a great project for me to try to tackle. Thanks so much for sharing! xoxo

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  10. Thanks for the pillow instructions. It's beautiful and looks wonderful on your bed. Love the other one too. Your curtains are so dreamy and I just may make some of those myself. ♥

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  11. I forgot to say; Sophie is a little beauty! ♥

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  12. Your home is gorgeous! I've enjoyed exploring your blog this morning!

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  13. So pretty!!! I am totally in love with your window panels!!!

    My husband is the same way.. "symmetrical" is his favorite word!

    Have a beautiful weekend!!

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  14. Love the ruffling on the pillows and curtains. It's all so pretty and serene!

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  15. I've been wanting to make curtains for my room. These would be perfect. Thanks

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  16. That cracked me up about the "pleats"... I can hear my hubs saying something similar! I love the pillows and the curtains...great job!

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  17. You are a very talented seamstress. What you say is easy intimidates the heck out of me. :-). What terrific pillows and curtains! I love the billowing. I can feel the balmy breeze coming in through that window.

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  18. this cushion is beautiful!!

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  19. Your bedroom looks like it cam out of a magazine! Beautiful! I read the rest of your posts last week and it is amazing! Thanks for sharing.

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  20. The sleeping baby was the perfect icing on the cake of this post! How precious! I really love your pillows, bedding, curtains, and wall decor. Your room appears to be like a sanctuary.

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  21. What a precious picture. You place looks like it came right out of a magazine. Simply beautiful...

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  22. Ohh... so cute! I love that last picture. Very neat billowing affect too. Cute stuff!

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  23. Those curtains just look so lovely billowing. Very restful. How long did you watch them billow? I love the treatment you gave the top of the curtains. It adds such great interest.

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  24. love the baby napping on the bed. At first I thought it was a doll b/c my 21 month old it constantly putting her baby doll to bed in strange places. I think we have the same bedspread! I love mine.

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  25. TWO great minds think alike, I came across your blog via, oh dang I cannot remember whose site it was, but our curtains are identical!!!!Except that I made little under-the-counter curtains! Cool the gathering the 5 lines...I posted mine on the 12th of April and her you are.....you must like to sew..me too. Don't the curtains looks so sweet. I love making my own stuff!!!!
    You should stop by and see my version of the same thing.

    Melissa

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  26. Your room definitely does look relaxing... great job! :o)

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  27. Beautiful decorating and picture taking. All that was missing in the last picture was mommy relaxing with baby!!!! Great finish!!

    Blessings,

    KT

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  28. These are simply beautiful! Great tutorial - thank you for the tips! Stop by the Sunday Showcase Party if you get a chance. This entire room is gorgeous - Picture perfect!

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  29. Thanks so much for the tutorial! I have to start making some pillows, soon!!

    OMGoodness, your baby is so sweet! Such a pretty little sleepy face! Just melts my heart.... :)

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  30. LOVE LOVE LOVE.. the pillows and the cozy breezy beautiful room! OK' THAT LAST PIC. IS HEAVEN! ;) Jenn

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  31. Oh, how pretty! Love the pillow, the curtains, and the bedroom itself. :-)

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  32. Beautiful curtains and pillows! I think our cottage is next to your's on shoestring budget! Cindy

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  33. This is amazing! I could nap in a room like that any day. Love the curtains blowing in the room. Gorgeous!

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  34. I loved this post. I love your wit. (literally laughed out loud several times!) Love the pillows! Love the curtains. Love the sleeping little pumpkin. Love it, love it, love it! Count me as a new follower!

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  35. I love your pillows with the imperfect pleats. It would not look as good if it was all perfect. I love your cottage bedroom.

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  36. So cute! Thank you for the great tutorial! I love the ruffles this year.

    ~Liz

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  37. Thanks for the tutorial. Great projects and wonderful pictures.

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  38. One time jeff and I were roofing a shed roof in silver dollar city with cedar shingles and were suppose to do it all crooked and ol' timey. We had the hardest time because we are both symmetrical freaks. So I feel his pain, but those are nice pillows anyway.
    Ricky

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  39. I LOVE your pillows and curtains! I think we have the same taste...Thanks so much for linking to Favorite Things Friday!

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  40. Those curtains are AMAZING! Can I sleep-over? LoL

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  41. I love it! I have a link party on saturdays it is www.iamonly1woman.blogspot.com

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  42. That pillow is lovely and the smocked curtains are so airy and delicate. Would you like to be my house guest and warm up my sewing machine? LOL. Thanks for the wonderful tuto -- come see our villa. -- Jane F.

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  43. I am in love with the pillow and curtains. Okay gotta go see the directions for the white pillow. Ahhh so little time and so many things to make. :)

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  44. I jsut love the pillow and have marked your post so I can make both of your ruffled pillow tutes when I finish my room. I love the cottage look and the drapes blowing in the wind! My husband's name is Jeff and he would have asked about the pleats also! Stop by I have a few lamp and lampshade tutorials posted this week.
    Blessings...Sherry

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  45. I love your ruffles! Thanks for sharing the DIY. I'm terrified to try but I love the look so much that I think I'm just going to go for it!

    Jeanine

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  46. So beautiful. That room looks so serene! I love it! Looks like a great place to nap. Thanks for visiting.

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  47. Love this- that pillow is fantastic! And I have a whole stash of muslin just waiting to be used up. :)
    We have a Friday Fun Finds party (on Fridays, of course)... If you're interested, we'd love it if you'd link up this week!

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  48. Thanks for sharing the "how to do" on your beautiful pillow...luv how it looks on your bed!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    I’m having a GIVEAWAY…come by and check it out…I think you will like it!

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  49. Hello,

    your blog is wunderful.
    L love your fabriks.

    greatings from the nederlands send you Conny

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  50. I love your pillows. Thank you for sharing. Also....I'm in love with the horizontal planks on your bedroom wall! Was this a treatment you did or are they just bare bone planks that were there already? I want this cottage look in my bedroom and am in L.O.V.E with it.

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  51. Thanks Missy! We nailed up the planks onto the 2x4's but you could get the same effect by nailing them over your sheetrock. You can look under the section titled "Walls" if you are interested in more info.
    ☺ Celeste

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  52. The pillows are beautiful and the entire room is gorgeous! I'd take a nap there too!

    Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours Day!

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  53. Your cottage bedroom is just so beautiful!! So airy and relaxing! And those ruffly cushions are fabulous :) There is nothing more lovely than a little snuggly baby sleeping!!

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  54. Great tutorial and fabulous photos - I just love the shot with the wind blowing in! Thanks for linking up to Be Inspired last week!

    Chelsea

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  55. What a beautiful job you have done on these. You are a wonderful seamstress. I have a sewing machine, but unfortunately can sew very little.

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  56. Everything looks wonderful ! You did a great job.

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  57. I just love your pillow!! Thank you for the awesome and easy tutorial!

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