Bolster Pillows for the Windowseat

To make the  bolster pillows for my windowseat, this is what I did:
1. Purchased these toddler/ small child body pillows from Carson's flash Internet sale for $19.00.

     Size:  8 inches by 32 inches, cotton fabric, filled with polyester     puff ball fiber. Excellent quality.

2.  Calculate the measurements for my pattern to cut out the fabric.
For the width of the rectangle to cover the middle of the pillow measure the distance around the pillow ends (circumference),   Use the diameter (8) times 3.14 (Pi), or use this online calculator , Plus 1" for seam allowances. 8 X 3.14 = 25.12 plus 1 inch seam allowance = 26 1/8 inches wide.

For the length of the rectangle to cover the middle of the pillow measure the pillow form from one end to the other end (32 inches) and add 1 inch for the seam allowance.  SO I will cut a a rectangle 26 1/8 inches wide and 33 inches long.

3. For the ends of the pillow cut out 2 circles 8 inch diameter plus 1 inch seam allowance = 9 inches. Look around your house for a circle that size... I used a 9 inch cake pan.

4. Make your piping. I used a 6/32 cotton piping cord, I cut my strips of fabric on the bias.  I wanted a finished seam allowance of 1/2 when I was finished making the piping.
This is the most important part... I purchased a piping foot for my sewing machine and it made the job SOOOO much easier. This  foot cost around $15.00. 

There are two groves on the underside of the foot and the piping glides in the grove.

Look at how close to the cotton piping it sews the seam. 

4. To attach the piping to the right side of the circle, 
seam rip about one and a half inch of the seam on the piping and open up the piping. Cut away some of the cotton piping and fold back the edge of the fabric. Begin sewing on the piping at the stitching line, and NOT at the end.

Next, when you come to where the piping will overlap, cut the end of the piping so it fits right next to the cut off cotton piping.Insert the end so it touches the cotton piping.

Fold over the fabric piping end and continue sewing.

4. Sew the piping (Using the piping foot) to the right side of the circle fabric  using a 1/2" seam allowance. Overlap the piping as shown above.  Clip the seam allowance of the piping seam allowance. Even though it is cut on the bias, clipping the tape will allow piping tape to lay smoothly on the circle. 

5. The Body of the Pillow - Using the rectangle for the body of the pillow

• Match the edges that are the length of the pillow plus 1"
• Sew the seam, leaving an opening in the seam in the middle.   
• Press the seam flat to set the stitches and then press open the seam.

Working with the tube of fabric that is right sides inside...

• Bringing right sides together and pin the piped circle in place on the end of the tube of fabric by dividing the circle into fourths with pins, and dividing the tube into fourths and then matching the fourths to ease the circle into the tube.
• Repeat for the other end of the tube.
• Sew the piped circles to ends of the tube of fabric.
• Turn the pillow cover right side out.
• Press and insert the pillow form inside the pillow cover.



Though this isn't the circle, I wanted to show you how easy the piping is to sew when placing the two fabrics together, using the piping foot.

• Hand sew the opening closed with a slip stitch.

 

Adding the Pillows to my Windowseat

I'm trying to think outside of my normal symmetrical thinking. 

Could you help me?

Here is how I would normally place the pillows:

 

Mary, my decorator friend, suggested this:

My daughter suggested this:

Which one do you like best?

I made the envelope style pillow and the bolsters.  I plan to post about how to make the bolster. But, I just have to tell you how amazing this little sewing machine foot is...the piping foot. It makes making and applying piping SO MUCH easier. So come back and I"ll tell you all about it.

 Smiles,

Deborah

Built-in Bookcase/Windowseat: Cushion, Part 8

After visiting multiple different fabric stores, both in person and online, I finally chose this fabric for the windowseat cushion.

You see circles, but I see STRIPES. Stripes need to be matched, just like these circles need to be matched, so that will influence how I lay-out my fabric when cutting it out.

My windowseat is quite wide, so the circle stripes will run from the front of the seat to the back of the seat.

 I want the top and bottom to match.

 I  know you can't see them both at one time, but what if I get a terrible stain on the top?  I think the seat is symmetrical enough that I will be able to flip the cushion.

I also want the 3 inch strip between the top and bottom to match too. I have to admit that I have a "thing" about unmatched prints...it drives me crazy!

 SO when I laid out the fabric, I considered where the finished seam would end, so I could line up the circle stripes.

 Here goes.... I cut the fabric pieces one piece at a time. You can see from this photo that I used the first top section, flipped over right side to right side, to serve as the pattern for the bottom section. Now I know that they will match perfectly.

 

In the next post, I will show you how I made the covered piping.

  Hint: My husband always says,

 "The right tool for the job makes a HUGE difference in the finished product." 

Smiles,

Deborah