Thursday, December 10, 2015

Day 3: Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the third day of our Home for the Holidays blog hop! 
This week, our focus will be on throw pillows--a fun and often overlooked way to add some holiday joy to your home! Next week we'll have a variety of small sewing decor projects, so be sure to stop by each day!

We think you'll enjoy the tutorials this week--including possibly new-to-you techniques. One of the great things about pillows is that by creating envelope-style or zipper pillows (we'll show you both methods), you can switch them out with your regular throw pillow covers for a quick and easy holiday decoration (and they don't require much storage space the rest of the year!).



You can leave this Snowflake Pillow on the couch all winter long! The pillow uses a reverse applique technique--no worrying about the darker background fabric showing through the lighter snowflake fabric. We have a few different snowflake templates to choose from, including the one shown here. Imagine a couch full of snowflake pillows using the blue and white Season's Greetings prints--your own Winter Wonderland! This pillow measures 14" square.


Materials
1 fat quarter of blue snowflake plaid
1/2 yard of white snowflake print
14-1/2" square of fusible web
14" square pillow insert

Cutting
Blue snowflake plaid:
One 14-1/2" square

White snowflake print:
One 14-1/2" square
Two 10-1/2" x 14-1/2" pieces

We've created four different snowflake patterns that you can use. Our tutorial uses #2; you can see all four designs:
Download the pdf containing all four designs here; then print whichever you'd like to use.


Make the Pillow
Step 1: Tape the two pattern pages together along the dotted line as indicated. Mark the center line in both directions on the 14-1/2" square piece of fusible web. Layer the pattern under the fusing side of the fusible web, aligning the dotted lines with the drawn lines. Trace the snowflake half onto the paper side of the fusible web. Rotate the snowflake pattern and trace the other side as well.  



Step 2: Following manufacturer's directions, fuse the fusible web square to the wrong side of the 14-1/2" blue snowflake plaid square.
Step 3: Cut out the snowflake shape, leaving the negative space around the design as shown. 

Step 4: Fuse the blue snowflake outline to the 14-1/2" white snowflake square. Tip: Align the two squares and then quickly press down the points near the center just to get them in place. Then, working from the center out, press the directed amount of time with the iron to adhere the entire square. 

Step 5: Use a decorative stitch of choice to secure the applique edges (we used a zigzag stitch and silver thread).

Step 6: On each of the 10-1/2" x 14-1/2" white snowflake pieces, fold one long edge over 1/4" wrong sides together and then fold over another 1/4". Topstitch to secure the hemmed edge. 

Step 7: Lay the pillow top right side up. Lay the two back pieces on top, right sides down, so the raw edges line up with the pillow top and the hemmed edges overlap in the center. Pin in place. 

Step 8: Sew around the outer edge of the pillow using a generous 1/4" seam allowance. Turn pillow right side out and stuff with a 14" square pillow insert. 


For a chance to win a bundle of Season's Greetings prints, leave a comment letting us know that you follow the blog (if you don't already, sign up in the sidebar at right using the email or blog reader option). In your comment, also let us know: do you still cut out paper snowflakes like you did when you were a child? Giveaway is open through Friday, December 18th at 11:59 pm EST. This contest is now closed.

See the entire Season's Greetings collection here.

Check out each day of our Home for the Holidays Hop!
Day 1: The Ho Ho Ho Pillow
Day 2: The Present Pillow
Day 4: O Christmas Tree Pillow
Day 5: Peace on Earth Table Runner
Day 6: Snowflake Table Topper
Day 7Let It Snow Applique Quilt
Day 8: Cinnamon Scented Coasters

41 comments:

  1. I follow you with bloglovin'. I haven't cut snowflakes for years, but I used to love it.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cute pillow! I follow your blog with Bloglovin. I haven't cut any snow flakes for few years, the last one I cut was for an appliqué block. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your pillow is so adorable. Thanks for the tutorial. I follow with Bloglovin. I haven't cut out snowflakes in a long time. The last time I tried, it didn't look anything like a snowflake so I ended up tracing one from a coloring book.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I follow via GFC. I haven't cut out paper snowflakes since my son was young and we cut them together.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your pillow is super cute.Many time wityout cut paper snowflakes.I follow via email.

    ReplyDelete
  6. We do cut paper snowflakes. A few years ago, with new kittens in the house, paper snowflake ornaments were our only decorations on the tree and we were amazed at how pretty it looked. I am a follower via email: wordygirl at earthlink dot net.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I follow via e-mail. Sweet pillow. Yes I still cut out paper snowflakes. Thank you for the downloads and the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I follow via e-mail and catch you also on Facebook. It has been a few years since I have cutout paper snowflakes, maybe it is time to start again since there is a lack of snow here in the KC area.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bloglovin' and email, double dose. Snowflakes, not in a while. The closest has been Hawaiian quilting patterns. Love them.

    ReplyDelete
  10. But, snowflakes are hexies and I love hexies.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love cutting out snowflakes! thank you and I follow with bloglovn!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I follow via Bloglovin. No snowflake cut outs for me these days. I tend to sew them in with my quilting nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am a loyal follower via e-mail. I just showed my grandson how to cut out snowflakes the other night. :)
    craftyccain@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great idea, and I follow via bloglovin and email. I actually cut out a snowflake when I was bored and finished with sewing while doing a craft show 2 weeks ago. I normally bring a project to work on, and needed something else to do. I have a book of designs that's awesome, too. I'll have to find it and make some new snowflakes.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I follow thru Email & Bloglovin :) LOVE your Snowflake Pillow! Thank you for how to make!! & also for chance to win your give-a-way too! :)

    YES! my Grangirlie & i love to make paper snowflakes & hang them all around her room, my sewing room & on the Tree! :) Grrrreat fun!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I follow via e-mail and bloglovin'. I haven't cut out snowflakes since my girls were little. I imagine someday cutting them out again with grandchildren.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I follow by email. Haven't cut out snowflakes in years, but am looking forward to doing that with the great grand girl when she is a little older.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I follow you via Google Friends Connect. The last snowflake I cut out was a couple of years ago. I made a card for a very special friend.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I follow via bloglovin, and that is the only way I know how to make a snowflake, like a child!
    Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I follow via email. I made a snowflake table runner last year, but I like your design better.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow the blog via email. No, I haven't made paper snowflakes for many years.

    ReplyDelete
  22. So pretty. I love snowflakes. I have not cut out any snowflakes for a long time. I follow on bloglovin.

    ReplyDelete
  23. So pretty! I have never done this method of applique, but it is on my list for the weekend! I cut out snowflakes last week with my grandson....think I will attempt to have him help with this pillow! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I follow on bloglovin, FB. I cut some out last year to put on a quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I follow by email. Haven't cut any out for several years. Saw an incredible display at the library this week though. They were layered, so lacy and delicate. I was very impressed. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love this pillow! Unfortunately, I haven't cut out paper snowflakes in years but this project makes me want to. I follow on Bloglovin (delliott1000). Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

    ReplyDelete
  27. VERY PRETTY! YES,SOMETIMES IT'S FUN TO CUT A SNOWFLAKE!!!
    HAPPY TO FOLLOW YOU>BLOG LOVIN'-lindadouglas,35
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. So beautiful! Hope to have some done for Christmas. Still love to cut snowflakes :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. I follow via blog lovin. I haven't made snowflakes since I was a child!
    Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Following with Bloglovin. My sister and I were just talking about the paper snowflakes the other day. We haven't made any since our children were young.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I cut them out for my Grandsons. They think it's magic. Thank-you for the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I do follow you with e-mail. Thanks do enjoy! I loved the snowflakes. Haven't done any in years. Will have to try this. Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I follow you with Blogovin. We made snow flakes the other day for my autistic granddaughter

    Nancy
    gandn74@ymail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I do follow you on blog lovin. Yes I do! I actually cut some to use with my gelliplate printing this year!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Following on bloglovin'. This is very cute! I have not cut a snowflake out since I was a child in girl scouts. I need to try it again. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  36. i follow by email. i don't have a machine cutter but i could do this by hand and give it character.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I follow on bloglovin, and yes my daughter and I ALL YEAR cut out snowflakes, they are fun to do!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I follow on feedly and am planning on doing snowflakes with my daughter's girl scout troop tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I follow via email . Snowflake are fun to make as each one is different. Merry Christmas !

    ReplyDelete
  40. Love the Snowflake applique. Snowflakes are my all time favorite winter decoration, not just for Christmas. I've been searching for new décor for my living room, I just gotta give your snowflake a try on a pillow at least:)
    thank you for sharing all 4.


    schimmel(dot)db(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete