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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Day 1: Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the first 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!).


Celebrate Santa's arrival with a Ho Ho Ho Pillow! The red and green stripe prints from the Season's Greetings collection add whimsy to a simple pillow created with appliqued letters and a wide flange. This pillow measures approximately 24-1/2" x 11-1/2".




Materials

1/4 yard or fat quarter of white solid
1/4 yard or fat quarter of green stripe
2/3 yard of red stripe
1/4 yard or fat quarter of muslin
20" x 8" piece of interfacing
25" x 12" piece of fusible fleece 
Fusible web
Fiber fill

Cutting

White solid:
One 20" x 8" piece

Red stripe:

Two 3" x 20" strips
Two 3" x 12" strips
One 12" x 14" piece (for backing)
One 12" x 16" piece (for backing)

Make the Pillow

Download the template here
Step 1: Trace the H and O three times each onto the paper side of fusible web. (Note: Since both H and O are symmetrical, you don't have to worry about if the letter is reversed--it doesn't matter!)



Step 2: Cut out each letter 1/4" past the drawn line. Fuse two H and two O onto the wrong side of the green stripe. Fuse the remaining H and O onto the wrong side of the red stripe. Angle the letters on the stripe if you'd like a diagonal look like ours.
Step 3: Following manufacturer's directions, fuse the three Ho sets onto the 20" x 8" white piece, measuring up approximately 2-1/2" from the bottom and aligning letters on that line. 

Step 4: Attach stabilizer to the back of the white piece. Use your favorite decorative stitch and matching thread to stitch letters to background. Trim piece to measure 20" x 7".

Step 5: Sew 3" x 20" red stripe strips to top and bottom of white piece. Sew 3" x 12" red stripe strips to opposite short sides. Fuse the 25" x 12" fusible batting piece to the wrong side. (Note: In addition to giving the flange a nice, firm feel, this also eliminates the potential to see through the white background fabric and gives the pillow a smoother appearance.)



Step 6: Fold one short end of the 12" x 16" red stripe piece over 1/4", wrong sides together. Press. Fold over another 1/4" and press again. Stitch to create a hemmed edge for pillow back. Repeat on a short end of a 12" x 14" red stripe piece. 

Step 7: Lay the pillow front right side up. Layer the two backing pieces right sides down, aligning raw edges. (Hemmed edges will overlap in the middle.) Pin in place. 
Half the backing pinned in place


The entire backing pinned in place
Step 8: Stitch around the entire outer edge of pillow. Turn right sides out, clip corners, and press. 

Step 9: To create the flange, stitch around pillow 1/2" from the center white edge. Stitch around pillow 1/4" from outer pillow edge. 

Step 10: Sew the 7-1/2" x 20-1/2" muslin pieces around three sides, leaving a short side open. Turn right side out and stuff with fiberfill, testing as you go to make sure your pillow insert won't bulge when tucked into the outer pillow. Stuff it less than you'd think--if you stuff it firmly, your pillow will end up shaped like a tootsie roll! When you're happy with the fit, sew a 1/4" seam across the open end. 

Step 11: Stuff the pillow insert inside the pillow and enjoy!




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: what is your favorite piece of holiday decor? Giveaway is open through Thursday, December 17th 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 2: The Present Pillow
Day 3: Snowflake 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

62 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tutorial. I love the idea on making the flange. That's something new for me! :-)

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  2. Cute pillow! I follow on bloglovin. My favorite decoration is the tree lit, up and shining at night.

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  3. Cute pillow. All the stuff, trees, stockings, missletoe, etc. Following on Bloglovin'. Merry Christmas. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  4. Very cute. I love the flange that was added. My favorite Holiday decor is anything on the table-from a runner to the placemats. Thank you for the giveaway. I follow via Bloglovin.

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  5. Lovely pillow! I follow on Bloglovin.
    Favorite holiday décor are all the outdoor Christmas lights-so fun to drive around and see them.

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  6. The pillow is sweet! I love decorating with wreaths. I follow with bloglovn!

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  7. Following on bloglovin'. I am making throw pillows for my brother and his wife. I finished one last night and am finishing the other one tonight. They are turning out cute. My favorite holiday décor is anything handmade. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

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  8. I follow by blog lovin. I have been making some cross stitched pillow ornaments xx
    Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

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  9. I follow in bloglovin'. I made a paper pieced table runner last year that I love.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  10. Follow blog by email. Favorite decor: after the tree, is the the first ornament my husband and I acquired when we first got married.

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  11. I follow via Bloglovin. My favorite decor is my crèche that my mom purchased for me many years ago. I bring it out and it sits on our mantel every year....

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  12. Very cute, I'm an email follower. My favorite Christmas thing is a nativity ornament made for me by my grandmother years ago.

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  13. I follow you by email. My favorite holiday décor is my Nativity set, it has loads of animals and is just beautiful!

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  14. Yes, very cute pillow. My favorite decorations are the three similar ones my children made as preschoolers (their photos within an ornament they built at preschool). I follow Inspired by email newsletters and and glad that I do.

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  15. I am a Bloglovin' follower and love your creative projects...all of them! My favorite Christmas decorations are the collection of nutcrackers that we display on our mantel each year. They look so festive! duchick at gmail dot com

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  16. Cute project. I love how you made the ho ho ho with directional fabric. I follow via e-mail, and Facebook. Thank you for the tutorial and the giveaway.

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  17. I follow via email, and my favorite decorations are the stockings I've made.

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  18. I follow via GFC. My favorite decorations are the tree ornaments my son made when he was young. And the one with his newborn photo in it.

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  19. My favorite holiday decorations is my tree topper angel, a gift from Mom in 1975. Thanks for the cute pillow tutorial, and I follow by email.

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  20. i follow your blog. I love your pillow. thanks for the pattern and tutorial

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  21. Love this pillow tute! I'll be making several of these for Christmas!

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  22. Great pillow! It would look great on my bench at the front door. I follow by e-mail. My favorite decoration is a Santa pitcher that my Mother-in-law gave me on our first Christmas.

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  23. I follow the blog through Bloglovin. Such a nice pillow. And it looks doable between now and Christmas.

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  24. Bloglovin and email. I get both. My favorite decoration: a wonderful smelling Christmas tree with all the ornaments on it. I used to decorate everything--even the dog!

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  25. I follow on Bloglovin. My favorite decoration is the Christmas quilt I made this year,

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  26. Fun pillow! I follow thru Bloglovin & Email :)

    My favorite decoration is our Nativity scene

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  27. I already follow you via bloglovin. Cute pillow! I like flange pillows but have never made one. I'd have to say my Christmas tree is my favorite piece because I've been keeping a table-top Norfolk pine alive for at least five years now, and that's a record for any plant under my care! We use it as our Christmas tree. It's probably three times the size of when I received it. The store said it would keep for a year!

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  28. I am a follower. They are all my favorites but I just made a runner/mantle hanging that I really like.

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  29. I follow via e-mail. I love the lights. :)
    craftyccain@gmail.com

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  30. The Ho Ho Ho pillow is so cute. I follow via email. Thanks. Howlandquilt at gmail.

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  31. Very cute pillow.
    I follow your blog, and I like the Christmas lights that are decorating the house.

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  32. Love the pillow but i think i would make it a wall hanging...i follow you on bloglovin....ty for blog hop .....happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  33. Cute pillow! I follow on Bloglovin. I love anything with snowmen on it for my decor at Christmas.

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  34. Adorable pillow..thanks for the tutorial! My favorite piece of holiday decor is the vintage Santa that was my husband's when he was a little boy.
    cwayons(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  35. So cute pillow.Thanks for the tuto.I follow via email, and my favorite decorations are the runners and toppers I've made to gift and put the Nativity scene at home.

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  36. Yes, I follow your blog! love ALL Christmas decorations but my fave are the heirloom stockings I cross-stitched for my daughters many years ago. Love this Ho Ho Ho pillow, the flange is an extra special touch!

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  37. I follow your blog via email - I have a snowman wall hanging that I quilted - this is the first year I have been able to display it - I just love it

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  38. I follow by email, and I love the lights

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  39. HI,Follow>blog lovin'! My glass angel ornament is one of my favorites! Thank You for a great giveaway!
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  40. I follow by e-mail. My new quilted table runner. Thanks for a chance to win.

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  41. My favorite decoration is a wreath that my great nephew made a couple of years ago. It is so sweet. I follow on Bloglovin. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  42. My favorite decoration is the stuffed Santa that was my 91 year old moms when she was little.

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  43. Cute pillow, thanks for the tutorial! I follow on bloglovin. My favorite is the Christmas tree, decorated and lit.

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  44. I follow on Blogloving! My favorite piece of decor is our decorated Christmas Tree! Thanks and God bless! ILuvTheEucharist @ aol.com

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  45. I follow through Bloglovin. All my decorations are my favorite. Thanks for the great giveaway

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  46. I follow with Bloglovin. I love the decorated tree the most!

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  47. I follow via e-mail (lalaluu at yahoo dot com) and my favorite piece of décor in my house is my Charlie Brown Christmas tree!

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  48. I follow via email. My favorite decoration is my porcelain nativity set. Cute pillow!

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  49. Follow w/email. I collect Santas and I love to see them all displayed each year. Thanks.

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  50. Yes follow...my favorite decoration is a large stuffed reindeer that gets put out each year. Must be out of the reach of the Lab though. She would think it a toy!

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  51. I follow on bloglovin! Our family has a family of reindeer that decorate our home each year!

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  52. I have a little wooden Christmas tree that has hook on ornaments you can take off and on, I follow the blog.

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  53. Merry Christmas.....love your blog...all the lights of my community are my favorite.Love Connie's table runner.

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  54. Merry Christmas.....love your blog...all the lights of my community are my favorite.Love Connie's table runner.

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  55. i follow on blog lovin,. thanks for the giveaway.

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  56. i follow on blog lovin,. thanks for the giveaway.

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  57. Yes I do follow your blog! I really loved the tutorial. I love small wall hangings for Christmas. Thanks so much.

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  58. I follow you on blog lovin! My favorite decor of the holiday season has to be the Christmas tree with homemade decorations and icicles!

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  59. small cute pillow. i follow by email.

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  60. I follow on Pinterest. I love the holidays. I have a wreath for all the holidays. Christmas is decorated with my collection of Santa Claus's and my Christmas village.

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