Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Day 2: Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the second 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!).


The Present Pillow is exactly what the name says--a pillow that looks like a present. A fabric "ribbon" creates the 3-D bow on the front. We chose a wrapping paper-style red and gold snowflake print for the "present" and a metallic gold scroll for ribbon, both from the  Season's Greetings collection--a touch of elegance for your holiday decor. This pillow measures 17-1/2" square.




Materials
2/3 yard red/gold snowflake print
2/3 yard gold print
16" red zipper
18" square pillow form
Turning stick

Cutting
Red/gold snowflake:
One 18-1/2" square
Two 8" x 18-1/2" strips

Gold print:
Two 6-1/2" x 42" strips
One 3-1/2" x 18-1/2" strip

Make the Pillow
Step 1: Sew an 8" x 18-1/2" red/gold snowflake strip to opposite sides of a 3-1/2" x 18-1/2" gold print strip. Topstitch on the gold strip 1/4" from each seam line.


Step 2: Press a 6-1/2" x 42" gold print strip lengthwise in half wrong sides together to create a fold line. (This will make it easier to press later.) Refold lengthwise in half right sides together and stitch down the long edge.

Step 3: On one end, use the 45 degree line on a ruler to create a diagonal line as shown. 


Step 4: Stitch on the drawn line and trim 1/4" past the seam.

Step 5: Turn the strip right side out and use a turning stick to push the point out. Press this ribbon strip. Topstitch 1/4" from the outer edge of the strip.
Step 6: Repeat steps 3-5 to make a second ribbon strip.
Step 7: Position the pieced square and 18-1/2" red/gold snowflake square right sides together with a pieced edge oriented up. Lay the zipper near the pieced edge of the square as shown. Mark the ends of the zipper with pins. Sew along this edge of the pillow using a 1/2" seam allowance. Sew with a regular length stitch outside the pins, backstitching at the pins. Sew with a large basting stitch between the pins. 


Step 8: Press the seam between the square and pieced square open and position the zipper on it, face down. Pin the zipper in place and use a zipper foot to stitch from edge to edge on each side of the zipper to secure it in place. 

Step 9: Pick the basting stitch open to expose the zipper. Open the zipper at least halfway. 

Step 10: Find and mark the center point on the left and right sides of the pieced square. Pin the raw ends of the ribbon strips at these center points. Tie a test bow; you may prefer to shorten the ribbon strips before sewing in place. Tip: Shortening one of the strips by 3-4" will help to create a bow with more equal ends, but try it yourself in case your tying technique is different.
Step 11: Baste the ribbon strips in place.

Step 12: Position pillow halves right sides together and pin. Double check that the zipper is at least halfway open! Make sure (and double check!) that the ribbon strips are tucked inside so you don't accidentally sew them in the seam.

Step 13: Sew around the outer three edges of the pillow using a 1/2" seam allowance. Turn right side out through the zipper opening. 

Step 14: Insert the pillow form into the pillow. Tie a bow with the ribbon strips.


Voila...the pillow present!


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: gift wrapping--an opportunity for creativity or a labor of love? In other words, love it or hate it? 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 1: The Ho Ho Ho 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

59 comments:

  1. I enjoy wrapping but I don't do anything fancy, it's going to get ripped apart either way. I follow on bloglovin'.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Following on bloglovin. Gift wrapping is OK. 24Tangent@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Follow on Bloglovin. I really love wrapping presents and try my best to make them very pretty and special.

    ReplyDelete
  4. HI,love wrapping+giving!Thanks for a neat giveaway!
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I follow you on Bloglovin, Gift wrapping at my house is usually a last minute rush. We love giving but procrastinate on the wrapping. Thanks for the give-away!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am following I am following on blog lovin. I enjoy giving and receiving beautifully parcelled presents. X
    Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great idea and beautiful.I love wrapping and love they looks fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Email subscriber, I'm a wrapping hater, my least favorite part of Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  9. follow by email. Gift wrapping has become a "labor of love." Lately I have been using a lot more gift bags. Having said that, I really do like this pillow.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Follow via email. I do enjoy wrapping. It makes the present more fun to open.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I follow you by email. I enjoy wrapping presents - they sit under the tree for a while so I like them to look pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love gift wrapping presents!
    Thanks for the chance to win
    merryorganic@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I follow on Bloglovin.
    I love wrapping presents, as long as they are square!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I follow by GFC and email. At Christmas, with lots of presents, I don't enjoy wrapping much. But for something like a birthday or wedding, just a gift or two, I do enjoy getting creative. I love using fancy fabric ribbons on packages.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Email subscriber. Not really a fan of wrapping presents.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I follow on bloglovin and email. Wrapping gets done, but with 5 grand's under the age of 6, there is no need for creativity!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Email subscriber. For very many years (upwards to 30), I have used cloth bags for gifts. Makes it easy and there are lovely Christmas fabrics to use. I smile when my adult children comment "remember when I got x in that bag".

    ReplyDelete
  18. Already a follower thru Email, Bloglovin & Pinterest! :) I don't mind wrapping gifts....but don't get real fancy! lol (tho I am known for putting gifts inside assorted boxes,,cereal, tea, crackers etc stuff..then wrapping nicely! giggle...)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I follow via Bloglovin. I dislike gift wrapping, although when I was much younger I used to really enjoy it. Now I see it as the labor of love!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I follow by email. gift wrapping is both a creative outlet and a labor of love for the recipient. I love making for family and friends and coming up with something different each year.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow via email. I enjoy gift wrapping (especially being creative with fabric and ribbon).
    cwayons(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I follow by email. I enjoy wrapping and don't do a lot of fancy things, but I can't stand gift bags!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I follow on bloglovin. I love wrapping. So much fun with so many pretty colors.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm a follower via Bloglovin'. I buy gift bags & tissue paper so I don't have to wrap. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am an old follower! And depends on how much time I have to wrap. I do like to make them look pretty, but if I have a stack on Christmas Eve it's just "get 'er done" mode. :)
    craftyccain@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I follow with bloglovin! I love gift wrapping!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I follow by e-mail. I like wrapping presents, but using gift bags sure saves a lot of time.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I follow with bloglovin. I have fun with gift wrapping!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I follow you on Blogloving and I LOVE to wrap gift as a creative expression! Wish I could afford gifts to wrap! Thanks and God bless! ILuvTheEucharist @ aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I follow via e-mail. I love wrapping packages. Love the bow on the pillow. Thank you for the tutorial and the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I follow via email. I go back and forth when it comes to wrapping. Most times, however, it's a true labor of love.

    ReplyDelete
  32. ❤️🎁 I follow by email, and love the present pillow!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. i used to love wrapping, now not so much. i do lots of bagging.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I follow on Bloglovin (delliott1000). Wrapping gifts is definitely an opportunity to get creative! Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I think that pillow would make a great gift.I follow on blogovin, and email
    gandn74@ymail.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I follow on Bloglovin and I love this idea!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I follow via e-mail (lalaluu at yahoo dot com) and I once took a seasonal job at the mall wrapping gifts because I didn't get enough to wrap at home!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I follow via bloglovin. I don't have many gifts to wrap these days, but when I did, I made a party out of it. We called it "Drink Wrap". You had to have gifts to wrap in order to attend. Bring paper and embellishments. And we would wrap and drink mimosas, wine, whatever. We ended up with some very creative gift packaging!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I follow via email. I find gift wrapping to be a labor of love. I'm not very creative with it and I have a hard time cuttting straight.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I follow via email. I enjoy making beautiful gift wraps.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Email follower. I used to be so creative and careful about wrapping. Now, unfortunately, If I can find a bag I call it good. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  42. I follow!...however I have to admit that Giftbags are my wrapping of choice now. They usually get passed around and back in the following years :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. I follow via bloglovin. I try to gift wrap in a reusable way, like a tote bag, a decorated shoebox, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I follow quilting blogs using Old Reader for the feeds. Your pillow is lovely---my sofa could use some cheering up :).
    Do I like to wrap? Well, I keep the wrapping simple, then use old Christmas cards to make the tags. The gifts go under the tree as soon as I wrap them. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Following with bloglovin. I like to wrap, but don't do any fancy trimming.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I follow through GFC. I used to do really fancy wrapping, but three kids later, I just get it done. I hope to spend some time doing some nice wrapping on a couple of gifts.

    determineddebby at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Cute pillow! I follow on bloglovin! I love wrapping!!!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love gift wrapping and I follow you through bloglovin

    ReplyDelete
  49. Love this pillow! Merry Christmas....I like to use paper and fabric to gift wrap...but come Dec.24 it has become a labor of love..lol

    ReplyDelete
  50. I am an e-mail subscriber. Gift wrapping is an art here in Japan and I enjoy trying to achieve the perfect presentation for each gift. This pillow is a wonderful idea for Christmas decorating. Thank you for sharing it!

    ReplyDelete
  51. I do follow you on blog lovin. Gift-wrapping can go either way. Some years I love it and am so creative and then there are other years I don't even want to tackle it. Depends on the mood.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Following on bloglovin'. I start off with good intentions with Gift wrapping - everything is nice and neat. But at the end, I can't stand it anymore and I just want it over and done-with. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  53. i follow by email. cute fuss free pillow.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I follow on feedly and more a labor of love

    ReplyDelete