Quick and Easy Patriotic Pillows

WP_20170623_12_53_55_RichThese cute patriotic pillows are easy to make.  I made two in about 30 minutes. It may take you more or less time depending on your sewing experience.  They are pocket covers that you can make to put over an existing pillow or you can buy a pillow form.  You can make different pillow pocket covers to easily switch out with each season.

I chose to cover an existing pillow. Choose a cute patriotic fabric that you like. Put your fabric on a cutting board and set your pillow on top. Cut your fabric on the long end about two inches wider than your pillow (an inch on each side).

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Then cut the fabric about 2 1/2 times the size of your pillow on the short end.

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Next fold each of the short ends over approximately 1/2 inch.  Press, then stitch close to the cut edge.

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Place your fabric with the print side up.  Fold, right sides together, so that one of the short ends that you just stitched is a little more than half the width of your fabric (see photo).

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Next, fold over the other side of the fabric so that the total width of the folded fabric is just slightly larger than your pillow (see photo).

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Pin the edges and stitch along the edge with approximately 5/8 seam allowance.

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Turn the pocked right side out and put your pillow inside to make sure it is the right size.  If it turned out too big or too small, you can unpick and adjust the seam.  If it is the right size, take your pillow out, turn it inside out again, and clip the corners.  Be careful not to snip through your seam.

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Turn the pocket right side out and push out corners.  Put your pillow inside, and volia! You're done.  

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I cut out two the same time and used one as the pattern for the other.

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For my third pillow, I sewed together strips of scrap patriotic fabrics of varying widths until the fabric combinations were about two inches longer than my pillow. Then I followed the same steps as above to make a pocket to slide the longer bolster pillow.

WP_20170623_13_42_16_RichThere you have it - three cute, simple pillows to dress up your porch or couch.  Now that you know how, you can make several different pillow pockets to switch out with each season.  Just use the pockets you just made as patterns. "Sew" easy.

 

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