Disclaimer: If you are one of those “sew-ers” that measures and pins and is precise YOU WILL HATE ME. You will possibly want to murder me in my sleep. Just sayin’
Yesterday I was feeling like a bit of a slacker so I decided to be a little crafty. I had about 4 billion yards of grey chiffon left over from the drapes in my living room and have been wanting to make a pillow or something out of it.
I was thinking something like this:
Have you ever worked with this fabric for anything that requires any structure? The fabric itself is enough to call this pillow Lucy.
I had this down pillow that I got from Ross for $4.00.
I took the cover off and measured it.
Then I couldn’t find my rotary cutter. I couldn’t find my sewing scissors. I couldn’t find anything except the CRAPPIEST CRAP scissors that I got at the dollar store 10 years ago. Sweet. This is the straightest line that I could cut.
Plan re-evaluation #1
Then Dylan came in and dropped her Popsicle on the fabric. Look close it takes up the whole space that is flattened out. So now I need to wash it.
Plan re-evaluation #2
Taking inspiration from a piece of this fabric that somehow ended up in my laundry I decided to do strips of it that would frayish (yes frayish is a word on my blog) when I wash the Popsicle off.
I cut strips that were between 2 and 3 inches wide. Obviously they were not perfect considering my equipment. Then I started sewing them on.
(No, I didn’t have grey thread.) So then I folded the strip that I had just sewn in half and laid another strip on top of it.
This is what the back looks like:
And the front:
So when I was about halfway done I noticed that this technique was shrinking the larger piece of fabric quite a bit. Dang now it wasn’t going to fit on my pillow form.
Plan re-evaluation #3
But I just kept truckin’
Then I realized that if the ends of the ruffles were sewn down when I put the back on that they would be totally flat and lifeless.
Plan re-eval #4
So I cut another piece the same size as my original 19×19 and stitched it on the back of the ruffled piece leaving about 1/2″ of fabric on the end of each seam.
Next I tacked the ruffle piece down on the edges so that it wasn’t just hanging out. You know like flapping.
Then I sewed the back piece onto the added one, just like my mama taught me (not really I don’t know why I said that) all 3 sides and most of the 4th and then stuff stuff stuff and hand stitch it shut. Oh yes and I trimmed off all the extra inside and on the ends of the ruffles so that they were sort of straight.
And here she is in all her glory.
I know that this tutorial is the worst ever and I may loose some friends over it but I think its kind of fun to see the problem solving process.
p.s. Lucy stands for Lucifer.
p.s.s. Yes, I do know how to sew and junk. You can see one of my other projects that required sewing {here}
I can understand the creative sewing process and taking some risks, but honey, make the nails gorgeous! You have this fab florescent yellow, run with it! 😉
Well, it turned out great! I ALWAYS have sewing mishaps. Always! And, no, it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that I don’t pin either. 🙂
~ The Speckled Dog
Oooh can I get you to make me one?? Pretty please?
I was thinkin’, “oh good her nails look just like mine!” Then I thought, “I can’t find my “good” scissors either!” (I had to use my boys’ school scissors the other day. You know, the tiny ones?) Then I thought, “That is the cutest pillow ever. I just might have to make one for ME!” TOO MUCH THINKIN” FOR ONE DAY! Thanks for keepin’ it REAL sista! Happy day!
Jennie @ CInnaberry Suite
Love this.. cute blog. come on over to our site if you ever need new ideas or want to feature one of your items
wow what a cool effet!
Great pillow! I have seen pillows like that for $100.00 or more…Great job. Lisa
Love it! and I love your methodology! You’re a little Pretty Pickle style, aren’t you? I’m not even that honest about all the little mishaps I go through when I sew. haha!
I loved the picture of your “straight” line – that would totally be me! The pillow turned out really pretty!
I love this post. I have about 3 projects right now that are in re-evaluation mode! Thanks for the inspiration to keep truckin’. Hopefully mine will turn out as cute as your pillow.
I am a glue-gunner, not a seamstress, so I think that this (and your technique) was BRILLIANT.
The end result is fantastic, even if the road there had a few twists and turns.
OMG you cracked me up LOL
Who cares if you didnt measure as long as it fits the pillow and looks amazing then you’ve done it!
I am hosting my own link up party Sew Crafty Saturday would love it if you stopped by and linked up 🙂
https://sewchicandunique.com/2010/09/sew-crafty-saturday/
Mayya @ Sew Chic and Unique
I can’t use my sewing machine. I’m a hand sew-er. I end up having the same predicaments that you did. I’ve lost count of the number of stitches I’ve ripped out!
Love your creative process!!
I have the same scissors (only mine are about 5 years old from the dollar store) and just used them to cut the chiffon for a pettiskirt. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do. The pillow looks great.
I SO would have given up on that one at about step 2! But how cute is that?! Glad you stuck to it!
The best part is the end! Lucy stands for Lucifer!!! BAwahahaha! Love it and actually, it’s quite lovely. Now, can you replicate it?! LOL!
Very cool pillow. You really could not have gotten the same look if everything was just so so!
I love it – just the way it is!
It doesn’t matter if I pin and measure… I still come up with “Plan re-evals”! Thanks for letting me know I am not the only one! (Psst – I LOVE the pillow!) 🙂
Thanks SO much for joining in on Thrilling Thursdays @ Paisley Passions. I hope to see you again this week 🙂
~Lori S.
Thrilling Thursdays @Paisley Passions
Thanks! We all need to have a laugh! Nice
Beautiful pillow! Love the color and the style!
What a great tutorial!! Love the pillow. It’s fantastic!
Saw you at Funky Junk. 🙂
I love it! Perfectly imperfect… just my style! Loved the tute. Still chuckling. That pillow has enough seams in it to make it strong enough to last in my house – awesome!
I think it was a FABULOUS tutorial and I totally could follow that kind! It’s such a gorgeous pillow it just jumped out and grabbed me! WAY TO GO! Thanks for sharing on funky junk!
I would read your posts for the entertainment value alone, even if the tutorial was crap. But I love the pillow and I get the tutorial–and the process, ’cause when you sew on the fly like that things happen. Now I have to go make that pillow. . .
Oh, and I SOO love that you names the pillow lucy. . .aka Lucifer. 🙂
So I just happened upon your cute and creative blog! Yes I am a sewer who pins and plans and I DO NOT hate you I really actually envy you. You have a vision and run with it ! TRUE creativeness!
Looking at your blog ( and not addressing my Christmas cards) I decided that 2011 will be about letting my creativeness bloom and the letting the “rules” go!! THANK YOU!
I love your ideas! You are so talented! I have been sewing for a long time and I don’t care if you aren’t exact….the fact that you go for it is what is great!
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i really enjoy that you are a trial by fire type. i am not at all the type that sits, thinks something through from start to finish, and then proceeds without the slightest mishap to perfection. i trip my way to perfection each and every time and when i finish i usually am the only one that sees it as perfect. i am always okay with that. they are the dumbie, not me.
I Heart that you didn’t clean the nails up for us…real life is always more interesting. Great tips throughout…I never walk away from the sewing machine where I’m not frustrated…cause it isn’t PERFECT. Thanks for taking me down a notch!
You are so darn talented! I started on your most recent post (today) and then got that that fabulous bedding you sewed from scraps, and then ended up here! Pinned both the bedding and the pillow to use as inspiration for my master bedding. THanks so much!
jen