The Upcycled Jean Pillows and a Pocket Pillow Tutorial

So yesterday I showed you my Upcycled Jean Quilt.  I had some extra soft material from the center cut of the blanket that I used for the pillow covers and I embellished with scraps leftover from the jeans and some vintage buttons.  If you are a real quilter please don't take offense to me using the term quilt and to my non-traditional methods.  My Grams was a real quilter and I sometimes wonder if she would just be happy that I'm sewing or if she is rolling over in her grave at my really non-traditional ways of doing things!

These are pocket backs, meaning the back is made to create a pocket for a pre-form pillow to go in.  I did measure these :).  First you need to decide what size pillow you want or have.  These require 3 pieces of material.  Alright we're going to do some math here, prepare your brain if necessary.

Say you want to make a a cover for a 12x12 inch pillow form.  For the front piece you will need to cut a square that is 13x13.  So for any front piece you need to add 1 inch to each side.  Now for the two back pieces.  Divide the longest side in half and add 3 inches (12/2)+3=9  So each side piece will be 13x9.

Here is another example using a rectangle.  You are making a cover for a pillow that is 16x12.  The front piece needs to be 17x13.  The back pieces need to be 11x13.  Got it?  Shoot me an email if you have any questions, math and sewing can be tricky.

Now if you want to add any embellishments you need to do it before you sew the front and back of the cover pieces together.  Trust me its really difficult if you don't.  I made jean "flowers"  by cutting out different size circles and stacking them together.  I sewed them down and then added brown vintage buttons.   For the striped pillow I took strips of denim and sewed them down.  Once washed they did they fray thing.

Once your embellishments are on its time to sew it up.  I got lucky and used the edges of the blanket for the back pieces so that I didn't have to hem them.  If I was making one from scratch I would hem the two back pieces along one of the longer sides, just a half inch hem will do.  If you don't have a serger (I don't) use a zigzag stitch.  Place your right sides together of the front piece and one back piece, pin and sew.  Make sure you back stitch when starting and stopping so you won't get any loose threads later on. Then place the second back piece on, making sure that it goes over the other back piece creating the pocket, pin and sew.  Trim your edges if necessary and clip the corners (careful don't clip your stitch) and turn your pillow cover out.  All done!

No perfect straight lines for me, I love the zigzag effect here.

New Look

No you're not lost, I changed my blog template.  I needed something fresh and new and I love it.  I began working on my posts for this week and realized I had an insane amount of food related posts.  This might make readers think that all I do is eat.  I wish that were the case, it takes a lot of restraint not to.  My husband and kids on the other hand are given a ridiculous amount of new food to try.  I blame Pinterest.  I will go on there to look for something non food related and almost always come out with a new recipe.  It's a good thing that amid all of the scrumptious looking food is some chick with abs of steel telling me I shouldn't quit and how its my fault if I don't work out.  Point taken hot chick.  So today I'll show you the really awesome stuff I got when I "went to get my haircut," a trip that should have been an hour long, but took two because I was ALONE (squeals of delight, yes I mentally shouted that while typing) and I refuse to torture myself (or my kids) by bringing my children with me to my favorite Main St. shops.

The vintage horse fabric is for Jack's birthday, which isn't until June but I know it will be horse related.  There is much more than what you see pictured and while I'm not exactly sure what I'll make with it, I can't wait to hear him squeal with delight.  Jack loves 3 things, horses, cars and trains.  The vintage "Mrs" tea towel will be something, I'm just not sure what yet.  Then my favorite fabric shop was having an open house and I got 3 fat quarters of cute fabric (on sale!) for a DIY for the next chance I get to sit at the sewing machine.  I really should go out for a haircut more often!

Easy Fabric Scrap Bunting

I love buntings and wanted to make one just because.  So I pulled a bunch of fabric scraps and cut them into strips, varying in width and length.  I sewed them onto some vintage seam binding making sure to leave enough on each end to use as a tie.  I decided to add some letters to it and put it in the mudroom as a welcome banner.  I think it would probably be cuter with fabric letters, but I love the versatility that the reusable vinyl letters have.  If I want to change the greeting I can!

Come on in!

DIY: Make Your Own Christmas Stockings

In keeping green (both environmentally and monetarily, I mean this is JulieBGreen right?) I made my families Christmas Stockings from a set of old curtains I had made for our last house.  They were a chocolate brown corduroy and since I had made them especially for that house they were just taking up closet space.  I used McCall's pattern M4990.  You certainly don't have to have a pattern though, if you have old stockings use them as a pattern!  I picked this pattern up a few years ago for really cheap and it is one of my favorites.  I made different stockings for the kids and bigger ones for Dale and I.  It pays to be an adult!  For embellishments I used old and broken jewelry and ribbon.  The kids love their stockings and I love that they were basically free.  I also love the contrast of the sparkly jewelry and the durability of the corduroy, making it gender friendly.  Either that or boys just really don't care what is on their stocking, just what's in it!

For the kids stockings I made the pattern which has an overlap, which can be tricky if you aren't a "sewer" but for the adults I used the top of the fabric that had already been sewn down for a curtain rod, thus eliminating that step.  The adult ones were so easy.  I made both adult ones (the ones with ribbon) in less than an hour, including cut time.  Don't forget to add the loop to hang it with.  I almost forgot on the adult ones and caught myself just in time!  If you are embellishing with ribbon make sure that you put the ribbon on before you sew the two sides together.

I haven't decided what to do on the top of the stocking holders yet, maybe little frames with everyone's picture in them?  I want something cool and hip and totally awesome.  That probably won't happen until next year, or after Christmas when all the stuff goes on sale ;).

How to make a new stocking using an old one:


Get a large piece of paper, any will do and place your old stocking on top.  Trace around the old stocking making sure to leave about 1/2 inch for seam allowance.  Next cut a strip of fabric for your loop, 8 inches by 2 inches, or however long you want yours to be.  Sew it closed making sure to tuck the raw edges inside.  Sew on any embellishments to your stocking now.  Place the wrong sides together and pin the end of each end of the loop onto the inside of each side of the stocking.  Sew each loop side on and then pin the stocking together with wrong sides facing out.  Make sure that the top is even when you start to sew or your stocking will look wonky.  Stitch along the edge and make sure that the top on the other side is even as well.   Trim along your seam.  Turn out and admire your work.

I hate the lighting in my living room.  It is absolutely horrible for getting a natural light shot of anything and I just don't have the time to fiddle in Picnik to get them the way I want them.  Oh well.  I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and if you're celebrating Hanukkah, Happy Hanukkah!  I'll see you all next week after the crazy dies down.

DIY: Ribbon Embellished Plush Pillow

So last week I made over that boring pen holder with ribbon and this week I'm going to show you how I made a pillow using the same ribbon.  Pillows are fairly easy to make, so have no fear if you've never done it before and comment with any questions.  This pillow is made using polyfil instead of a pre-made pillow form.  I really like the flexibility I have with stuffing one as opposed to a pillow form especially if I have a limited amount of fabric like a vintage print.

So lets get started.  I cut two pieces of fabric to the same size approximately 15 x 30.  To embellish any pillow on the front you really want to do the embellishing before you sew the two sides together.  I cut my ribbons 2 inches longer than the width of the fabric.  I measured the same distance on each side, pinned and sewed the ribbon in place on the right side of the fabric.  Next I placed the right sides of the pillow together and pinned it in place.  If you are new to sewing the "right" side of the fabric refers to the side of fabric that will show when the project is complete and the "wrong" side is the part that will be on the inside.   I then stitched all the way around the rectangle leaving an opening big enough for my hand.  I trimmed the corners (from a point to a straight edge) and made sure I didn't miss any seems before turning it right side out.

Once turned out I started stuffing making sure to really press it into the corners.  I always give it a bit more than I think it needs because it will flatten out just a bit.  Once all the stuffing was in, I pushed the stuffing away from the opening, turned the fabric in and pinned it in place. By pushing the stuffing back I can sew the opening using the sewing machine, I only hand sew when I have to.  Make sure to make a back stitch any time you start and stop sewing so that the thread won't unravel.

Since I have kids, little kids, I like to use fabrics that won't show things like snot or drool spots, can be washed and are comfortable.  I can't say enough good things about ultra cuddle fabric.  I use it in my Etsy shop and it is the softest stuff ever!  The cool thing about making your own pillows is that they can be whatever you want.  I've got some more to share with you, next week maybe?  Have a great weekend!