Pillow for my partner
As I wrote in my previous post, I have been participating in the second round of the Pillow Swap over on flickr. Don’t tell anyone but, this is the first pillow that I have ever made–well in fabric–I did crochet myself a pillow once…. Anyhow, I just finished up my pillow this morning and wanted to share it with you. I started with these fabrics(they got edited just a tad as I went along) & some Kona cotton in Snow:
Cathedral windows were first on the agenda. It’s a design that I have been wanting to try for awhile just never got around to it. I had several tutorials already saved in my favorites so I read over them. The one I found most helpful was this one by Hyena In Petticoats–although there are several with a simple google search.
I decided to feature a little bit of applique within the pillow as well. I had seen some applique stitching that I wanted to try that gives a really neat effect–plus, I loved the idea of adding some cute birds.
I used my darning foot, feed dogs down & stitch length set to 0 & then just went around the birdie several times adding the legs, fluff, beak & eye after several passes. I also used a fusible innerfacing on the back which is something I do quite often when doing any sort of applique–this really helps even out your stitches and prevent puckering.
And, here’s the finished product:
I added the small gray border and a fun little strippy border using 1″ strips of fabric–took quite a few of those little boogers LOL. I did just a little bit of machine quilting using a gray thread to outline the center portion as well as the gray border. I finished off the pillow with a hand sewn binding. I really love the binding and how it finishes off the pillow–definitely something I’ll be doing again–maybe even for pillow #2. =)
And the other little birdies:
For the back, I added a little ticker tape border and a pocket closure.
The pillow finished out at 18″. I hope my partner loves it as much as I enjoyed making it!
I absolutely love this!
I have always wanted to try cathedral windows, but they look so hard and I am too chicken.
I'm sure your partner will love this. I can't believe this is your first pillow! You've got some great skills! All that attention to detail and great eye for colors.
This is ridiculously gorgeous! What a lucky partner you have! Great fabric choices too!
Ohmigosh, that is exquisite!! How can you bear to part with it? Your partner will be stoked!!
The tickertape back is fantastic! There's no way your partner could not love it to death 🙂 Where did you get your fabric?
That is one beautiful pillow!! great job!
so lovely that you received a cathedral Windows pillow too! How I wish I were your partner – birds, neutrals, grey, applique – fantastic!!
Thanks so much everyone! Jeanette–you should definitely give it a whirl–it does take a bit of time but not difficult at all. =)
And, for those who asked–the fabrics were all from my stash–which is obscenely ridiculous LOL! =)
Just amazing! I've been wanting to give those windows a try, but keep waiting until 'later'.
This is such a happy, spring pillow 🙂
I can not believe after seeing this on Flickr it is your first pillow. I so love, love love this pillow and the birds totally make it.!
Seriously, you're first pillow?! It is amazing and I'm so thrilled to give it an excellent home!!! Thank you for the wonderful surprise in the mail today! 🙂 I love it. Jessica
Love those birdies! You did a "marvelous" job!
Did you hand stitch the windows or did you do it by machine? The stitches look so uniform. It is a beautiful pillow, well done.
You did a beautiful job. I love your color/fabric choices and the applique birds are adorable!
This pillow is amazing!
Love what you did! What a great update for a classic design!
I too had been planning to do this for 2 years and have not gotten to it yet. But I think the time is NOW! Thanks so much for inspiring me to get busy on the Cathedral Windows pillow and pincushion!!!
So creative and beautiful. You inspire me.