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Pillow With Flower and Lettering Applique and Notched Flange Trim

The banquette in my breakfast area has been in need of pillows for…well…ever since I built the banquette!  I decided it was finally time to tackle this project, and so far, I’ve gotten one pillow finished.  Yep, one.  But I decided to do something a little special on this one, so it took a bit longer than just a standard throw pillow.

Here’s how it turned out…

pillow-with-flower-and-word-applique-31

 

I absolutely love it!!

When I went to the fabric store to get the fabric and supplies, I walked the store twice looking for the perfect patterned fabric, and couldn’t find anything I liked.  Finally, after over an hour of searching, I decided to settle for this striped fabric.  I actually didn’t like it, but it was all I could find with my colors.

Turns out, it was the perfect fabric for the project!  I love the fabric and the effect it has on the finished pillow.

pillow-with-flower-and-word-applique-30

 

And for quite some time now, I’ve wanted to make a pillow with a notched corner flange.  I had actually intended on putting standard covered cord trim on this pillow, and I thought I had some cord in my sewing stash.  As it turns out, I was completely out, and the store was already closed.  So I decided to use this flange instead.  I’m so glad I did!

pillow-with-flower-and-word-applique-32

 

One pillow down, four to go!

pillow-with-flower-and-word-applique-31

 

If you want to make your own “bloom” pillow with notched flange, and need a bit of guidance, I’ve got you covered!

 

Project Cost:

Approximately $10, not including pillow form (pillow insert).

 

Tools & Materials:

*The amount of fabric and Wonder Under you need will depend on the size of your pillow and the size of the flower (or other shape) and wording that you want to appliqué onto the pillow.

  1. Solid color fabric for the main pillow (approximately 1 yard),
  2. Patterned fabric for applique and flange (I bought 1 yard and had plenty left over),
  3. Wonder Under or other double-sided fusible interfacing (I purchased 1 yard and had some left over),
  4. Thread,
  5. Pattern for flower (or other shape) and lettering,
  6. Sewing machine,
  7. Scissors,
  8. Sewing needle,
  9. Straight pins.

 

Instructions:

I started by using my computer and printer to create the wording and flower for my pillow. (My printer was obviously running out of ink.) Then I carefully cut out the letters and flower to be used as patterns.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Next I placed a piece of Wonder Under to the back side of my patterned fabric, and ironed it onto the fabric according to the instructions.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

With the right side of the fabric on the table, I traced my letter and flower patterns onto the Wonder Under, keeping in mind to turn the letters backwards, since this was the back side of the fabric.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Then I carefully cut out the letters (and the flower…not shown).

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Next I removed the paper backing from the Wonder Under on each letter.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

And I carefully arranged them on the main pillow fabric. I used a ruler to ensure that the lettering was straight and even.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

When I had them evenly spaced and straight, I ironed them onto the pillow fabric according to the instructions that came with the Wonder Under.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Next I cut four strips of the patterned fabric for the flange trim. I wanted the finished flange to be approximately 1″, so I cut 3.25″-wide strips to allow for the area that would be sewn into the pillow seam.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

I then folded and ironed the strips in half lengthwise, with the right side of the fabric showing on the outside.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Using straight pens, I marked the finished length of each strip. My finished pillow would be 31″ wide and 14.5″ high, so I marked two strips 14.5″ wide, and two strips 31″ wide.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Then I folded the fabric the other way (with the right side, or face of the fabric, on the inside), and re-pinned on the same mark.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Then I sewed the end, using the pin as a guide.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Next I trimmed away the excess fabric, and notched the corner to eliminate bulkiness.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

And then I turned it right-side-out once again, re-ironing if necessary. I repeated this on each end of all four strips.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Next, working on the front of the pillow (the piece with the appliqués), and starting on the top edge, I measured 1/2″ from the edge and placed a pin. Then repeated on the other side. This marked my 1/2″ seam allowance and let me know where to place the flange.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Using that pin as a guide, I place the flange just inside the mark and pinned the flange along the top edge of the pillow front. (Raw edges of flange pinned to the raw edge of the pillow front.)

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

On the other side, the flange stopped just inside 1/2″ mark that marked my seam allowance. With it pinned all along the edge, I sewed the flange to the pillow front with about a 3/8″ seam. Then I added the flange on the other three sides in the same way.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Before placing the back pillow fabric on, I turned the corners of the flange in and pinned them to ensure that they wouldn’t accidentally get trapped in the seam of the pillow.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

And then I was ready to attach the pillow back. (Right side of the fabric facing down, back side of the fabric facing up.) I pinned along the edge, leaving an opening at the bottom to put the pillow form into.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

When I had the pillow sewn all along the edges (except for the hole at the bottom), and flipped the pillow cover inside out, it looked like this. Almost finished, but just needed a bit of ironing.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

I carefully tugged on the flange to straighten the seam, and pressed the seam with the iron. In the picture below, you can see that the portion of the flange on the right looks straight, even, and tailored, while the un-ironed portion on the left looks puffy, uneven, and sloppy.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

With the flange and seam ironed all the way around, it was finally time to insert the pillow form. This always takes a bit of work, especially to get the corners filled. (I can’t stand empty pillow corners!!)

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Then working from the back side of the pillow, I pinned the open area and stitched it closed by hand. This can be done on a sewing machine, but I find that it looks much cleaner and more professional if it’s sewn by hand. Cheap, ready-made pillows are top-stitched closed on a sewing machine, and it doesn’t look nice at all.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

And that’s it! A pretty little flower and “bloom” appliquéd pillow with a notched flange trim.

How to make a pillow with flower and wording applique and notched flange trim

 

Helpful Hints:

I always, ALWAYS sew trim onto the front side of the pillow before sewing the pillow front and pillow back together. I find that the trim turns out neater with a cleaner stitch when I do it this way. The few times that I’ve tried to rush the process, and sew the trim into the seam at the same time that I’m sewing the front and back pieces of the pillow together, I’ve been very disappointed with the outcome.


 
This project was for my condo breakfast room makeover. Click here to see the whole before and after of the breakfast room makeover.

Or click on the thumbnails below to see other DIY projects that I did for my condo breakfast room makeover.

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