Instead of buying a new Christmas pillow as is my usual M.O., I decided to make one this year. It was such a simple project that took less than 30 minutes. My 91 year-old mother has a wealth of fabrics in her sewing room, and it’s kind of like shopping when I start looking through her stash. I used this method for the basic pillow that I sewed out of painters’ drop cloth. But first I used some green gingham, red and white ticking, and some red calico to construct a stocking applique.
I found a stocking template in an old Southern Living Christmas book from the 1990’s. My mother has all of the SL Christmas books. Then I used it to trace out a stocking on the ticking fabric, and I cut it out. Then I cut out a a rectangle in the green gingham to fit the top of the ticking and sewed it on. I did these steps first so the stocking would be completely made before attaching it to the pillow top. I wanted the top of the stocking to be open so things like candy canes and small toys can be put in it.
Once the stocking was constructed, I attached it to the pillow top with a zig-zag stitch. The final step was to cut out a small rectangle using some red calico fabric. I sewed up the edges with the right sides together. Then I pulled it through so it would be the right side of the fabric. I gathered it in the middle and tied it with some string and then sewed it onto the stocking. And that’s all there was to it.
We use the traditional red and green colors around here for Christmas, and I like the rustic quality of these country fabrics. They fit right in with our cozy plaids. The down pillow insert is a little too small for the pillow top, but I plan to fix that. I wanted you to see the pillow while there is still time to make one. I hope this inspires you to get out your machine and start sewing.
Take care.
The pillow is too cute! Thanks for the tutorial Janette! Have a Very Merry Day!!