I love Valentine’s Day {if you couldn’t already tell by now} and I have a goal this year to make more decor for my home to make it more festive. Living in Phoenix, a mantle, let alone fireplace, is pretty hard to come by, so I have to get creative with where I’m able to decorate.
I created this polkadot valentine pillow cover to go over our pillows on our couch. I’d love to say this is a super-quick project, but it’s not. It ended up taking me about 2.5 hours start to finish, but I think it was time absolutely well spent. Don’t you? Crank up your Adele, grab some cookies, and let’s get started!
Heads up before we start: All of my measurements are made to fit my pillows, so adjust your sizes accordingly.
* Materials *
polka dot fabric cut into the following sizes: 22in. square, (2) 22in. x 10 in., 22in. x 15in.
white fabric cut to 12in. x 13in. * heart template
scissors * thread * measuring tape * pins
1. Start by taking the white fabric, fold it in half along the 12in. side, and pin it. Unfold it and lay the measuring tape next the pin. Pinch the fabric and place another pin in the fabric. Repeat the process the across the entire length of the fabric.
2. Stitch each fold.
3. Lay the measuring tape along the 15in. side of the white fabric. Place a pin in the center of the fabric. Place more pins according to the diagram below.
4. Run a stitch where the pins have been placed in the direction of the arrows to end up with the super fun texture of the heart.
Let’s get to work on the pillow cover!
1. Print and cut out the heart pattern. Trace it onto the backside of one of one of the 22in. x 10in. panels. Cut out the heart. I carefully cut mine out along the traced lines so I could use the heart for another project.
2. Lay the piece of polka dot fabric with the cut out heart on top of the 22in. square piece of fabric. Line it up to where you’d like the heart cut out to be on your finished pillow. Trace the heart and carefully cut out this heart as well.
3. Pretty, right?
4. Pin the two cut out hearts with the right sides facing in together.
5. Carefully stitch around the edges, removing pins as you go. Turn it right side out and press it open. Pin the textured white piece behind the polkadot piece and and stitch carefully around the edges. I ran a second line around my heart for extra security and for extra fun.
For the back of the pillow, press one of the long edges in half an inch and then in another half an inch on each of the panels left. Run a straight stitch along the pressed length of fabric. Pin the the front and back panels together, right side in. Run a straight stich along the outside, removing pins as you go. I wanted my pillow cover to be super durable so reinforced the envelope opening with a triple stitch and ran a zig zag stitch around the outside to prevent fraying.
Whew! You’re done! Doesn’t she look pretty?
And this little munchkin is pretty cute too. She insisted on being in some of the pictures. How could I resist?
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that is a really aodrable pillow! love the ruffle in the middle! so cute!
Very cute Katie!! <3
I hear you on the lack of fireplace/flat surface thing! I love the pillow, it is so cute! I always love finding other Arizona bloggers.
wow what a cute pillow!!! I totally love the pink polk dots.
What a cool technique! This pillow top would be cute as several blocks to make a quilt, too. And of course, the best part is the happy baby photo at the end! Great job!
Gorgeous. This is such a cute pillow.
Greetings from Germany
Catrin
So pretty! I love it:) New fan of yours visiting from Lil Luna.
It’s gorgeous! I wish I could sew well enough to brave it. You make it seem easy enough, so I’ll bookmark it for someday… BTW- I sat at your table at The Glitter Academy and I knew I knew you, just not from where….it’s taken me this long to figure it out. I just can’t keep up with all the great blogs out there.
I’ll be featuring this on my blog tomorrow for Feature Friday. I hope you’ll stop by and check it out-
Valerie- http://www.occasionallycrafty.blogspot.com
This is so, so pretty, Katie!! The polkadots are sweet! I always love a good pillow project! I’ll be sharing this soon! XO
This turned out great! Good job. I hope you will link up to my I Heart Projects Party!
http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com/2012/01/i-heart-projects-linky-party.html
I love the polka dots… this is adorable. I hope you stop by my party and link up…
-Melissa
So cute !!!