Today I decided that I would show you some of my Christmas sewing projects from this year and from Christmases past. I absolutely love the warmth of these homemade quilts and pillows. They are so inviting on a cold winter’s night. This collection is from things that I have made and some that are gifts that were made by wonderful friends! It is good to have crafty friends!
I was invited to a Blogger Mixer & Networking Event at Ikea. It was so much fun to make some new blogging friends and to be able preview some of the new displays at Ikea and get a sneak peek at their new catalog! They fed us breakfast and then they sent on on a shopping spree! It doesn’t get any better than that! Thank you Celeste and Ikea and Tauni at SNAP for putting this great event together!
I made some of these pillows for gifts and I love the way that they turned out! It took me a little more than a hour to sew each one, so it is definitely a project that you could do in an evening!
So, let’s make a pillow or two!
Supplies:
12″ x 16″ pillow form
5″ x 32″ strips- you will need five different fabrics
1/2 yard fabric for pillow front and back (I used white on white fabric)
1/2 yard ric rac or ribbon
Cut one pillow front 12 1/2″ x 16 1/2″ rectangle, cut two 12 1/2″ x 10 1/2″ rectangles for the back. Cut ruffles 5″ x 32″. Fold ruffle strips in half lengthwise, wrong sides together and press.
Sew a gathering stitch 1/4″ from edge along the long raw edge of the ruffles. Pull gathers until ruffles measure about 12 1/2″ long.
Next, mark on your pillow front fabric:
1st row: 3″ from edge
2nd row: 4 1/2″ from edge
3rd row: 6″ from edge
4th row: 7 1/2 ” from edge
5th row: 9″ from edge
I marked on both edges and down the middle. Beginning with the first ruffle, line up the raw edge with the marks that you made and stitch gathered ruffle to pillow . 
Continue sewing on all five ruffles matching the raw edge with the marks you made.
After all five ruffles are sewn on, you can cover the last seam with ric-rac or ribbon. Or you could just leave the raw edges. 
Next take the two back pieces and on the 12 1/2 ” side, fold down to the wrong side, 1/2″ and press and then fold down 1/2″ again and press. Stitch close to the inside edge as shown.
Pin all of your ruffles so that they are even with the edge of the pillow.
Place one of the back pieces onto the pillow. Right sides together and pin.
Then pin the other side overlapping the first piece by about 2″
Stitch all the way around the outside of the pillow and trim the corners.
Turn through overlapped opening and gently poke corners.
Woot, Woot!
You have made a ruffled pillow! All you have to do is insert the pillow form!
Now all you need to do is find a nice warm blanket and a good book, or movie and you are set!
May you all find a moment to wrap up with a pillow, blanket and hot chocolate and remember the true meaning of Christmas & the real Reason for the Season!