Flamingo Toes

Embroidered Linen Pillow

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Can a person have too many pillows? I sure hope not. Maybe so though. Have you seen “Never Been Kissed”? I’ll try not to get to that point.

But I have an addiction. I’ve managed to hold it off for about a month – but I had to give in. There’s only so much you can do against pillow yearnings. ;) Ready to see what I fed the addiction with?

It’s an Embroidered Linen pillow trimmed in jute. Isn’t it pretty? I reaaaallly love it. ;) I saw one at Target that was a little similar but not really. I don’t have a picture though – sorry! I just tweaked the idea to come up with my own creation. ;)

Would you like to make your own? Here’s how. . .

You’ll need:

  • 12″ x 16″ Pillow Form
  • Linen – 1 12″ x 16″ piece for the back and 1 12″ x 40″ piece for the front
  • White Embroidery Thread
  • Jute – Around 62″

Start by pressing in the folds of your pillow top. Some of this is guess work, you’ll be making smallish folds spaced irregularly over the rectangle. Vary the length and size of the folds until your pillow top measures 12″ x 16″. It will help to pin them into place as you go.

 

Once your folds are all pressed in, run a basting stitch to hold them along the top and bottom.

Hand stitch some of the folds down with embroidery thread. You’ll do this with a simple running stitch. Just choose random folds to sew down.

Now draw out your embroidery design with a fabric marking pen. I used a few swooshes and dots – something simple.

Here comes the embroidery – don’t be scared. The stitches here are pretty basic. It would make a great starter project if you haven’t done embroidery before.

Start at the lower corner and embroider all the marking lines with a Stem Stitch. Here’s a how to if you need it.

For the small dots I used French knots. Here’s a how to for them. For the large dots, I filled them with a satin stitch – just rows of stitching sewn to fill in the circle.

I didn’t use an embroidery hoop – didn’t really need it and I didn’t want to mess up the folds.

Pin together the front and back and pin in one end of the jute so it is caught when you sew them together. Sew around with a 1/2″ seam. Leave an opening from the jute (at the halfway point on the bottom) to one corner so you can stuff the pillow form in.

 Turn your pillow right side out and stuff the pillow form in. Pin your opening closed. The jute should now be outside the pillow.

With matching thread start sewing your jute down around the edge of the pillow. I looped the thread around the jute and sewed it down about every 1/8″.

Stitch the jute down closer together at the corners.

When you get close to the opening, switch to a lighter thread and sew it closed – but leave a tiny hole to tuck the end of the jute in close to the center. (You could also sew the opening closed before you work on the jute edge – my brain just didn’t work that way haha)

Finish sewing the jute down, tucking in the end and making sure the jute touches the other end. I did this by looping the end a little.

You might need to hand stitch down a couple of the folds – if they’re not laying real flat. I did just a tiny basting stitch inside the two far left folds just to help hold them down.
You’re done! See? Not scary at all! ;)

And if you’d be interested in a pattern for the embroidery, let me know in the comment section. I can add one as a download if anyone wants it.

Here’s some more shots for you . . .

I think that might hold off the pillow addiction for a while. . . maybe.

Visit thecsiproject.com

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Comments

  1. Hi, I just adore your pillow. I found you via the blog hop and would really love it if you would be tutor on my new Housewife 101 series, with this post or something similar. I am looking for a needle point tutor and your images and instructions are perfect. If you are interest in featuring on http://www.housewifebliss.com please email me, all the best, Coryanne

    Reply

  5. I LOVE this pillow! Everything about it is just amazing, it looks like something that I would come up with in my head, but wouldn’t know where to start. Thanks for the tutorial! :)

    Reply

  8. Love your pillow, and the fabric you used for it. May I ask where you got the linen? I have been on a search for linen like this. Thank you.

    Reply

  14. Coming from someone who loves making pillows — Nope, you can never have too many. Especially when they are as beautiful as this one. Just gorgeous!

    Reply

  16. i absolutely love this pillow! i love pleats and simple embroidery… and this is a double-whammy. nice work!

    Reply

  19. I like it a lot! I have an embroidery project I need to start but I’m nervous because I haven’t done embroidery before. This gives me some hope! You made it look really simple.

    Reply

  29. Beverly – Love the pillow! The fabric, folds and embroidery are gorgeous! Very pretty! Thanks so much for joining the Sunday Showcase Party! I greatly appreciate it. Hope you have a wonderful week! Stephanie Lynn

    Reply

  31. This is such a beautiful and different look. I can’t wait until vacation so I can get started on one! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  33. ok, this has got to be the prettiest pillow i have ever seen! makes me want to actually try sewing so i can make one!

    Kimra
    crafty-cove.blogspot.com
    kimraskreations.blogspot.com

    Reply

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