It has been approx. five months since I made a new pillow and almost 6 months since I made something with ric-rac.
Seriously. It’s ridiculous.
One can only go so long without using ric rac’s zigzaggy goodness to make something wonderful.
I bet you were saying that just the other day.
Well if you were – I have a set of fun pillows for you – to fulfill all your ric-rac’n zig-zag’n desires!
Ok. Enough with the silliness – but aren’t they pretty?
I have been wanting some new pillows for spring and I think these pretty blues and greens will be perfect through the summer too!
I have a detailed tutorial for you of the Ric Rac Chevron pillow – and simple instructions for the other because it’s quite a few less steps!
Here’s what you’ll need to get going:
• Fabric – I used a linen and this lovely Amy Butler print.
If you make both you’ll need about 1/2 yard of linen and 1 yard of print.
• Ric Rac – at least three packages for color variations
• 2 pillow forms – one 16″ and one 14″
• Glue and felt scraps (for ric rac rosettes on the smaller pillow)
Start by cutting out your pieces for the large pillow. This tutorial is for a pillow cover – but you could easily make it a regular pillow too.
Cut out of linen one piece 16″ x 10″ and one piece 2″ x 16″.
Cut out of your print fabric one piece 24″ x 7″, one piece 16″ x 12″, one piece 16″ x 8″.
Mark your linen piece for the ric rac zig zags.
Measure 1″ down on the left side and make a mark with a fabric marker. Continue marking down the left side every 2″.
Measure across the width at every mark and make a dot every 2″.
Place the end of your ric rac at the 2nd dot on the left side of the linen. Sew the ric rac in a diagonal up to the first 2″ dot on in the top row of marks.
Sew down in a diagonal to the dot in the 2nd row that is 4″ from the left. Continue sewing in a zig zag, hitting every other dot. You will end your zig zag at the 1″ dot on the right side.
Sew your remaining ric rac zig zags – following the line of your first zig zag and using the dots as your guides.
Gather the 24″ x 7″ piece of the print fabric on both long sides until the sides measure 16″.
Sew the ruffled print strip to the left side of the linen piece.
Press the pieces down and sew a top stitch on the linen piece 1/4″ from the seam.
Set the top aside for now. Take the larger of your two back pieces. Cut a small piece of ric rac (about 4″), loop this and pin it to the bottom center of the piece. Fold the 2″ linen piece in half and line up the raw edges with the bottom edge of the print piece. The ric rac loop will be between the linen and print. Sew the pieces together.
Press the linen piece down and sew a top stitch along the print side 1/4″ from the edge.
On the smaller print piece for the back, turn the top under twice and sew down to finish the edge.
Line the top and bottom up so that the top overlaps the bottom and the total square of the two pieces measures 16″. Sew a basting stitch along both sides 1/4″ from the edge.
Place the top and bottom of the pillow pieces right sides together. Sew around all 4 sides.
Clip the corners so they’ll turn right side out nicely.
Turn right side out and insert the pillow form.
Check the placement and sew the button onto the back. Loop the ric rac around the button.
Pillow One done!!
Ok – for pillow 2 – now that you’re a pillow expert – I have instructions but not step by step photos.
This one is a regular pillow, not a cover.
Cut – 1 – 14″ square of print for the back. 1 – 8″ x 14″ piece of print for the front. 1 – 6″ x 14″ piece of linen for the back.
Sew the linen piece to the print for the front. Press the seam and sew a piece of ric rac over the seam.
Sew the front to the back, leaving an opening at the bottom for turning. Turn right side out and insert pillow form.
Sew opening closed.
For the ric rac rosettes – I used the fabulous tutorial from The Crafting Chicks.
I cut out a 4″ circle of linen and cut a small circle in the center. I gathered the center and glued it to circle of felt.
Then I glued the ric rac rosettes in the center and added them to the pillow.
I love these sweet sweet little rosettes!!
If you like the FB page you might have seen last night that I made another rosette into a pretty ring!
I have a feeling I’m going to making a lot of these. ;)
Aren’t the pillows fun?
Mmmmm. Lots of ric-racky zig-zaggy yumminess!
I’m linking to Today’s Creative Blog, Met Monday, Skip to my Lou, Tutorials & Tips Tuesday, Quilt Story,
and the other fabulous parties on the sidebar – make sure you check them out!
Those are absolutely adorable! I’m notu sually a fan of ric rac but this is REALLY cute! I love the colors too! I think I’m going to have to find some similar fabric and put some together for me! Thanks for sharing!
Totally gorgeous! Love the bright contrast against the neutrals.
oh my goodness! They are fabulous! I need to pick up more rickrack asap!
What wonderful ric-raccity, zig-zaggity delight. (:o)
But seriously, these pillows are so pretty, perfect for spring and summer. Thanks so much for the tutorials. It’s always easier to make something when someone has written it all out for you.
oooo those are yummy. must be something in the air, because I made dish towels with ric rac this morning!
These are fabulous!!
those are SERIOUSLY adorable!!! Love them, especially the one with the gathered fabric coming out of the ric rac side – I love it!!!
So pretty & the colors are so spring-y!
Gorgeous! You have some serious talent! Feel free to come on over and teach me anytime… ;)
So chic! I love the patterned fabric you used. They look super-professional and expensive!
Gorgeous, Bev! I love that you made ric rac out of ric rac. ;) And the rosettes are fabulous!
I love the pillows. I could tell without reading that it was Amy’s pattern.
Are you getting things ready for the graduate.
Ric-Rac Rocks! Your pillows are beautiful. As always, your sense of style and way with colors is impeccable! I’m particularly smitten with the ric-rac rosettes!
Jenn
Sooooooooo cuuuute! Glad you got to get your pillow and ric rac and rosettes and zigzags on!
These are just wonderful! You did a great job on the instructional photography too.
Love love love these pillows. And the rickrack flowers are so clever! Not many things I haven’t already seen, but that’s one I’ve never seen before. It just so happens that my living room is lime green and blue – really, I painted it those colors! So this color/fabric combo would be perfect! Thanks for sharing.
Cute, cute pillows!
LOVE!!! Can you make some for me?? :D These are just charming and you can never grow tired of ric-rac!! Hugs to you sweets!
Terrell
Intensely darling! I am not ALWAYS a fan of ric rac, but these are so cool and pretty!
They are super cute! Thank you so much for the detailed tutorial; I’m not that good at sewing, but I feel braver with these instructions!
The one with the flowers has my name on it, can you see? I’ll eMail you with the shipping details! :D
THOSE ARE SUPER CUTE!! And I want them in a bad way!
I am currently experiencing pillow envy (and sewing skills envy too) J
xo Malia
I freaking love the chevron-y goodness!
Those are really fun and fresh! Thanks for the details, I’ll be linking.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these Bev!! Fabulous job! Thanks so much for linking up. I’ll be featuring these tomorrow! :)
Gorgeous!!! Love them Bev!
Through this, it will change or enhance the look of a room by adding throw pillows you’ve made yourself. NICE!
I’m so glad you linked these up to my link party! And thanks so much for spreading the word. Hugs!!
Love the pillows. The rick rack roses are so clever!
These pillow are beautiful. I want to sew like this sooo badly. To you, it is probably a piece of cake, but this would take me forever. Love them. I’m your newest follower on GFC and FB, from What Allie’s Making Now blog hop. I’m hosting a blog hop, too. Would love to have you link up!
Beautiful pillows!! I love the rick rack. Stopping by from Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap-up Party. TFS!!
Oh wow those are super fun! I need to make some pillows to change the look in my living room too! Tfs
I haven’t made a pillow in a year and I haven’t used zig zag stuff in probably 25 years. It’s about time huh? I love your blog and I loved the tutorial on the cuff too. Thanks, Katharine
P.S. Did you get my recent email about the necklace?
SO PRETTY! Those would go just about anywhere… and I bet you’ve found the perfect place for them. I’ve never used ric-rac {GASP!} Looks like I better change that! jules
Oh my Gosh!!! I love these pillows and would love to make them even today with the exact same fabric and ric rac… Gorgeous.
I’m your newest follower visiting you from the Girl Creative Linking Party.
I’d love it if you’d follow me at: http://www.daughterbydesign.blogspot.com
Very cute – love the spring colors you chose. Thanks for linking to Craftastic Monday:)
I LOVE these, how pretty and summery. Great instructions too.
love your pillows bev! the fabric is too darn cute! “catching” you this week,
gail
Your pillows are beautiful! And I am so into pillows these days. I’ll have to think about where to put a few more. Thanks for sharing!
GREAT tutorial!! Those pillows are just LOVELY! That fabric is soooo pretty and the flowers really add something special :) I’ve never used ric-rack in a project before, but this gives me some pretty good ideas! Thanks for sharing :D
Beautiful! I love ric rac!
Really cute pillows!
[satisfied smile] I love ric rac. Anything with ric rac. These are just beautiful.
New follower from All Thingz Related.
Those are so stinkin’ cute!!! Who doesn’t love ric rac???
LOVE these pillows. They feature my favorite colors to decorate with right now.
Great pillow!!! I love the colors fabric and ric-rac!! Stopping by from Sugar Bee Crafts Take A Look Tuesday.
I just finished a jacket and linked up to the party too. Here it is if you want to take a look and I am a follower too.
http://craftybrooklynarmywife.blogspot.com/2011/05/quilted-coat-finished.html
Those are so cute! I love the fabric and color choices
Love them! Very fresh and cheerful looking. Makes me wish I knew how to sew!
Your pillows are adorable plus anytime you can use rick rack it’s awesome…I have a whole bin I hoard…anyways…thanks for sharing.
liZ
(simplesimonandco)
These ric-rac pillows are beautiful! I love the bright, spring colors!
I love everything about those pillows, but my absolute favorite thing is the ric rac roses!!
Thank you so much for linking up to “A Little Birdie Told Me…” You amaze me; you really do. You’re so multi-talented and must be busy, busy, busy, but you always take the time to visit your friends, leave nice comments, and support everyone’s endeavors. You’re a class act!
Beverly – your pillows are so fun and fresh for spring! Love the ric rack rosettes – adorable! Thanks so much for linking to the Sunday Showcase Party – I greatly appreciate it. I have featured this. Hope you are having a great week ~ Stephanie Lynn
http://www.bystephanielynn.com
These are pretty and so creative!
I made a pillow today and was pretty happy with it but now I wished I had looked at your cute, cute, pillows first. Thanks for the idea’s.
Wow! This is such a beautiful pillow, eh. Love the color, love the design. Absolutely love this DIY.
Cheers,
Cathy@custom digitizing
I love rick-rack too, when I was a child my mother used to sew rick-rack on every dress that she made me!