Creating Your Own Throw Pillow
Throw pillows are a great addition to any living room. It can add color and a little bit of comfort to any home. And sometimes it can be easier and cheaper if you made the pillows yourself. The best thing to do is to use fabric that you can’t find any use for, but would love to see aroudn the house. Here are a few simple instructions on how to creat your own throw pillow. You must know how to use a sewing machine if you are planning on making one.
First you need to purchase a simple plain pillow. Then measure the pillow with a tape measure, between the welts. The first measurement is up and down. Second is side to side, add 1″ to your measurements to get the cut size. Figure the length of the welt cord. It can be 1 1/2-2″ wide, it doesn’t have to be exact. Cut the welt material on the bias, that is, diagonally. This will prevent “snaking” or twisting by making the welt fabric more flexible.
Most upholstery weight fabrics are about 54″ wide. Most fabrics seem to come cut crooked, so use a framer’s square to even out the beginning of the material. Mark with chalk and cut out the 2 fabric squares (plates). Put a”T” on the top so you won’t get confused when you get to the sewing machine. Mark everything that you cut, (or you’ll be sorry) even the backside of the welt.
Make sure both plates are the same size by laying them face to face and trim where nesassary. Due to the warp and woof properties of fabric they will often pull to one direction or the other even though you may have cut them exactly the same measurements. The plates have to be the same or the corners won’t line up.
Add a bow to the fabric. Start with about an 1/2″ and taper off to nothing in about 4″ or 5″. See the scrap above the scissors. The bow makes up for the dip (like rabbit ears) that you would see in the filled pillow if cut straight across . Shape all four corners this way on a pillow that you’re going to close by hand but not on the bottom of one that gets a zipper.
Use an industrial upholstery machine which features a walking foot and reverse. It takes large prewound bobbins which saves a lot of time. For most jobs we #16 polyester top thread and bobbins. Three basic colors are necessary: black, white, and whatever color matches your fabric. It’s good to have a spool of clear thread on hand, especially for top stitching when you don’t have the right color.
If your welt material is in more than one piece join them now with a 1/2″ seam and back stitch or sew twice if necessary. Mostly use 5/32 jute welt cord. Fold the welt fabric around the cord and begin sewing either on the side or bottom of one plate. Never start, end or piece the welt fabric on the top of a pillow or front of a cushion. Use 1/2″ seams. The seam (1/2″) is the distance from where the needle enters the plate to the ouside of the plate. Get close to the welt, learn to feel for the cord inside with your finger tips.
Two or three inches before the corners, stop, leaving the needle in the fabric to secure it, and make 3 cuts to help release the welt fabric to easily make the turn. Make one cut directly across from the plate corner and one before that point and one after. Again, stop sewing when your needle has come to the spot directly across from the plate corner, leave the needle in and lift the foot. Slightly crimp the welt as you turn the plate for the next side. Finish off sewing the welt by butting the cord ends together and lapping the welt material at least 1/2″ to 3/4″. Leave no raw edges on any job with the sometimes exception of when we’re using vinyl.