DIY bolster pillow

May 01, 2012

Hi everyone! It’s Morgan here from Sweet Stitches.  I hope you enjoy this fun bolster pillow! It adds a little extra and whimsy to your pile of normal square pillows.

Gather your supplies:
– 4 different fabrics of your choice
– 3 coordinating buttons
– Bolster pillow form (I threw the package away before I could get the exact measurements, but it is about 14″long. The ends are about 6″ in diameter.)
– Scissors, ruler or measuring tape, marking pen, straight pins, matching thread, sewing machine, iron

 

Step 1:
Cut your fabric. Cut 2 circles to 7 1/2″ diameter. Cut 2 side panels to 6″ x 21″, and 1 middle panel to 5″ x 21″.

Step 2:
Sew your panels together. Place the middle panel on top of one of the side panels(right sides together) lining up the long ends and short ends. Sew a 1/2″ seam down one long side. Iron the seams open.

Now place the other side panel (right sides together) on top of the middle panel. Lining up the remaining long raw edge of the middle panel with one long raw edge of the 2nd side panel. Sew a 1/2″ seam, making sure to back stitch at each end. Iron the seams open. You now have one large main panel.

Step 3:
For both raw ends of the main panel, fold 1/2″ toward the wrong side and press with your iron. Then fold again 1″ and press. Sew along the fold. Repeat for the other end.

Step 4:
Now it’s time to sew on the buttons and make the button holes. With your main panel facing up (make sure if you have a directional print, it is going in the direction you want it to), your button holes will go along the bottom of the panel, and your buttons at the top.

Make your holes first. Measure and mark 3 spots at:  3″, 7 1/2″, and 12″. Using your machine, make 3 button holes.

Then, mark the 3 places for the buttons, also at 3″, 7 1/2″ and 12″. Sew the buttons on by hand or your machine. I always tie off the threads of the buttons before trimming the excess.

Step 5:
You now should be able to button all 3 buttons, your fabric will over lap a bit, but it is suppose to, so that is ok. Keeping the buttons buttoned, flip the main panel inside out. Pin one of your circles (right sides together) to one of the ends. Pin it all the way around. This is a little tricky, so I like to use a lot of pins!

Then, carefully sew all the way around the circle, using a 1/4″ seam. Make sure to back stitch at each end.

Repeat this step for the remaining circle on the other side.

Step 6:
Using your scissors, clip into the seam allowance, all the way around the circle. This makes your fabric lay nicer once you flip it around. Be careful not to clip into the seam!

Flip right side out. Stuff with your pillow form.

That’s it!

I hope this tutorial wasn’t too confusing for you. Some of the steps were tricky to explain. I had a great time making this pillow, and I hope you do too! Thanks, Kelle, for having me back again! — Morgan here from Sweet Stitches

(photos by Sweet Stitches)

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