I know you’ve all been breathlessly waiting for my next felt Valentine pillow. Well, exhale ladies, here it is! This one I simply adore. Although I will throw out a cautionary statement for those in the audience who are a little OCD, the hearts will not always lay flat, so you will either have to deal with that fact, or attach them to the pillow in some other way. *end of disclaimer*
To begin, cut out the front of your pillow to the desired size. Mine was 13X13 for a finished 12″ pillow form. Then cut out lots and lots of hearts. I used my
Sizzix machine which cut out two different size hearts at the same time, and I cut two layers at a time also, so it was 4 per shot, not too bad! Then I just randomly started stitching the hearts on the front panel of the pillow. I used a simple X shape (the kisses part of the pillow) with a doubled length of regular white thread right in the middle.
Keep going until your first layer is done. That’s right, I said first layer! 😉 (the smothered part of the pillow) Then take more hearts and do a second layer of hearts, covering up most of the background color.
I took one heart of the background color and stitched it down on the corner, just for fun.
This is what the front of the pillow will look like after both layers are added.
Now it’s time to finish the pillow. I used a simple envelope closure. Take the measurements of the front pillow. divide the width by 2 and add 4″. Cut two of these pieces. Hem one side of each panel (I use a 1″ hem, doubled over). Then make your pillow. Put the front of the pillow right side up, down on a flat surface, lay one side of the back, right side down, on top, lining up the edges. Repeat with the other side. (I have a tutorial coming up for this shortly, but I didn’t get all the right pics with this pillow- there are plenty of other tutorials out there if this is clear as mud) Sew around the entire pillow. Clip the corners and turn right side out.
I decided to add one little heart to the back just for giggles.
Here’s the finished pillow, with it’s new buddy, the
fan ruffle pillow.
Gwen did a great
tutorial on making your own labels, so I decided to try it out. Here’s my very first labeled project! Love it!
And as one final piece to this long post, I have a couple tips for all you pillow makers (or soon to be pillow makers, since I know this pillow is so wonderful you’re going to all run out and get the supplies TODAY- or maybe tomorrow 😉 ).
The first is that when I open up a new pillow form, I write on the form what the size is (lightly with a pencil, in a corner). You might think this is silly, but since I’ve started making holiday pillow covers, sometimes I don’t remember what size I made it for and have to pull out the tape. On a similar note: label all your pillow covers as well. That way, when next Valentines day rolls around, you know which cover goes on which form. I like making the pillow covers removable, that way I can just store the covers, and not the whole pillow. It takes up much less space! I guess that was more than a couple, but I hope they help.
xoxo,
Amy
I am also linked up to While He Was Napping
Valentine/Love party. That’s a lot more linking than I usually do for one post, but I was kindly invited to some and thought I’d love to join in more fun! (gosh that rhymed! Yay me)
Creator, sewist and mom of 6. Making and sewing keeps me sane and happy. I'm here to share my love of creating with you. Free patterns, tips and tricks and videos to help you discover your own creative passions.
Karen
January 7, 2011 at 9:33 pmWay stinkin' cute! I love, love the label. And great tips about marking the pillows and covers.
Amanda
January 7, 2011 at 9:56 pmUm. I WAS waiting for your Valentine's Day pillow! 🙂 Because all of your pillows are fabulous!
Amanda
Gwen @ Gwenny Penny
January 7, 2011 at 10:55 pmAnother fantastic pillow, Amy. I love the little heart on the back. Love my Sizzix machine… makes things so much easier! Your tag looks great! Great tip on the pillow labeling, too.
Andi @ Jane of all crafts
January 8, 2011 at 1:04 amTHIS IS SO AWESOME!!! My favorite is the little lone pink heart on the front. Adorable.
Kelly
January 8, 2011 at 2:11 amso cute! love it!
amyg @ My 3 Monsters
January 8, 2011 at 2:19 amOh, man! That is some cuteness right there. I love it!!
Erin @ In Between Laundry
January 8, 2011 at 2:27 amReally, really cute! I think I may have to try it myself! Erin at inbetweenlaundry.blogspot.com
Tim
January 8, 2011 at 3:12 amThat is adorable. {and I totally dig the single heart on the back}
CJ
January 8, 2011 at 4:24 amLove it! Very similar to the Valentine pillow I have sketched out!!! My daughter is picking up the fabric for me tomorrow.
A Pretty Life in the Suburbs
January 8, 2011 at 8:46 pmThese are great! So creative!
Jo-Anna
Krista @ While He Was Napping
January 9, 2011 at 5:13 amThis is too cute! You did a fabulous job! I'd love for you to come link it up to my Love Link Party. It would be a fantastic addition.
Krista
Nicole @ Black Cab Designs
January 9, 2011 at 5:54 amReally cute. I love your entire holiday series. The bat pillow has gone into my must do file for this year!
Amy @ Increasingly Domestic
January 9, 2011 at 7:54 amSuper cute pillow! I love the tiny heart on the back:)
I tagged you in a post…go check it out. I hope you play along!
http://increasinglydomestic.blogspot.com/2011/01/15-things-you-never-knew-you-wanted-to.html
Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming
January 10, 2011 at 7:35 amAmy Your pillow is so cute! I love all the hearts and I think they are cute the way they puff out from the pillow! Thanks for linking to the Sunday Showcase – I'll be featuring this today. Hope you have a fabulous week! ~ Stephanie Lynn
Jennifer
January 10, 2011 at 6:19 pmSo cute! I love the little "kisses" in the hearts. I featured you today on my valentine's roundup 🙂
http://sunshineandchaucer.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentines-day-roundup.html
Amanda
January 11, 2011 at 3:03 pmI featured this over at Today's Top 20! I'd love if you stopped by!
P.S. I'm giving away fabric to celebrate 100 followers! hooray! 🙂
Amanda
http://www.todaystoptwenty.blogspot.com
[email protected]
January 11, 2011 at 4:24 pmVery cute! I love the primitive shape of the hearts, too! Thanks for sharing … I've posted a link.
Amy {The Idea Room}
January 11, 2011 at 7:16 pmThis is so cute! I love how random the hearts are. Do you mind if I share this with my FB fans?
ellie g
January 11, 2011 at 7:21 pmAmy! LOVE THIS! Big time! So stinkin' cute. I love the long skinny hearts. I {heart} them. Tee. hee.
Awesome job! I'm gonna make this my "LCMF share" on Facebook for tomorrow, if that's okay with you! Great job.
Jill
January 11, 2011 at 10:12 pmOh I love this one too!
Thanks for linking to A Round Tuit. Hope you have a lovely week.
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Amy (naptimecrafters)
January 12, 2011 at 1:40 amSuper cute- Thanks for auditioning for American Crafter!
Erin @ Crafts and Sutch
January 12, 2011 at 5:15 pmHi Amy! I love this project and gave you some link love over at Crafts & Sutch today! I hope you'll stop by to take a peek and grab a SUTCH an Inspiration button. 🙂
Have a wonderful week!
Erin
Coach A
January 15, 2011 at 5:35 pmI actually might be one of those people making a run for some materials today! 🙂 This pillow could NOT be cuter! Thank you for sharing and for the tutorial!
Sarah AKA The Thriftress
January 26, 2011 at 3:44 amThis pillow is so,so cute! I just love all the little hearts. Do you think I could sew felt hearts on to an existing white pillow? I picked up a pair on clearance…
Thanks for sharing!
Sarah
Trisha @ The Sweet Survival
January 26, 2011 at 2:16 pmThis pillow is adorable and I love the extra heart on the back. So cute.
Char @ Crap I've Made
January 26, 2011 at 2:16 pmI love this pillow so, SO much!
Betsy
January 26, 2011 at 6:22 pmThank you for your great ideas. I'll definitely be making more of your pillows. I enjoyed making my own version. You can see it on my website http://mommysgreat.blogspot.com
linda @ CraftaholicsAnonymous
January 28, 2011 at 2:45 pmAmy,
That is really cute! and so fun for V-day, which happens to be my b-day! 🙂
happy crafting!
Linda
Jessica Sorensen
February 1, 2011 at 1:26 amSuper cute I have been wanting to make Valentines pillows for a couple of years. I will add this one to my list. Excited for American Crafters.
Jessica-Mommy Creations
Jami
February 1, 2011 at 7:59 pmLOVE this pillow! Added you to my Tuesday To-Do post. Also your newest follower!
smiles!
Jami