Quilted pillows featuring machine embroidered

Reading Pocket Pillow Tutorial

January 3, 2018 | 3 Comments

Welcome to Wednesday everyone! It’s January 3rd and time to get back at it. Whether you’re headed back to work, back to school or back to your sewing room it’s the dawn of a new year. Always, always, always a wonderful time for re-creating, re-discovering and re-organizing. So, why not start off 2018 by grabbing some fabrics from your stash to make your favourite child a Reading Pocket Pillow for their bed? Here’s one and here’s how you make it:

Designs by JuJu has just introduced some wonderful embroidery designs that work oh-so-well when crafting a Reading Pocket Pillow for that special little someone in your life. Word Art embroidery and Story Time applique work hand-in-hand in creating some sweet and special designs. I’ve made this particular pillow for my granddaughter, Harlow. I gave it to her for Christmas, filled with books tailored to meet her grade two reading abilities. Her name is embroidered on this pillow, but that is optional. Let’s get started!

Please be sure and read through all the instructions prior to commencing. Fabrics shown are from Robert Kaufman’s line – Blueberry Park – Bright Spectrum by Karen Lewis

Shopping List:

Designs by JuJu DBJJ1077 Story Time Applique

Designs by JuJu DBJJ1078, 1079 Word Art Sets 1 and/or 2

Designs by JuJu DBJJ652 Simply Sweet Applique Font (optional)

Deep Purple Fat Quarter (18″x22″) for pillow front cut to 17″x17″

Lime Green Fat Quarter for pillow pocket cut to 11″x17″, scraps for applique**

Light Purple Fat Quarter for pillow pocket lining cut to 13″x17″, scraps for applique**

Pink and Purple pieces for envelope-style pillow back, each measuring 11″x17″

Green rickrack – 90″

Medium weight tearaway stabilizer – one yard

Embroidery thread, embroidery bobbin thread,

embroidery needles, embroidery scissors, hand sewing needle (optional)

White pencil, omnigrid ruler, rotary cutter

16″ pillow form (flattened out)

Spray Starch and Temporary Spray Fabric Adhesive

3 large buttons (optional)

*I use Brother Embroidery thread for all my projects

**To avoid the pattern from these two fabrics, I used the wrong side of the fabric for applique

Machine Embroidery:

Download your choice of one Word Art and one Story Time applique design. Load them both into your machine. (Use the 4×4 size)
Using a pencil, mark the center of the lime green, pillow pocket fabric. Measure one inch above the pencil mark and mark again. Use the second mark as your center point.

Hoop lime green fabric with corresponding piece of stabilizer.
Being mindful to center the design, stitch out your choice of Word Art embroidery. Remove fabric from hoop.
Mark the center point to both the right and left of the Word Art design. Re-hoop the fabric, center and stitch your choice of the Story Time applique designs. Stitch the tacking stitches of the design. Remove hoop from the machine.

Cut a fabric scrap slightly larger than the outline of the design. Spray the scrap with spray starch and the wrong (patterned) side of the fabric with spray adhesive. Adhere scrap over the outline of the design. Return hoop to the machine and stitch outline of the design.

Remove hoop from machine. Using embroidery scissors, cut as close to the stitched outline as possible.

Place the hoop back on the machine and complete the applique embroidery design.
Repeat for the second embroidery applique design.

Construction:

Stitch the pocket lining to the pocket itself. Right sides together, pin along the top edge and stitch. (The lining will measure longer than the pocket itself.

Flip over the lining to the right side, leaving a 1 1/2″ border on the top of the pillow pocket. Press.
Pin the rickrack to the bottom of the border on the pillow pocket. Stitch.
Line up bottom raw edges and pin the pillow pocket to the pillow top as per the photo. Stitch.

Pin rickrack to the perimeter of the pillow front. Stitch in place.

Machine Embroidery – If you choose to embroider your child’s name on the pillow front

Download the 2″ Upper Case applique letters of your childs’ name from the Simply Sweet applique font alphabet.
Using your omnigrid ruler, measure 1″ from the edge of the pillow pocket border, as shown in the photo.

Using a white fabric pencil, mark a straight line along the straight edge. Fold the pillow front in half, marking the center. Embroider your childs’ name being mindful to center. (I stitch the middle two letters first, on either side of the center mark and then work on either side of the name.)
Hand stitch large buttons in place, if you wish.
Take both pieces for the envelope-style pillow back. Fold over top edge of each piece, ½” press. Fold an additional ½” press and stitch in place.
Right sides together, line up the top raw edge of one pillow back piece with the pillow front and pin. Line up the bottom raw edge of the second pillow back piece with the bottom raw edge and pin, in an overlapping style, like the photo.

Stitch around the perimeter of the pillow front and back unit. Flip to right side out. Pull out the pillow corners. Flatten the pillow form and insert into the pillow cover.

There you go….all done. You will have a super cute reading pocket pillow for your favourite child. Please contact me via email at km.hanson@shaw.ca if you have any questions. Thank you so much.

Happy New Year!

Kim

Mehndi Hearts – Quilted and Embroidered Pillow Tutorial

June 12, 2017 | 1 Comment

Good day everyone. Thank you so much for joining me here on my blog.

I have another tutorial for you all.

Triple Mehndi Hearts

Quilted and Embroidered Pillow

Ever since Julie at Designs by JuJu released her super sweet Mehndi heart design collection, I’ve been longing to use them for a project. Now, finally, I have! Here is a quick and easy pillow project you can easily make over a weekend. There are ten different Mehndi Heart designs available; your challenge is to choose just three. Begin by gathering together a few fabrics, some colourful rickrack and your favourite embroidery threads and let’s get started. Hope you LOVE your new TRIPLE MEHNDI HEART pillow.

Please be sure and read through all the instructions prior to commencing.

Finished Size: 17″x19″ – pillow cover

Shopping List:

Designs by JuJu Mehndi Hearts designs DBJJ799 – choose three, one large and two small

Fabrics (Shown on pillow cover – Lila Tueller’s Fantine Collection, Riley Blake)

White for embroidery – piece 8″x10″ and two pieces 8″x9″

Blue for pillow top front and backing – two fat quarters

Pink for backing to Mehndi hearts and for pillow corners- fat quarter cut 7″x7½” and two pieces 6″x6½” and four pieces 6″x8″

Green for pillow back – two pieces 12″x21″ and two pieces 13″x21″

Quilt batt – 19″ x 21″, 12″x21″ and 13″x21″

Lightweight fusible web – three sheets 8″x11″

Tearaway stabilizer – 1 yard 20″ wide

Pillow form – 18″x18″

Small Pink rickrack – 44″

Small Orange rickrack – 44″

Large Green rickrack – 44″

Embroidery thread, embroidery needles, scissors, pinking shears

Regular and white pencil, omnigrid ruler, rotary cutter

Temporary Spray Fabric Adhesive

*I use Brother Embroidery thread for all my projects

MACHINE EMBROIDERY

Download three Mehndi Hearts designs, one large and two small. Beginning with the large heart, load the first design into machine.
Large hoop 8″x10″ white fabric with corresponding piece of stabilizer and place the hoop onto the machine.
Stitch out the first heart design, being mindful to clip jump threads as you go. Repeat for two small heart designs – medium hoop 8″x9″ white fabric and corresponding stabilizer.

CONSTRUCTION:

With a pencil, draw a line around the perimeter of the large embroidered heart, ½” from the edge of the finished design.
Using pinking shears, cut around the pencil line. Repeat for two small heart designs. Press all three hearts.

Using fusible web manufacturer’s instructions center and fuse the large heart to the 7″x7½” piece of pink fabric. Repeat using the 6″x6½” pieces of pink fabric for the two small hearts.
Using the white pencil, draw a line around the perimeter of the embroidered heart, ½” from the edge of the finished design.
Using pinking shears, cut around the pencil line. Repeat for two small heart designs.
Fold one blue fat quarter in half lengthwise and press and widthwise and press again to find the natural center. Center all three hearts as shown in the photo, being mindful to line up bottom point on each heart and fuse in place. (Fuse the small hearts first, then the large one).
Machine applique stitch around the embroidered heart and the pink fabric heart.

Measure 1¾” from bottom of heart tips and with the white pencil, draw a straight line widthwise across the pillow top. Center 20″ strip of pink rickrack on pencil line, pin and stitch. Pin and stitch 20″ strip of green rickrack in place directly under the pink rickrack. Pin and stitch 20″ strip of orange rickrack in place directly until the green rickrack. Repeat these steps for top of pillow. Trim to even.

For pillow corners, see diagram #1.

After stitching, fold over pink fabric and press. Trim pink fabric to mimic corner of the pillow. Repeat for three other corners of the pillow top.

QUILTING:

Make a quilt sandwich; place right side of pillow top back (second blue fat quarter) on a flat surface. Spray lightly with fabric adhesive and carefully layer the quilt batt on top and smooth. Spray the quilt batt lightly and layer on pillow top. Pin if needed. Quilt as desired. (I used an echo – outline stitch around the triple hearts and a basic, straight line grid to quilt the pillow top.) Trim pillow top to measure 17½”x19½”.

PILLOW BACK:

Sandwich a layer of batt between the two green pillow back pieces sized 12″ x21″. Turn under one edge, widthwise ½” and press. Turn under another ½” and stitch. Repeat for two green pillow back pieces sized 13″ x21″.
Right sides together, lay one back piece over pillow top, lining up bottom edge. Right sides together, lay the other back piece over pillow top, lining up top edge.
Stitch pillow top and pillow back together ½” from outer edge. Trim and turn pillow cover right side out. Insert pillow form.

If you have any comments or questions, please email me directly at km.hanson@shaw.ca. Thanks!

Kim

Tic Tac Toe; A Quilted and Embroidered Cupcake Pillow……. Just in time for Valentine’s Day!

January 23, 2017 | 1 Comment

Good day everyone. Thank you so much for stopping by. Today we are featuring a pillow tutorial – highlighting quilting, machine embroidery and cupcakes by Designs by JuJu.

qcpillow

Red and aqua with a dash of lime swirl together to make this sweet pillow a delightful project to welcome spring. Love and creativity blossom as you adorn your pillow with machine appliquéd cupcakes, embroidery embellishment and yo-yo’s disguised as “puff cakes”.

Please be sure and read through all the instructions prior to commencing. It will make the project much easier for you.

Finished Size: 16½” x 16½”

Shopping List:

Designs by JuJu Cute as Cupcake applique designs DBJ331

(Fabrics shown on pillow cover are Riley Blake, Apple of My Eye Collection)

Floral Red- Fabric 1 .8 yard

Apple Stripe Aqua – Fabric 2 .3 yard

Apple Stripe Red – Fabric 3 fat quarter (18″x22″)

Apple Petals White/Red – Fabric 4 .6 yard

Apple Basket Aqua – Fabric 5 scrap

Pear – Fabric 6 scrap

Quilt batt – 19″ x 19″

Lightweight fusible web – 17″ wide 1 yard

Heavyweight stabilizer – 20″ wide 1 yard

Crocheted flowers – 1 small red

Aqua buttons – 4

Pillow form – 16″ x 16″ or 17″ x 17″

Cupcake Embroidery Designs DBJJ331

Embroidery Lettering – LOVE. This can be any script lettering, including a standard stitch on your embroidery machine or Designs by JuJu DBJJ850 or DBJJ862

Embroidery thread, embroidery needles, scissors, pinking shears

Pencil, omnigrid ruler

Hand sewing needle, thread and thimble

Spray starch

Spray temporary fabric adhesive

*I use Brother Embroidery thread for all my projects

CUTTING:

For Pillow top:

From Fabric 1:

4 – 8″ squares for block B

From Fabric 2:

5 – 8″ squares for block A, centre block and 2 – 1½” x 42″ strips (sub-cut into 8 – 6″ pieces for “X” on block B)

From Fabric 3:

heart template for centre block, 4 – 1½” circles for puff cake centres (cut with pinking shears) and small pieces for appliqué as needed

From Fabric 4:

19″ x 19″ square for backing and 4 – 4½” circles for puff cakes and small pieces for appliqué as needed

From heavyweight stabilizer:

5 – 8″ squares and 8 – 1½” x 6″ pieces

Quilt batt:

19″ x 19″

Cut lightweight fusible web pieces as you go

Ingredients to make a puff cake: (Puff cakes are a stiffer variation on a fabric yo yo.)

4½” circle of fabric

2½” circle of fusible web

1½” pinked circle of fabric

button

For Pillow back:

From Fabric 1: 2 pieces 17½” wide x 14¼” long

CONSTRUCTION:

Block B

Match “X” aqua pieces measuring 1½” x 6″ with corresponding piece of heavyweight stabilizer. Fuse the stabilizer to the fabric piece using fusible web.

Fold red block B in half diagonally and press.

Open square and draw two pencil marks ½” on either side of centre dividing line. Repeat for diagonally opposite side. Fold aqua strip in half lengthwise and match up centre folds.

Align, centre and pin one aqua strip. Stitch around the perimeter of the strip using a machine blanket or appliqué stitch.

Centre intersecting aqua strip on top of first strip to create an “X”. Stitch around the perimeter of the second strip.

Press block and trim to 6½” square. Erase any remaining pencil marks. Repeat for other three block B’s.

TIP: When trimming the blocks to 6½” square, be mindful to trim small amounts from EACH side of the block, so that the design is centred.

Centre Block

Using fusible web’s manufacturers instructions, fuse the heart to the centre of 8″ aqua square. Stitch around heart outline using blanket or appliqué stitch to secure. Set aside for machine embroidery.

MACHINE EMBROIDERY APPLIQUE

Block A

Download the cupcake appliqué designs. Using the small size, load the first cupcake design into machine.

Hoop 8″ aqua block A together with 8″ square of stabilizer and place the hoop onto the machine.

Centre embroidery design. Stitch outline of first part of the design.

Remove hoop from machine.

TIP: Cover ironing board with towel or cloth to prevent overspray.

Cut a piece of Fabric 4 slightly larger than outline stitching. Lightly spray starch fabric scrap and press. Lightly spray wrong side of fabric scrap with temporary fabric adhesive. Place the fabric scrap over the outlined stitching area and pat gently to smooth and adhere.

Replace hoop on the machine.

Stitch tacking stitches and remove the hoop from the machine. Carefully clip around the stitching as close to the stitch line as possible.

Return the hoop to the machine and continue to stitch out the design.

Stitch out three more cupcake appliqué designs in the same manner to make four block A’s. Trim all block A’s to measure 6½” square.

Hoop the centre block heart and an 8″ square of heavyweight stabilizer. Download the word “LOVE” and transfer to machine. Centre design and stitch. Trim block to measure 6½” square.

CONSTRUCTION

Lay out all nine blocks as per diagram #1 – see below. Stitch blocks together to form pillow top, using a ½” seam allowance. Press seams in the direction as per the arrows in diagram.

Make a quilt sandwich; place right side of pillow top down on a flat surface. Spray lightly with fabric adhesive and carefully layer the quilt batt on top and smooth. Spray the quilt batt lightly and layer on pillow top backing. Pin if needed. Quilt as desired. ( I have used an all over free motion quilting style on Block A and simple outline quilting on Block B).

Trim pillow top to measure 17¼” x 17 ¼”.

Hand stitch crocheted flower in place on block 9.

PUFF CAKES

Make 4 puff cakes as follows: (See diagram #2 and photos of Block B) Place 4½” circle of Fabric 4 right side down on ironing board. Centre 2½” circle of fusible web and press to adhere. Do not peel off fusible web paper backing. Thread your hand sewing needle with a double strand of thread and knot. Fold over raw edge of fabric circle ½” and begin to hand stitch seam, gathering fabric as you go. Pull thread taut and finish stitching the circle. Knot thread securely.

Press to flatten circle slightly. Centre 1½” red circle over puff cake and stitch the aqua button in place on top. Hand stitch the puff cake to the centre of the “X” on all block B’s.

Pillow Back:

On both pillow back fabric pieces, turn one edge under ½” lengthwise and press. Turn edge under an additional 1″ and stitch to seam. Right sides together, lay one back piece over pillow top, lining up bottom edge. Right sides together, lay the other back piece over pillow top, lining up top edge.

Pin. Stitch pillow top and pillow back together ¾” from outer edge. (I rounded the corners on the pillow. If you choose this option, trace rounded corners onto pillow back prior to stitching.) Trim and turn pillow cover right side out. Insert pillow form.

Toss your new pillow in your favourite chair. You will LOVE it.

If you have any comments or questions, please email me directly at km.hanson@shaw.ca or leave me a comment on this post.

After you make this pillow, please send me a photo! It will be displayed on both my website and Designs by JuJu’s website as well. Thank you all so much.

Kim

pillowdiagram1

pillow-diagram2

heart-template-2

Handmade quilted and embroidered fabric pillow

March 23, 2016 | Leave a Comment

Good day everyone! I was rummaging through some older, digital quilt photographs today and came up with this patchwork, applique, handmade, quilted and embroidered fabric pillow.

I made this fabric pillow several years ago. It’s an example of how to use many different techniques and fabrics all in one project. For example, I used my Brother embroidery machine to embroider the words, “Sweet Girl” (using a Brother embroidery font card) and to embroider the little design in the lower right hand corner of the pillow top. Using some vintage fabric (including old feedsacks) and some amazingly beautiful chenille that I had purchased on ebay, I appliqued the double heart design and the little butterfly using Steam-a-Seam. Once the fabrics were adhered to the pillow top in the right place, I stitched around the design using my Brother machine applique stitch.

Little embellishments in the form of ribbons and buttons were added once the pillow cover was stitched together.

I also made a patchwork, handmade, appliqued and embroidered quilt to complement the pillow.

These projects were really fun for me to make. I loved using old feedsack fabric and the chenille especially. These two quilted and embroidered projects are super easy to make and a great way to use your scraps. I gave them both away to charity – and kinda miss them!

Till later….

Kim

Beautiful Baby Girl

October 4, 2011 | 1 Comment

Childhood is fleeting – when the special moments come along in a child’s life, it’s so lovely to be able to stop and fully appreciate how wondrous they can be. My beautiful baby granddaughter, Harlow, is a huge joy in my life. Sometimes, I just want to fold her up and keep her in my pocket! She is life and sweetness and innocence all rolled up into one tiny package. I’m privileged to have her and her sweet family living nearby and I’m able to watch over her at least one day a week. Harlow and I so love going to the zoo – in fact, it’s one of our special, favorite places. Harlow is fond of butterflies and tigers mostly – me the red pandas. In fact, I have gone to the zoo JUST to see the red pandas!

It’s so very special to be able to sew and quilt for family members, especially for children. I found this vintage fabric on ebay several years ago and now I know why I was so compelled to purchase it! It was meant to be for Harlow…the fabric so reminds me of her. I’ve been working on a crib quilt for her, but since it’s taking so long, I think the quilt will have to be made a little bigger, to fit a single bed instead. For those of you who know me – the vintage fabric just has to be paired with flannels!

I have made a pillow and quilt for her crib. The quilt was made a long time ago, but just seemed to fit well in her room here at our house. Much of the fabric is vintage feedsack; combined with vintage chenilles and some newer fabric lines.

Finding time to live our lives the way we want to is a challenge. Let’s face it – there are so many distractions wherever we look and noise, confusion and chatter surrounds us each and every day. I’ve found such a benefit from slowing down my pace (even just a bit) and cherishing the quiet time and stillness. It’s such a lovely way to find creativity.

Kim