Teach Me Tuesday: Vintage-Inspired Embellished Pillow

Welcome to Teach Me Tuesday! I spend a lot of time each week reading all of the great DIY tips out there in Blogland. Because there are so many fabulous projects that I can’t wait to try, I figured that it would be fun to feature some of my very favorites here each Tuesday.

If you would like to be featured in an upcoming edition of Teach Me Tuesday, please email me at LivingWithLindsay@gmail.com and we’ll chat!

This week’s edition of Teach Me Tuesday features the incredibly talented Deana at Alchemy Fine Living. Oh, how I wish I lived anywhere remotely near Santa Ana, California! Deana owns Alchemy Fine Living, a wonderful store that sells a mix of antique & vintage finds, new items, and hand-crafted accessories. When I finally get around to visiting my dear friends, the Blah Blah Blahger and Angry Julie out in Orange County, we are all going to have a field trip to Alchemy. Just sayin,’ so be prepared, ladies. Deana’s store looks to be to die for.

Even though having such a gorgeous store should be enough for any gal, Deana also creates unique, vintage-inspired accessories herself. Her blog has great instructions on making many of her different types of accessories, and she also sells them on Etsy for those of you who may not be as crafty as you would like to be.

One of my favorite tutorials of Deana’s is a vintage-inspired pillow embellished with vintage photographs, antique buttons, tulle and tassels. Clearly, this is right up my alley, so I was very excited to show you how to make one yourself.

Now, Deana has been sewing since she was a little girl. You know that I know that your eyes glaze over when I mention a sewing machine (your secret is safe with me!), so she has graciously agreed to let me interject some instructions on how to do this with a glue gun. I figured some of you may feel more comfortable with your handy little glue gun, so you can just think of me as a translator. You can thank me later, because this is a darling project.

Deana explains:

I wrote about the gorgeous lampshade that my sister created in a previous post. Her lampshade gave me some inspiration, so I created the pillow below using the same embellishments; tulle, ribbon, vintage photographs and antique buttons. I love just about anything that is vintage or antique and I love finding new ways to incorporate that into home decor.

For step by step instructions how to make your own read on. You can use your own family photos to personalize yours. You don’t have to limit your decorative touches to just ribbon, tulle, vintage buttons and photos either. You can add flowers, vintage costume jewelry or any other object that may have special meaning to you.

1. Cut out two pieces of fabric exactly the same size for the front and back of the pillow. I like to cut the fabric the same size as the insert I am going to use so it ends up just a bit over stuffed. (Lindsay says – Glue Gun Gals – I’m going to have you stuff your pillow with batting instead of using a pillow insert, so you can make your pillow whatever size suits your needs. Glue Gun Gals should also skip down to step 11.)

2. Cut a 4 inch strip of fabric that is the same exact length as the other pieces you cut out. This piece will be used to put a zipper into the back of the pillow.

3. For a really nice finish surge all 4 edges of the 3 pieces that you have cut out. This is not necessary if you do not have a surge machine, it just helps keep the pillow from fraying.

4. Fold the 4 inch strip in half length wise and press.

5. Place the 4 inch strip on top of the larger piece right sides facing each other.

6. Use the pressed line as a guide to baste the pieces together.

7. Open up the seam and press.

8. Place your zipper facing down on the seam. Open up the zipper and line the edge of it up exactly with the seam. Place the presser foot as close to the zipper as you can and use it as a guide to sew the zipper on.

9. After you have sewn the one side of the zipper down close the zipper and sew down the opposite side.

10. Once the zipper is in place rip out the basted seam so the zipper can open and close. Now the back of the pillow is complete!

11. Next layout your design on the front of the pillow and pin it in place. (Lindsay says: Welcome back, Glue Gun Gals!)

12. Sew down either end of ribbon, tulle and or trim to opposite edges of the pillow front. Because I used a tassel trim, that is a bit heavy, I actually sewed that one down to the pillow front the entire length of it. The ribbon and tulle though, I just sewed at either end. (Lindsay says: Glue Gun Gals should do the same thing using a glue gun instead of sewing – just use a dot of glue to tack it in place on both sides.)

13. Again, for a nice edge, surge your edges. (Lindsay says: Glue Gun Gals can skip this step.)

14. Now sew the back and the front of the pillow together right sides facing each other. (Lindsay says: Glue Gun Gals – glue both pieces together right sides facing each other. You will want to glue together 3 sides completely, but only about 3/4 of the fourth side – I’d pick the bottom side – so that you can have room to stuff your batting. Clip the corners like the picture shown below.)

*Sewing Tip: To make a really nice sharp corner cut off the excess fabric at an angle like shown in the picture below. Make sure to get close to the seam, but don’t cut through it. This is especially helpful when you have sewn on a t
rim like the one I used above because the corners get really bulky and difficult to turn.

15. Turn inside out and stuff with your insert. I prefer down. I think it gives the pillow such a soft cozy look and feel. (Lindsay says: Glue Gun Gals – stuff your pillow with batting through the open hole and make it as thick as you would like. When you are finished, fold in the edges of the open side and use your glue gun to glue it closed – think of the glue as the cream in your pillow Oreo.)

16. Next add the rest of your decorative touches using a hot glue gun or fabric glue and tie the bows with your ribbon. (Lindsay says: See? Deanna uses glue, too!)

Is that not the cutest pillow you’ve ever seen? You could actually use trim you had left over from other projects and tie your pillow in with the decor you already have in place. And since you can totally use a glue gun on this project, I bet you could have it finished in under an hour. What will YOU put on your pillow?

Thank you so much for sharing this great project with us, Deanna!