DIY Big Bow Pillow

I love to create. I cook, I sew, I scrapbook, I decoupage, I paint, I transform ordinary things to extraordinary pieces of art! I love it all. So when I stumbled across this tutorial in the blogosphere, I knew I had to try it!

A few years back I "inherited" the old Brother sewing machine that my little brother, sister, and I learned how to sew on...20 years ago! Its red and white, has 2 stitches (straight and zig zaggy) and best of all, it still works! I mostly use it for making my 2 kitties new nip toys. I have been harboring an idea for a few years though that I will open an Etsy store with my awesome purse and pillow designs. One day...one day! 

Today though, I made this big bow pillow to share the sofa space with the 2 patchwork pillows I made earlier this year. 

Here's how I did it!

When S and I combined our households, all the way back in 2009 when we moved in together, we both brought pillows, so many pillow, to the party. Somehow between the two of us we ended up with 10 bed pillows! Ten! So this October (2011) S made me a deal that if I could re-purpose some of the more beat-up and uncomfortable-to-sleep-on pillows, then we could keep them. And all the old pillows I did not use, he would get to throw away on November 1st.

So, me being me, I thought about pillows for about three weeks, and finally got around to making one! It is now November 10th, and S has not thrown away any of the old pillows (yet!) but that is probably because he put them all in my closet, so he doesn't have to look at them!

Now on to the tutorial!

I cut one old pillow in half, because I didn't want my decorative Bow Pillow to be too big. 

Even though this pillow was so flat to sleep on, and not comfortable in any way, it still had SO MUCH STUFFING! 

It was difficult sewing it up again, but I persevered. I used a slip stitch, and did not worry that the stitching was wonky, because the pretty cover was going on top of it. 

Close up of the stitching.

Check our the rest of the Big Bow Pillow, after the break!

I wanted my cover to be very snug fitting, so I measured my pieces to almost the same length of the actual pillow insert. My pillow insert (that I created from an old sleeping pillow) was 8" x 14", so I cut the front at 8.5" x 14.5". As you can see from the picture, I used my construction-grade tape measure instead of my sewing tape measure, simply because I could not find my sewing tape measure. My sewing things are still half-packed, and some things I'm still not sure where they are. Like my pins. I didn't use pins for this project either. 

I really wanted to sew today, so don't do what I do! I recommend pins, and carefully and correctly cutting your pieces out. Especially if you are making something as a present, or something to sell. I was just making a fun little pillow for my sofa, so I got down to business without any of the usual sewing trappings.   

I made a simple envelope back closure for this pillow. If you don't know how to make one of those, I suggest this website and this website...or else a Google search!   

To make the bow part I cut out a long strip of fabric, folded the side seams down (and press with the iron), sewed the side seams, then folded the strip in half, and sewed the short ends together to make a tube. (The original tutorial is quite informative.) 

I sewed a little piece of fabric into a tiny tube, and slid the big fabric tube into the small fabric tube...and voila! A bow! (PS - That is my yellow sunroom in the background. For now S and I use the sunroom as a craft/sewing/project room.)

I tacked the bow with invisible stitches to a strip of fabric the same length as my pillow front. I recommend using thread the same color as your fabric! I only have one navy blue thread, which was in my sewing machine, so I got lazy and used the same thread I used for stitching up the pillow insert to tack the bow down. I used tiny invisible stitches so you can't see the bright orange though. 

Now, lay the strip of fabric with your tacked bow on top of the right side of your pillow front. Sew the short sides of your fabric strip to the pillow front. Trim the excess. (See the left side I trimmed, and the right side is not trimmed yet.)

I did  take pictures of sewing the envelope closure on...I was too excited to finish the project! This is what my pillow cover looks like after I turned it out, and before I stuffed the pillow insert into it. 

Stuff, Stuff Stuff! It was a tight fit to get the pillow insert in! Here is my completed Big Bow Pillow next to my jumble of thread!

Here is my new Big Bow Pillow at home with my Black & White Patchwork Pillows. I cut out and sewed each patchwork square. Took forever! (That is Lion in the background, in case you did not notice!)

More shots of the Big Bow Pillow on the blue sofa. 

Lastly, I had to include a picture of the Big Bow Pillow with the beautiful roses S bought me to celebrate my last day at my old job. He is so romantic and thoughtful. The new pillow looks perfect next to the cheery red roses! (Vase, S also bought me, from IKEA.)