Abigail Lea: January 2013

Let's make some pillows with a ruffle!

I received my first sewing machine from my parents when I was around 7 years old. It was my Christmas gift and I couldn't have been more excited. I did what most beginner sewers did... made PILLOWS! I would take my allowance, go to the fabric store, buy adorable fabric, come home, sew for hours and make as many pillows as my heart desired. There came a point that I made so many pillows that there was no more room on my bed. That little Singer sewing machine could only handle so much and hundreds of pillows later it no longer worked. I haven't sewed much since those pillow making days.

Abi & Eve Christmas 2012

This past Christmas my mother-in-law, Cynthia, gave Eve and me our very own sewing machine! It's been years but for my first project I decided to go back to my roots of pillow making and make a few 20" throw pillow covers for our bed. Here's what I did below with some help and sewing tips from sweet Cynthia.


I bought 4 1/2 yards of ruffle to go all the way around 4 sides of each pillow.

I bought 2 yards of fabric which is more than enough for two pillows.

To make an envelope backing I cut a 21" square for the front of the pillow which gives me a 1/2" seem allowance. I also cut a rectangle for the back at 21" by 25" - I cut the 25" rectangle in half and sewed a seem on the edges in the middle. When matched up with the 21" front side there is an overlap. The overlap makes an envelope opening for the pillow form to go in. *If I do this again I would add a few more inches and make it 27" to provide more of an overlap and room for extra fluffy pillow forms.


An envelope backing is great - no zippers or buttons needed!

To add the ruffle I pinned the ruffle facing in on the front side of the 21" square.

Ruffles are secured and complete!

Then I matched up (inside out) the 25" back side to the ruffled 21" front side
and sewed along the ruffle seem... ultimately, sewing the pillow together.

I flipped it inside out and added my 20" down pillow form! DONE!

Little Boo wanted to make a quick appearance. :)

Well, it's true. I do love a good ruffle... on duvets, table runners, scarves, little girl dresses and big girl dresses too! But more than anything, I love a good ruffle on a throw pillow.