Stenciled Christmas Pillow

Here’s the problem(s).

I cannot cut a straight line.

I cannot sew a straight line.

However, using a yardstick to draw lines to cut along AND using the guide and going rather slowly on my sewing machine, I CAN do what is needed to make something.

Like this.

Admittedly, it’s not some intricately embroidered snowflake or some beautifully hand-pieced quilted pillow using scraps from my great-grandmothers’ gunnysack dresses. BUT it IS a cute Christmas pillow that fit my craft criteria: FAST. EASY. CHEAP.

Here’s what I did. I have a pillow form that fits 12"x12" pillows that I use for other envelope pillows I have made. For this pillow I just cut ONE piece of fabric 13” by 32” to allow for overlap on the back to make the “envelope” and to allow for a ½” inseam on the sides. For my fabric I used a neutral drop cloth picked up in the paint department of my local hardware store. I have used this same drop cloth for a few years to cut pieces out for pillows, little bags, etc. For a 14"x14" pillow form, I use a 15”x36” piece of fabric for a simple envelope pillow.

My fabric has already been washed and it was fairly smooth but after I cut out my piece, I did iron it. This is important. I think a true seamstress would stress this as being VERY important as well. Plus for this project it’s a must for the stenciling.

Then I folded over the edges ½ inch for the envelope section for neat ends, ironed, and sewed. (You can pin the edges if it makes you feel safer.) Then I inserted my form, folded my fabric over tightly to see how I wanted it to overlap, and pinned along the two outside edges INSIDE OUT. Then I took out the insert and sewed the edges.

I cut my stencil out of freezer paper (shiny side down) with my Silhouette Cameo die cutter, cutting it as large as I could on the 12x12 mat. (Here's the design I picked off the Silhouette store.) For the stencil you are using the “leftover” piece of the negative of the image. I have found it is easier if you first remove the image off the cutting mat and then are left with the negative to carefully peel off. More intricate designs are going to be harder to peel off and harder to put together to iron on the pillow.

This was the hardest part - slowly ironing the edges of this to make sure it was smooth and even.

This is how I make sure inside pieces get put in the right place.
I will keep a letter or shape to make sure I line it up correctly,
hold the middle piece in place, remove the other, and iron.

Turning my pillow case right side out, now I inserted a piece of scrap cardboard that fits in my unstuffed pillow, iron on the freezer paper (making sure the steam is turned off). (See my post on Painted Burlap Fall Décor for tips on using freezer paper.)

I picked out my acrylic paint colors and started painting. I wanted to make the image to have sort of a stamped or letter pressed look. In the middle I painted it completely and along the edges I made sure they were defined but then I left it splotchy-like along the inside edges to get the effect I intended.

I also wanted the snowflake part to have a bit of sparkle so I used a little bit of silver to go along the outer edges of it after painting the black.

After the paint dried, I peeled the stencil off, took out the cardboard, and put in the pillow insert.

Ta-da!

I did not spend any money for this pillow. It took me about 30-45 minutes to make (cutting design out, cutting fabric, sewing, ironing, painting) not counting drying time. I love crafts like that! You cannot see it in the picture but the silver paint had the effect I wanted giving it just a bit of sparkly edge.

I hope you like my pillow and this has inspired you to make your own or use the technique to make something else. If you don’t have a die cutter like me, you can still use the idea to hand cut designs OR you may have a friend who would be kind enough and willing to cut something out for you. *wink* This would also make a good gift for Christmas (or some other image for birthdays or other holidays).