Tuesday

I finially found time to finish my cross stitched pillow.....

 
 In November of '09 I found this store display at JoAnn's and fell in love with the color combination. That led me to Cross Stitch a pillow design.

 
I did use a small cross stitch chart that needed to be repeated around the square of the Ada cloth. Then I added separate flowers from the chart to create the 'all over' design.

 
A new trip to JoAnn's took me to the designer fabric where I found a great 1/2 yard of a complimenting fabric to sew around the Ada.. I used about 3 inches around....Then the same fabric for the back of the pillow cover. I then bought a contrasting solid blue to make the piping.
If you have priced the ready made piping you will surly enjoy making your own and save a bundle of money.
I bought a half yard of the blue fabric and 2 yards of the cotton piping.. then cut the blue fabric on the bias into 2 yards of 4 inch legnths.. then stitched them together to make the two yards needed. Using my zipper foot on the machine, stitched the piping into the blue fabric...It's so much easier than I may have said it.


 
After stitching the entire pillow, back to front I then popped it inside out by a small opening I left for the stuffing..

 
I'm what they call "Frugle" and do not like to pay the price for most things offered in the stores, so instead of buying the pillow forms they offer, for usually about $24.00, I bought a standard bed pillow at good ol Walmart for $8.00, cut it in half and now can stuff two pillows for a fraction of the price.

 
I then hand stitched the opening. It's sew easy!
 
The back is made from the same fabric used for the surround of the Ada cloth...
My home is made up of 'blue and greens' so this pillow will join the living room in grand style.


6 comments:

Trish said...

Your pillow looks beautiful! I've done a fair amount of cross stitching. It use to be my favorite hobby. Now it's one of many.
That's a great tip about the Walmart pillows. I'll have to remember that.

Laura Lofgreen said...

The stitching is amazing. You must be very patient, nothing like me. :) I blog at www.mydeartrash.blogspot.com and write about my thrift stores and yard sales treasures. Hope you stop by.

gina said...

Came out great! a little FYI... Target now sells square pillow inserts for just $4!

Diane @ InMyOwnStyle said...

Hi Sandy-
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment. I used to do cross-stitch when my kids were little and I had to sit around and wait for them while they were at lessons, etc. My projects were pretty simple, nothing like the detail in your pillow. It is beautiful.
Diane

So Sunny Day said...

LOVE the pillow! what awesome colors.

~ Emily N. from "too Blessed to Stress"

Stephanie said...

You're a GENIOUS! I LOVE making pillows too, but hate buying expensive pillow forms.. I never would have thought to buy a regular bed pillow and cut it in half to make two smaller couch pillows! WOW! You just blew my mind! Thanks for the idea.