Have you Ever...Wanted to Make A Rag Quilt Pillow?

Heres your chance to create your very own rag quilt pillow sham. We are creating it in a throw size pillow (16")

 

The simple instructions and cutting pieces are included in the video

Follow along as we create a rag quilt throw pillow sham to coordinate with our famous sports crib bedding

Of course if you don't want to create your own, we can help you create the perfect nursery for your little man. 

The pillow sham fits a 16" pillow form. Don't want to make your own? Check out our Etsy shop

Sewing a throw pillow with an appliqued football can be a fun and creative way to show your love for football. In this blog post, we will explore a step-by-step tutorial on how to create a rag quilt style pillow with an appliqued football on it.

First, let's gather our supplies. You will need:

• Fabric in your desired colors (for the pillow and the football applique)
• Flannel
  
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• Ruler

For more information on our favorite sewing products visit our post about 10 essential sewing tools for beginners

Step 1: Cut the fabric from the pattern

To create the rag quilt style, you will need to cut the fabric. You can use any fabric you like, but a flannel  will give the pillow a cozy feel.

Step 2: Arrange the fabrics

Arrange your fabrics in a pattern that you like. You can mix and match different colors and patterns to create a unique look.

Step 3: Create the football applique

To create the football applique, draw a football shape on a piece of paper. Cut out the shape and trace onto brown fabric. Cut out the football shape from the fabric place on the backing fabric you have chosen for the pillow. Stitch around with an 1/4 inch seam allowance leaving a raw edge seam.

Step 4: Sew the fabrics together

Sew using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. We use fabrics from AVTRFabrics.com

Step 5: Clip the exposed seams

Once you have attached the football applique, clip the exposed seams with your favorite scissors the edges of the pillow to create a frayed look.

And there you have it - a cozy throw pillow with a football applique in a rag quilt style! This project is perfect for football fans and can be customized to any team's colors. Have fun creating your own unique pillow and show off your love for football.

 

 

Washing a Rag Quilt

Once your quilt has been sewn and clipped, you will need to wash it.

A LOT of little threads will fall off your quilt at this point. Those threads can wreak havoc on your washing machine, especially newer machines. To avoid this problem, run the blade of a butter knife across the seams to help start the fraying process before you put the quilt in the machine. Take the quilt outside and shake it vigorously. This will remove many of those loose threads.

 

If you plan on quilting and binding the quilt, you will need to clip and wash the quilt.  Then you will quilt and bind the quilt to finish it off. 

I have a basic washing machine that doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, and it has held up well and I wash several rag quilts every week for the last three years.

Another option is to wash the quilt at a laundromat. But make sure that you butter knife your quilt first and shake it off before washing the quilt there.

When you dry your quilt, many more little threads will come off. The lint filter will catch a lot of them, and you will need to clean it several times during the drying process. I also like to throw an old towel in with the quilt. The towel helps catch those loose threads, and it helps dry the quilt more quickly.

We created a quick little video that shows our process of washing quilts. It is simple and quick. No bells or whistles

 

 

How to Thread a Needle

Threading needles can be one of the most frustrating parts of sewing. Right!?

But I have found a couple really simple tricks that help when I am trying to thread a needle. They work EVERY Time

• Needles have Front and Back - If the needle is being stubborn and not threading...turn the needle around and try to thread it from the other side. 
• Wet the needle NOT just the thread - Out of habit I always stick thread quickly on my tongue to get it damp. But it makes all the difference when I do the same with my needle.   
• Give the end of the thread a quick trim - If the thread has any kinks, fibers, or other small things on the end it will prevent it from easily going through the eye of the needle. Give that thread a quick trim, even if you trimmed it and wasn't successful in threading the needle once. 
  

Have you given these tricks a try? I bet ya that they work 1

 This works for sewing machine needles, yarn needles, quilting needles, embroidery needles, and every other needle imaginable to man kind.

 

Christmas Ornament Envelope Pillow Tutorial

Just like usual, I complete a project ahead of schedule, but then for some reason life gets in the way, and I don't get it blogged for awhile.

I videoed while sewing the pillow.  The Youtube video is below for you to follow along with it.  I made the video play at double time because sewing can sometimes be slow and tedious, but you still get the idea.  So its a quick video because I know you don't have time to sit and watch sewing videos all day.  Otherwise you won't get one of these cute pillows done (if you are like me at all ;)!

Cutting out the pillow:
1. Cut out 1 piece of fabric measuring 17" wide by the width of fabric.
2.  Cut that piece of fabric into 3 pieces.  They will measure 17" square, and then two 12" by 17" pieces.  The 12" pieces will be for you back envelope
3. Cut out a large circle measuring 13" diameter
4. For the hanging bow I used 12" of sequin trim
5. For the lace center trim I used a piece 14" long
6. Gather Buttons or other items for embellishments

Assembling your Ornament Christmas Pillow Sham

1. Using fabric glue, glue the sequin trim to your pillow

2. Place the circle in the center of the large square and then decide on how to place your other embellishments

3. Follow along with the video to complete your pillow

OR

4. Top stitch all embellishments and the ornament onto the pillow

5. Finish the edge of the fabric using your favorite method on both of the 12" pieces for the back of your pillow (I used the sew, then roll method)

6. Place both of the 12" pieces on the back of the pillow, making sure to line up the corners of the front of the pillow with the back of the pillow.  Pin in place.

7.  Sew around the pillow sham using a 3/8 Seam allowance.  Make sure to backstitch over the places where the envelope opening will be because you will be putting extra pressure on these points when stuffing the pillow sham with a pillow.  

8.  Trim the corners so that when you turn you will have nice and pretty corners

9.  Turn right sides out and stuff with pillow and Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this video and tutorial, make sure to share it on Facebook and Pinterest!

Also, make sure to join the Facebook Group to share your pictures and to ask any questions that you have!

Easy Peasy Quilt Pattern. The Most Versatile Rag Quilt Pattern on the Planet!

There is just 1 rag quilt pattern you will ever need. No joke. Plus, its right here.

Make sure to click on the picture to take you to see more pictures of each of the quilt versions

PS...this is the final stop on the Easy Peasy Rag Quilt Pattern Blog Tour.  It comes with lots of different ideas on variations for the quilt....Plus a fun giveaway at the end.

Rag Quilt Pillow Sham Sewing Pattern

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How to Sew a Rag Quilt Throw Pillow

My favorite part of sewing as a business is being able to do custom requests.  A customer will see something that sparks interest, but they want something changed.  So they email me and we figure out how to make that dream a reality.