Bolster Pillow Tutorial..Doubles as Kindle Rest!

The first thing I EVER sewed was this pillow (below). This was before I had a sewing machine so the whole thing was hand sewn. It's not washable because it's just the case and the stuffing. I was AMATEUR, and I didn't even know what I was doing really.

However, this pillow has proven to be one of the most used items in the house! It's made from a fat quarter folder along the long side and therefore it's long and thin. The amount of stuffing is just right - not over or under stuffed. Stephen has always used it to rest his kindle on when he's lying in bed reading, as it can be folded and molded into lots of different shapes. He asked me to make him one for him for when he moves out so he has his own, and he requested 'boy colours'.

I decided that since I have now got a sewing machine, I would go a bit further for this new pillow and make one with a removable slip cover so it would be washable.

First, I laid out a fat quarter I had onto the fabric I wanted to use for the inner cushion. I used a very old sheet but you could use anything. Keep it light coloured though, so it doesn't show through your cover.

Next, take the fabric you want to use for your cover. The best thing to use is a standard pillowcase. I was lucky in that my lovely mum had gifted me loads of vintage pillow cases. So I chose one which I liked, had a pattern, but was still boy colours and would go with Stephen's new bed linen which I know is blue.

Cut the short, CLOSED end off the pillowcase. Then cut off one horizonal seam so you have a flat piece of fabric with the 'turnover' part of the pillowcase still attached. You know, the part where it covers the end of the pillow when it gets tucked over?

Lay your inner fat quarter onto the pillow case, and cut round it, adding about 1.5 inches on each side.

Time to sew! Lay your inner (white) fat quarter on the table and fold it in half, right sides together, along the longest edge.

Sew the longest side, and one end together on your sewing machine. Use a very short stitch length so that stuffing has to work hard to escape. Turn right way out.

Then, STUFF IT! Fluff the stuffing around until the pillow has no big lumps in.

Once you're satisfied with the amount of stuffing (remember, stuffing flattens over time. So don't jam it full, but make sure there's a decent amount in there) sew the open end up. It doesn't matter if this doesn't look too neat - this is the inner pillow and it's going to be covered.

You have your inner pillow made!

Next, lay your cover fabric out on the table and place your new stuffed pillow on top. Fold the cover fabric round to make sure you have enough. If the cover fabric seems more than you will need - great! If you don't think it's going to cover the pillow fully, consider adding more material to your cover fabric - a solid on one end for example. I eyeballed mine and knew that I had more than enough cover fabric.

Fold your cover fabric wrong sides together, and sew along the long side and the end WITHOUT the tucked in material. I looked at mine and because I knew I had too much fabric, I sewed a seam allowance of about 2 inches. This is FINE. Experienced seamstresses can sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance but I always end up missing some material in it, so the larger the better for me. Once it's done, DON'T turn it right way out yet. Instead, get your pillow and put it in the cover. This is to make sure it fits properly.

Trim off the massive seam allowances, close to the stitches. Then turn your cover the right way out, and there you have it! A bolster pillow, which can double as a Kindle rest. The tuck which was part of the original pillowcase closes over the end of the pillow giving a professional look.

Done! This is my first ever tutorial so please, please feel free to ask any questions if anything's not clear!

Featured on You. Inspired! over at girl. Inspired

An Explanation

So, I feel like I have been conspicuous by my absence over here in blog land. Let me explain.

I had some really negative comments on my blog; to cut a long story short they implied that my blog was too personal.

I immediately deleted some posts and set my blog to private. Then I had a long think about it. The last thing I want to do is upset anyone with what I write. I feel emotions more fully than other people due to my brain tumor, which affects my cortisol production. If you're interested, more info on that here. I write from the heart and I always have done, so as my emotions see saw throughout time so do my blog posts. There are so many reasons why I like to blog.

1. I like to have a record of what has happened in my life. People have asked me lots of times 'when was that?' and I say 'oh, it'll be on my blog'

2. It helps me to sort my emotions out in my head

3. I like connecting with other people

4. It gives me opportunities, like testing sewing patterns or helping people with cancer, that I wouldn't have otherwise.

5. It relaxes me

6. I like to show off when I have made/done something good. Who doesn't!?

So, when I thought of all these considerations weighed against a few people, I decided that it is my blog, my life, and if people don't like it, they don't need to read it. Seriously. Shut your eyes people. Don't get onto my blog page.

However, I don't want to upset anyone. So, from now on, I am going to continue blogging on a non-private blog. But my posts will be more geared towards sewing/baking/crafting/impersonal things. Or rather, personal to me only without getting other people involved. That's not to say I won't blog about my feelings, I will, because it helps. But I will be more aware of what I'm writing. I hope I haven't lost all my followers! I have some great sewing projects coming up to post, so stay tuned :)

Sick, sick, sick

I managed to contract norovirus last weekend and spent Saturday night in hospital, which wasn't fun! I'm only just starting to feel myself again.

I'm on a major job hunt. So if anyone knows of any admin/data entry/receptionist jobs out there, please please let me know!

Just a few photos of life to follow, and a longer post coming shortly...when I'm better.

Our washing machine broke on Monday too, so after a LOT of help from our wonderful neighbour, we managed to get our new one installed today. And I am loving it a lot!

The 'Teapot' Tote!

After sewing the Bapron, my sister emailed me and told me she LOVED the fabric. It reminded her of wedgewood china. I got this fabric from Thailand (I think) a very very long time ago and after sewing the Bapron, I didn't have much left. But I told her I would make her what I could from the remaining material, and we decided on a tote. It didn't show on the Bapron, but the fabric is actually a teapot print, which is perfect since my sister is a tea fanatic!

I read a few tutorials, like this one, and then decided to give it a go.

I have never had much luck with sandwiching bias. I'm an extremely novice seamstress, and I always missed out a bit of the fabric in the bias tape. So this time I decided to do it properly!

I pinned the bias to my fabric, opening it up so the slightly larger fold was on the wrong side of the fabric. Then I pinned down both 'ends' of the tote.

I sewed along the fold line of the bias...or as close as I could!

Then I folded the bias over and stitched the outside of the bias. This was more difficult, even though I pinned it, I had trouble getting a straight line.

I then pinned the handles where I wanted them to be, and stitched around all the ends in a loose interpretation of a square. These look awful inside but they look fine on the outside :)

Then I stitched the sides of the tote, wrong sides together.

I then decided to box out the corners, just to make it a bit more 'bag' like

And there you have it! Nowhere near perfect, but I am pleased with it, and I know my sister will love it. The 'teapot' tote!