Featured Fabric: Studio E Fabrics Moonlit Dreams Minky by Victoria Hutto

Pattern Design by: Meredith Daniel

Sewn by: Meredith Daniel

When you get a fabric that screams “nursery”, there are so many projects that come to mind from quilts, to stuffed animals, to delicate little clothes for baby. But I’m going to show you one of my favorites, a project that I’ve been commissioned to make a number of times - a book pillow! It's a pillow that lives on the bed or chair, and it holds your favorite bedtime book. It's a fun and useful piece of decor in a child’s room, and it can even fit their favorite small stuffed toy alongside their favorite story.

Skills Learned: general sewing, invisible zipper insertion

Skill Level: beginner

Finished Size: 19” x 19” (48.26cm x 48.26 cm) for 20 x 20 (50.8cm x 50.8cm) pillow insert

Fabric Requirements:

Fabric: any number of prints with the following cuts:

(2) 20 x 20” (50.8cm x 50.8cm) - Main Fabric. I used:

• 8029-90 Pearl - Allover Clouds (Front)
• 8023-09 Charcoal - Tossed Animals (Back)

(2) 10 x 20” (25.4cm x 50.8cm) - Pocket Fabric. I used:

• 8022-90 Pearl - Animal Stripe

(1) 1 x 20” (2.54cm x 50.8cm) - Pocket Top Lining. I used:

• 8030-95 Gray - Stars and Moons

Additional Recommendations:

Invisible zipper 20-22” (50.8cm x 55.88cm)

Pillow insert 20 x 20” (50.8cm x 50.8cm)

Straight pins or clips

Cutting tools, acrylic ruler, coordinating thread

Instructions:

Begin by folding the 1 x 20” piece in half lengthwise (pretty side showing), and pinning it along the top of one of the 10 x 20” pieces, with the raw edges faces OUT (all raw edges will be aligned).

Sew in place with a 1/4” seam.

Place remaining 10 x 20” piece face down on top of the piece you just sewed, and pin along top again.

Sew through all the layers along the top with a 3/8” seam allowance.

Open up the fabric and with the seam allowance to one side (toward the back), sew 1/4” away from the center to tack down the seam allowance. This is going to make it easier to fold and keep the fabric from turning to the wrong side.

Now fold the fabric in half so that the accent fabric is along the top and the two 10 x 20” pieces are even. Using a 1/2” seam allowance, sew through all the layers to keep that fold looking crisp. This is the pocket panel.

Pin the pocket piece you’ve been working on to your 20 x 20” Main Fabric (Front) of your pillow (both right sides should be facing out). Using a 1/4” seam allowance, sew the pocket piece down along the side, bottom, and other side.

Switch out your sewing machine foot to the zipper foot (or invisible zipper foot, if you have one). Open zipper and pin to bottom of the pillow/pocket so that the teeth begin 1.5” from the side of the pillow. Mark 1.5” from the side on the other side so you know where to stop stitching.

Stitch alongside the zipper teeth. If using a standard zipper foot, unfold the zipper teeth and stitch as close as you can.

Next, take your 20x20" back fabric for your pillow and pin it right side down on the zipper tape at the bottom the pillow. Line the zipper up the same way, and beginning 1.5” from the side and stopping 1.5” from the other side, stitch zipper in place like you did in the last step.

Switch back to the standard sewing foot or walking foot you were using to begin with. Using a 3/8” seam allowance, at the bottom of the pillow, sew from the side to where you began sewing your zipper. Slight overlap is fine. Do this on both sides of the bottom to stich the remaining 1.5" section closed on either side of the zipper.

Finally, using a 3/8” seam allowance, sew around the three remaining sides, pivoting at each corner. DO NOT CLIP CORNERS.

Finish seam allowances by using a serger, a zigzag stitch, or clipping with pinking shears.

Then, fold in corner along seam allowance once like this (optional):

And then like this:

And push out to turn the pillow right side out.

You will have a perfectly crisp corner without compromising the corners with clipping. Stuff your pillow insert into the case and zip it up, and you are ready to use your book pillow!

Happy sewing!

Fabric Details:
To view the complete Studio E Fabrics Moonlit Dreams Minky by Victoria Hutto, click here.

Connect with Meredith!
www.oliviajanehandcrafted.com
Facebook: facebook.com/oliviajanehandcrafted
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefooshe/

Learn more about Meredith here.