Well, the pillowtop isn’t exactly new… Cindy brought it to me, so I’m guessing it’s vintage… but I loved it the moment I saw it because it had the most gorgeous colors on the prettiest blue background and goes with just about anything. Whoever made it must have run out of the exact blue yarn because there are 2 slightly different tones used.
I was wanting to make it for my bedroom and decided I’d take you along for the ride!
The first thing I had to do was straighten up the edges so it would be a square pillow… I decided to go with the top to bottom size and then make the sides the same length… so it would be a square 15 1/4′ x 15 1/4″ sized pillow.
I marked where the 15 1/4″ row of wool was and made a row of basting with white thread… on both sides…
I had some pillow forms upstairs that I thought would work, but they were filled with polyfil and I wanted a softer pillow… I also had some pillows that I had picked up at a few places that were filled with down feathers.
So I took that stiffer pillow form and used a seam ripper to get all the polyfil out of it.
Then I took my larger pillow stuffed with the down and went out to the gazebo and transferred the feathers from it to the smaller insert. I had feathers everywhere…It looked like the neighborhood dog had gotten ahold of one of our chickens! EEK!
Here is my new smaller pillow insert…
I used a dark navy blue print (that I had made one of my first doll dresses for Molly from) and used it for the backing… I cut the piece about 8 inches wider than the width of the pillow. Then I turned the two edges back about 2″ and serged the edges, then stitched them down about 1 1/2″ from the edge… It looked like this…
Lapping the pieces over each other, I stitched them together along the bottom edges… below the 15 1/4″ mark.
Flipped over, you can see it makes an opening for the feather insert to slide into to… Most people call them an envelope back to the pillow…
I laid the needlepoint pillow top face down onto the right side of the backing centering the opening between the sides…
Then I stitched around the pillowtop from the yarn side so I could see my white stitching lines and for the top edges I just stitched a 1/4″ seam…
The next part was a bit scary… I had to trim off the bulkiness of the pillowtop… there was no turning back now… once that yarn was cut, it was too late to make it bigger if needed…
The corners were clipped at an angle so they would make a better point in the corners; it was turned to the right side and then it was time to stuff the down feather insert into the back opening…
Here is a closeup of the colors in the pillow…isn’t it gorgeous? (If you like this kind of thing…)
Here it is all finished…
…and one more just because I’m so happy to have gotten it finished!
Thanks everyone,
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a pretty little accent pillow. From someone’s folly to beauty. The two tone background colors are no longer noticeable either. And the size chosen works perfectly. Had to laugh when I saw the feather mess. Been there done that as they say. So glad you were working outside. Great save on the down as many toss the old pillows.
Can’t figure out where all of the comments might be? Have to get going lots to do today.
Hi Joy,
I hope Charlotte is okay…she usually writes very late at night, so I’m wondering about her…
Thanks for the comments on the pillow. It’s very pretty in person…I’m going to have to keep my eyes open for more…they are so pretty…
I still have LOTS of feathers left…for MORE pillows, I guess!!!
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
I think I forgot to look at your blog last night, Jeanne. I don’t remember seeing this particular post!! I guess I was tired!
Hi, Jeanne and gang,
Yay! Back in your sewing room doing more great things. This is BEAUTIFUL and you did a great job. It is pretty scary and nerve wracking when you get to that point of “no return”. I’ve been there with so many projects, and you just have to suck it in, say a prayer, and take the best educated plunge. Well done, my friend, and congratulations on a new accent for the bedroom.
Does it still look like the kids are coming back to get their stuff? I have my fingers crossed. It will so fantastic to have both a visit and reunion post wedding, Reuben will be happy too, and it will be “adios” to all the packed up boxes taking up so much interior real estate! Oh, I’m hoping,
hoping, hoping!
Yes, it was a huge surprise to not see Charlotte at the top of the comments, but our other west coast sister Joy. Man, you gals get up early, or in Charlotte’s case, stay up ultra late. Charlotte, we pray all is well. Joy, hope you get some sewing time in today, but you are one busy lady. Sounds like you are close to the finish line on three (?) outfits?
Just packed up two large boxes of yumminess for the two grandsons in college. Heading to the PO and then to pick up dog food. Have a great day, everyone.
Hugs,
Sally
How pretty your “new” pillow is now, Jeanne! It certainly will perk up your bedroom, either on the bed or a chair. What a mess those feathers were! I guess you were right about doing that out in the gazebo. I remember making a needlepoint wall hanging, but never did get it finished! It had pretty pink and burgundy roses on it, and I started putting a creamy ecru background on it, I never got it finished! That was before I even was married, so over 54 years ago! It was a kit, but the flowers were already there, and all you had to do was the background. I couldn’t keep doing the same thing over and over, so just stopped.
I certainly would have the time now to finish it if I still had it, since I had my knee replaced Tuesday and am sitting around more than I like!!
Oh, boy. Just clicked my first response off and Heaven knows where it is. Anyway, doing a total replacement is a big deal. Is this your first? Since surgery was two days ago, I imagine the painkillers are doing their magic. You know to stay on top of the pain and don’t try to be a super hero too soon. And when PT starts, take it very seriously. I got back to gardening with and without knee pads because I did the PT a lot at home and worked over and over that area to desensitize it even though it felt so very weird. Paid off. So take good care of yourself and surround yourself with dolls!
Super hug,
Sally
My hubby is trying to schedule some time to get his first knee done. So we’re always happy to hear from people who’ve had the experience. Fortunately we do have a place here in town where he can do his PT since he’ll have to go twice a day. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to go to Katy to get it done. His ortho doctor and dentist are in Katy but PT is for awhile so close to home is good. As for staying on top of the pain, that will be no problem for him. He’s better at that than I am, but I don’t feel pain like he does and sometimes I do wait too long to take something.
I have a couple of those projects, too. Good job on the pillow, Jeanne.
Good for you, Linda. Hope you recover quickly and are back in your yard again soon. I won’t say hopping around! Ha, ha. You do sound cheerful 💐.
Hope all is well with Charlotte and I hope you heal quickly, Linda. You can always dress dolls and set up scenes while sitting.
Lovely needlepoint pillow , Jeanne. The design reminds me of the piano bench cover my grandmother made, except the background is green. It has lots of different muted colors in the flowers, so it has always looked beautiful with our furniture since we got it.
Thank you ladies, for your kind comments! Yesterday was the pits as far as my knee was concerned, but today is a vast improvement. The first couple of days are the hardest, I think.
Sally, no this isn’t my first knee replacement, I had the other one done two years ago. However, this time I had it done at an outpatient surgery center and got to come home the same day as the surgery. So far, so good. By the way, we are having the same art show come too the St. Louis Art Museum!
Laura, it is kind of hard to get to the doll closet now, so I’m not changing anyone yet. Maybe in a week or two. At least I don’t have to worry about a third knee replacement!
My hubby is taking good care of me, so things are going pretty well.
Good for you, Linda. And you DO want to get tickets to this art show; I just cannot say how incredibly awesome it is.
Take good care. Yes, it’s nice we don’t have a third knee! Got a chuckle out of that. I am hoping to never have to do my other knee though years ago I was told it was the one in worse shape. It thunks when I walk, but not all the time. Even my hard of hearing hubby can hear the thunk…makes me like the croc with the clock in Peter Pan warning Captain Hook.
Take good care.
Sally
Linda, I’m so glad you’re doing better today. David has been trying all year to get his knees replaced and that’s how we found out he needed heart surgery. He was doing all the prep work to get his knees fixed. Since he’s recovered from the heart surgery there have been a lot of roadblocks to getting his knees done Mostly regarding making a living for our family since he helps our son with his A/C business and Sean goes with David when he has sitework jobs out of town. We think we have a window coming up. Dare we hope. Praying for your continued improvement.
My comment just disappeared so I’m going to try again. I’m late to the party today because I find I do my best sewing in the morning. I started a dress for my Mini Maru Savannah yesterday and just had to see how it would turn out. Thus I avoided my computer at all costs this morning. I tend to spend too much time there sometimes. This is the third time I’ve made this pattern and they are three different looks. The other two I made for my LDs. I can’t believe I buy all the patterns I do and seem to go back again and again to some I’ve made before. Often it’s a pattern that allows for a lot of creativity in fabrics and embellishments. I like to see the different things I can come up with. Savannah’s dress turned out really cute. Sometime soon I’ll take some casual pictures to share with my sofa sisters.
Great job on the pillow, Jeanne. I totally understand the stress. My sister, Beth, used to do beautiful counted cross stitch pieces. She can sew but I don’t think she even has a sewing machine these days, so she asked me to turn one of the pieces into a pillow for her. Well it took me awhile to get up the courage to do it. I don’t know what I was afraid would happen because it was pretty cut and dry, but I finally got it done and she was more than pleased.
Hi Barbara,
This isn’t the first time I know of folks wanting surgery on some part, but lo and behold, something else has to be taken care of first, and the process goes on and on. Great to hear David is done with the heart surgery and doing well, and I will pray with you that his first knee can be done soon. Also great that PT is close by.
We have our surgeries pretty much done out of town. Denver is three hours away, the Springs is 2+, and Frisco/Vail almost two hours away. Given the time and distance, we stay two days and nights after surgery in case any glitches show up. Doing a long ride with a glitch is no joy.
Wishing you and David all the best, and thrilled to hear you got some good sewing time in today! Three cheers!
Hugs,
Sally
Gosh….Hope Charlotte is OK.I always like the way she starts the day off with positive thoughts and ideas. Today was our Extension Club meeting…9 of us meet usually every month and we are going on 46 years! We have only lost one member.
I’ve had both knees done…same Dr…about 3 years apart. After #1 my other knee was better for awhile because it took the stress off. The second one seemed to take longer toget better but is good now…and yes, I’m so glad I did it. PT is the answer for sure. It is amazing how fast it improves when you do your exercises.
“A….CHOOO”…me sneezing ! 🤗 Soooo allergic to feathers but I understand the feel you wanted. It looks so nice! It will be pretty almost anywhere!