We create a mood - we sew a pillow toy. Soft toys - pillows for the children's room Toys pillows interesting ideas with your own hands

Pillow toys will undoubtedly transform your interior, making it more joyful and bright. When creating a do-it-yourself pillow-toy, pay special attention to choosing an idea. Textiles generally play an important role in creating a certain homely atmosphere. And with the help of decorative pillows, you can emphasize a certain mood that reigns in the house.

To realize, you need only a little creativity, creativity and imagination.

Soft pillows, which can be located in all rooms, can have a completely unexpected appearance. In addition to boring and monotonous square and round products, you can quite unexpectedly sew a new and intricate thing.

She will play the role of not only textiles, but also soft toys for the smallest in the house. Such products provide an element of the game, while you can easily take them not only with you to bed, but also play them on the floor.

DIY pillow toys - looking for inspiration

Specialty stores and children's supermarkets have long offered a wide range of pillows in a playful format. Most often, they are presented in the form of large soft toys with 4 legs, which can be fixed with Velcro, thus creating a perfect square shape.

With such creative pillows, it is much easier and easier for a child to put them to bed in a playful way, or simply decorate their bed or sofa in the living room with them. A large number of such pillows in the same style help to create a certain comfort, helping to comfortably sit and enjoy your vacation.

However, toy pillows can also be made independently with your own hands, just armed with the necessary materials, patterns and patience. Most often they are made in the form of soft animal toys, which have a wide body-base with soft and pleasant stuffing.

The main advantage of such products is that you can spend the remnants of fabric and flaps on them, harmoniously and correctly stitching them into a single composition. With the help of these pillows, the child can learn colors, as well as develop the sensitivity and motor skills of their hands, playing with bows, ribbons, buttons or other decorative elements on it.

DIY pillows for children may also be in the form of letters. This is quite a fashionable and widespread trend among young parents lately. The letters of the name at first simply decorate the bed of the crumbs, and in the future they serve as toys and pillows for him while playing on the floor. They can have different heights and thicknesses of the stuffing. The main thing is to arrange them correctly and harmoniously, combining them with a common fabric element or other accessory.

Another type of modern and fun toy pillows is draft rollers. Most often they are performed in the form of funny animals on a twine or animals with a long body. Such colorful rollers will not only protect you from blowing on the windowsill, near the door or balcony block.

Important! If the pillow is used purely for sleeping, then it is worth avoiding the use of hard materials - buttons, dense fabric, plastic bets. They can injure the skin while resting.

A separate place is occupied by pillows for travel in transport. They often resemble standard products for adults, only they are made in the form of the letter “C”, where the shape is repeated by the animal twisted into a ball or its long and fluffy tail.

Such pillows will help little travelers with pleasure to gain strength at any time of the day, in an unusual position of the body.

Do-it-yourself pillow toys - how to choose the right fabric for sewing?

When embodying interesting ideas for do-it-yourself pillow toys, it is important to understand what materials you should work with. The durability and strength of the finished product depends on the tooling and quality of the fabric used.

As for the color scheme, any solution and variety can reign here. The main thing is to initially decide for yourself what functions the pillow will perform.

If it decorates a room or upholstered furniture, then it must be combined with the general tones of the interior. If this is just a funny and bright children's toy, then it can have the most unexpected incarnation.

Quite often, the funniest and cutest DIY pillow toy ideas come from plain old scraps of fabric.

They can remain from old sewing crafts, cuttings, worn out, but bright things. They can be cheaply and angrily turned into a new funny thing.

As for the filler, here it is necessary to foresee the functionality and direct purpose of the finished product.

If you want to fill it with down or feathers, then it will not hold the desired shape that you want to give.

To diy pillow toy ideas were brought to life strictly according to the plan, then they should be stuffed with silicone, thick cotton cloth, or foam rubber.

If the design of the finished pillow toy can allow a cover or removable elements, then it is better to think about it in advance and calculate it when sewing.

This will help to clean this thing more often from dirt and dust, keeping its original appearance as long as possible.

Most often, pillowcases or covers are made from dense and high-quality fabric - fleece, jeans, drape or linen, which, with frequent washing, will not lose their shape and original appearance.

If you want to create a "cool" pillow for hot summer nights, then take silk fabrics as a basis.

They will keep you feeling cool for a very long time. Brocade products for children should not be made. They are better suited for the usual decoration of furniture in certain classic interiors.

Using pillow fillers

In addition to using standard fillers (feathers, down, foam rubber, etc.), you also need to know certain rules and secrets of filling a toy pillow with your own hands.

The main requirements and criteria for the work performed look something like this:

• First of all, the material used for stuffing the product must have hypoallergenic properties. This will avoid unnecessary problems and will not expose the health of the household;
• The filling should have a medium degree of rigidity. Too hard base will not be comfortable and orthopedic. Soft stuffing - over time, it will completely lose the shape of the sewn thing;
• The ideal filler should not lose its original shape and volume even after washing or dry cleaning;
• The interior should be easy to clean a large number of times.

These criteria can be met by polyester materials of various processing - synthetic winterizer, foam rubber or synthetic winterizer.

Very often, many needlewomen, making a pillow for the house with their own hands, make one serious mistake - they use cotton wool for stuffing. However, products with such a "stuffing" will last a very short time, in particular, if they play the role of a child's toy. Over time, cotton wool begins to roll and stray into one specific corner. The product with it will lose its shape, and become dense and unpleasant to the touch.

A little less often, instead of stuffing, old fabric patches or fur are used, but they also do not tend to keep the shape of the pad for a very long time with frequent use. An alternative would be silicone balls, which have different sizes and diameters. They contribute to the development of motor skills in children and quite easily give the product the desired shape.

Decor Pillow Ideas

It is difficult to imagine a pillow-toy for children that is monophonic and inexpressive. Needlewomen often try to give them brightness and similarity with different cartoon characters or animals.

To do this, quite different materials and tools can be used, the main thing is to decide on the direct purpose of the product.

The basis for the decor can be bows, colorful ribbons, laces, buttons, zippers, lace, beads or beads. It is better to deprive products for very young children of small accessories in order to protect the baby from swallowing small particles.

Yes, and for older kids, it is best to fix all the additional elements well - sew or glue to prolong the life of a funny animal. From these auxiliary things, you can make facial features, clothes, bows, flowers and other cute applications.

What do you need for tailoring?

Do not worry if you do not have the necessary experience in sewing or a wide range of tools. You can sew a funny toy pillow quite quickly and easily with your own hands, even if there is no special sewing equipment at hand.

This is especially easy to do if you sew a toy from different pieces of fabric. The main thing at the same time is to iron all the seams with an iron and carefully sew everything with dense threads. Separately, the seams can be decorated and reinforced with tape. It remains only to fill the product with filler and do the design of the appearance.

If the finished pillow should have a completely simple shape - a long roller, a square or a rectangle with the paws of an animal sewn separately, then it is quite appropriate to use a zipper or buttons for fixation.

These things of regular geometric shapes provide only the correct stuffing, which should have its own clear radius and length. More complex pillow toys should be sewn according to certain sketches or tips.

Ideas for creativity can be taken from specialized literature, magazines for needlewomen, or simply on the Internet. To do this, there are a huge number of sites and forums where you will be offered schemes and patterns for every taste.

Decorating your home or giving your child a real soft friend made by hand is very easy and simple. Create and embody your imagination in creativity and needlework. This will give you a lot of positive emotions and a great mood!

Do-it-yourself decorative pillows will help to refresh the interior without significant investments and give the room more comfort and warmth. Patterns, photos, diagrams and a little imagination will help to realize this idea. There is nothing better than beautiful pillows that the mistress of the house worked on. They can become an excellent decoration of the room and a real pride.

There can be a lot of options on how to sew a decorative pillow for the home, it all depends on the imagination of the performer and on what materials are planned to be used in the work. In the manufacture of decorative pillows, various accessories are often used, so they turn out to be unusual and very beautiful.

Decorative pillows will help to refresh the interior without significant investments and give the room more comfort and warmth.

Do-it-yourself decorative pillow itself can be made ordinary and used as a filler synthetic winterizer or holofiber.

These materials are much better suited for decorative pillows, as they do not roll and keep their shape perfectly, unlike fluff or cotton wool. Moreover, these products are lightweight and comfortable. The main element of a decorative pillow is a pillowcase. Much depends on how interesting it will be made. Sometimes it is pillows that make up an important part of the interior and give it originality.

Do-it-yourself decorative pillow itself can be made ordinary and used as a filler synthetic winterizer or holofiber

For example, in the Scandinavian style, where restraint in decor and colors is welcomed, you can dilute the atmosphere with bright decorative pillows. But not only in restrained minimalist styles, decorative pillows will be relevant. With their help, you can achieve a more interesting effect in other areas of the design of the room.

Also note the shape. Pillows that will be used to decorate the room, and not for sleeping, can be absolutely anything. It is not at all necessary to make simple squares or rectangles. Both oval and round pillows look great, as well as products in the form of animals and letters. The latter option can be a good addition when decorating a children's room.

Sometimes it is pillows that make up an important part of the interior and give it originality.

If the master came up with the idea to decorate the interior of his room with decorative pillows, you must first determine the style. Only after the direction is chosen, you can think about the shape, color and material. DIY decorative pillows, photos of which can be found in this article, will be relevant for many styles. They perfectly emphasize the French country (Provence, retro style, romantic shabby chic with its excessive sophistication), and are also an excellent addition to the children's room.

The most popular are natural materials from which you can make decorative pillows for children, Provence-style bedrooms

After the master decides on the direction, you can move on to the material. For each style, the color and type of fabric should be special. The most popular are natural materials from which you can make decorative pillows for children, bedrooms in the style of Provence and the Scandinavian direction. Shabby chic or classic require more interesting solutions. Silk, satin, etc. may be relevant here.

Advice! If the pillows will decorate the room in country style, you can choose simple fabrics in natural colors and rough textures.

Fittings are welcome in romanticism and French rustic style

As for fittings, they are welcomed in romanticism and French rustic style. When decorating a room with pillows in the Scandinavian direction, you should not use buttons, stripes and various additions, since minimalism is welcomed here. The product can be bright, but without unnecessary details.

Hi-tech and minimalism do not welcome pillows at all. If the master still wants to decorate such an interior with soft decoration, you need to carefully choose colors and shapes. It is better to make an ordinary square decorative pillow with your own hands from artificial smooth fabric, for example, leatherette.

It is better to make an ordinary square decorative pillow with your own hands from artificial smooth fabric, for example, leatherette

It is a pleasure for a creative person to work with a children's room. Here you can let your imagination run wild and come up with something original that will delight the baby every day. One of the fairly new trends is decorating the interior of a children's room with letter pillows. From them you can collect a word, for example, the name of the baby. It is both useful and interesting, and very original. But not only letters and numbers will be suitable for a child's room. Decorative pillows in the form of animals or fruits look good. They are very easy to make according to the patterns that can be found at the end of the article.

It is a pleasure for a creative person to work with a children's room

In order to sew a decorative pillow with your own hands, you must follow certain rules.

First of all, they relate to the choice of material. It should be natural, not electrified and not cause allergies. Be very careful when using accessories. If the pillow is in the form of an animal, you should not make eyes out of buttons or glue false doll eyes. This can be very dangerous as small parts come off easily and can be swallowed or choked by a child. It is best to limit yourself to embroidery. It's both beautiful and safe.

If the craftswoman has enough free time, it is worth surprising loved ones with new bright and stylish home accessories.

How to make a pattern for a pillow?

If the question arose of how to sew a decorative pillow, then first you need to make a pattern. Firstly, it is convenient and also avoids mistakes, and secondly, you can make several exact copies of pillows that will perfectly match in size. This is important, as irregularities are sometimes very striking and can spoil the whole effect of the presence of pillows.

It is best to make a pattern of a decorative pillow with your own hands and immediately draw up a drawing for a pillowcase

It is best to make a pattern of a decorative pillow with your own hands and immediately draw up a drawing for a pillowcase. So it will be more convenient to work and make calculations, because the pillowcase should be several centimeters larger than the pillow itself.

Overlock is used to make a decorative pillow with your own hands

As for how to sew a decorative pillow with your own hands, it is worth noting that this does not require any special education or sophisticated equipment. Of course, it is much easier to work when there is a sewing machine and overlocker at home, but if they are not available, all the work can be done manually, although it will take much longer in time.

Sewing machine for making decorative pillows with your own hands

When drawing up a pattern, you need to determine the desired size of the pillow, make a square or rectangle on paper, and then add 1.5 cm to it for the seam. The pattern for a decorative pillow is transferred to a double fabric, everything is sewn up to a certain point, and then turned inside out. It is important not to forget that the product will need to be filled with padding polyester. To do this, you need to leave a small opening. Through it, the blank for the pillow will turn out, and then it will be filled with synthetic filler. This opening is then neatly stitched on the front side.

Next, you can start making pillowcases. For her, you also need to make your own pattern based on the first one, but plus 2-3 cm. It is also unnecessary to forget that the pillowcase should have a special hole. If zippers or buttons are not used here, you need to leave a longer strip of fabric on one side, it will later need to be folded inward so that it holds the pillow and prevents it from falling out of the pillowcase.

On a note! Professional seamstresses use special seams in the manufacture of bed linen, including pillowcases.

They make products more durable, but this is not necessary for a decorative pillow. If possible, you can overlock the seams or simply sheathe them by hand.

Pillow shape

It is not at all necessary to make a decorative product of the correct form. The most popular are rectangles and squares, but the pillow can be oval, round or in the form of a letter and an animal.

The most popular are rectangles and squares, but the pillow can be oval, round or in the form of a letter and an animal

For each type, you must first take care of drawing up a pattern. For complex shapes, you can find options in special editions, and simple ordinary do-it-yourself decorative pillows are easy to make according to your own drawings.

It is important to immediately think over not only the shape, but also the option of decorating the pillow. This is of great importance, otherwise the product will not look harmonious. The size of the pillow also needs to be selected carefully. For the living room, you should not use large pillows so that they do not litter the room. But for a nursery, you can sew a large flat pillow, on which it will be convenient for the baby to play, and parents will not worry that their child will freeze.

How to decorate a decorative pillow?

The decoration of the pillowcase must be approached responsibly. Even in cases where it is undesirable to use small accessories, you can decorate a decorative pillow with your own hands in a very original way so that it becomes a real highlight of the room. To do this, you can use traditional satin stitch or cross-stitch embroidery, as well as decoration with ribbons and yarn. Needlewomen use lace, sequins, appliqués, folds, puffs and much more to work on decorative pillows. The most patient can create whole embroidered pictures and use even small beads to create them.

Pillowcase decoration must be approached responsibly

One of the most interesting and low-cost versions is the creation of a pillowcase from puffs. This is the stitching of the surface of the fabric in a certain order, which gives the product a certain volume. The work is carried out in a strictly defined form and in a clear order. This allows you to get a very interesting drawing.

Puff pillows look very original, but keep in mind that such a pillowcase will take much more time than a standard version. This must be remembered when distributing tissue. The technique of creating puffs allows you to create various patterns. Best of all, these pillows look in a classic interior or when decorating a room in a shabby chic style.

Embroidered pictures will make a decorative pillow not just a home decoration, but a work of art that will not leave guests indifferent

Ribbon embroidery will be no less interesting. Needlewomen know how to create real masterpieces from this simple material. Embroidered pictures will make a decorative pillow not just a home decoration, but a work of art that will not leave guests indifferent. Working with tapes is not difficult. Therefore, this option is well suited even for beginner craftswomen. It is better to work according to a pre-prepared scheme. A suitable version can be downloaded from the worldwide web.

Advice! Another simple but interesting decoration option is appliqués for decorative pillows.

They are well suited for both the living room and the children's room, the main thing is to choose the right motive. The easiest option would be applications in the form of emoticons or circles. The stripes in the form of letters and animals also look interesting. In a classic style, flowers and artsy patterns will look best.

An interesting decoration option is applications for decorative pillows.

If the master knows several design techniques, you can combine them. This will create the most interesting options.

Shabby chic

This style should be given special attention, since it is here that decorative pillows will be most relevant. Puffs in all possible variants are ideal for shabby chic. Embroidery and lace are also welcome here. Lace pillowcases are very easy to sew and look great in combination with other options.

Puffs in all possible variants are ideal for shabby chic

Sizes of pillows for shabby chic style can be different. You can make several small items, and a couple of large ones, and it’s also unnecessary to forget about cushion covers for stools, which perfectly complement the exquisite design. Buttons, braid and light colors are integral parts of the design of decorative pillows in a romantic style.

Children's products

In the kids' room, pillows can be toys at the same time. Making them is very easy if you choose the right materials and pattern. Animals and birds are best suited for decorating a children's room. Owls, cats and dogs are very popular with needlewomen. But it is quite possible that the child will give preference to other living creatures.

In the kids' room, pillows can be toys at the same time.

Pillows in the form of numbers and letters will help to teach the baby from an early age to read and math. They are comfortable and look nice. The main rule is to respect the proportion and work according to a predetermined scheme.

DIY decorative pillows are a great option to decorate a room and add originality to it, without spending a lot of money.

DIY decorative pillows are a great option to decorate a room and add originality to it, without spending a lot of money. If the craftswoman has enough free time, it is worth surprising her loved ones with new bright and stylish home accessories.

Pillows in the form of numbers and letters will help your child learn to read and math from an early age.

I like

Pillows are an indispensable accessory for any modern home. This article is for those who are determined to create them with their own hands.

Materials and tools

Starting a new job, each craftswoman thinks about what to use.

Items you may need:

• Fabrics (preference is given to specialized fabrics: plush, felt, denim, fleece, upholstery).
• A sheet of thermal transfer paper containing an image (sold in photo stores).
• Pillow inner, pre-purchased or made by hand (35-40 cm side).
• Sewing machine (speeds up work).
• Iron (translates the image).
• Threads in the color of fabrics (thickness from 40 contributes to the creation of a strong product).
• Tailor measuring tape, ruler.

Tools

• Scissors.
• Pins.
• Tracing paper.
• Pencil.
• Sharpened bar of soap or crayon.
• Several needles.
• Jewelry (braid, lace, ribbon of various colors, buckles, zippers, laces, buttons). Woolen thread, floss threads will help decorate the seams and make tassels.

Colors

The style of the interior dictates preferences in the choice of color, style, fabric of the product.

Possible options:

• Selection of a color tone that matches the furniture and accessories of the room.
• Tailoring of a cover of a palette of the main coloring of the room.
• The combination of the colors of the dumochka with one of the accent colors.

The most interesting choice: matching the tone of the material of the pillows and curtains.

An accent to the monochrome of the room can be a combination of the color of the thoughtlets and a bright carpet.

The color of the product can repeat the color of the wallpaper pattern.

Important! The color of the product cover should not repeat the color of the sofa upholstery - a darker, lighter tone is preferable.

coloring

DIY soft toys made of fabric

Below are do-it-yourself children's pillows, original author's patterns.

Cat Herodotus - a pillow for the road

This miracle pillow can not only become a highlight of the interior, decorate it, please children, but also serve as an amazing support for tired cervical vertebrae.

Herodotus

Preferred fabric - fleece (two colors); felt (for decoration).

1. A pattern is created on the tracing paper.
2. It is translated into matter with allowances.
3. It is folded on the wrong side, pinned with pins, sewn together.
4. Turns out through the remaining gap.
5. filled with filler.
6. Decorated.

Important! When making a mustache, it is worth refusing to use raffia (the finished pillow pricks, tickles), it is preferable to draw them with a contour, create them using floss threads.

The size of the final product: the diameter to the outer edge is 43-45 cm, to the inner - 13-15 cm.

Pillow-spyushka "Sleeping Kitten"

Do-it-yourself splyushka pillows, the patterns of which are very popular with young mothers, are great for newborn beds. Making a pillow with your own hands makes it possible to choose really high-quality material at an affordable cost.

Sonya

Bright floor cushion

Such decorative elements adorn the homes of the Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Arabs and Muslims, are gaining popularity in Western countries ("Lounge" style), making the atmosphere more relaxed.

Advantages:

• The design of the room will become more original.
• Possibility of easy redevelopment.
• Children's indifference.
• Ease of execution.
• Ease of operation.
• Exclusivity.

floor standing

Manufacturing:

1. Draw sketches of details on cardboard.
2. Cut out templates.
3. Pin the cliche to the fabric and cut it off, creating a margin for the seams.
4. Sew on the machine, keeping the hole.
5. Turn out, fill with polypropylene.
6. Sew opening, decorate.

Application styles: Provence, country, Scandinavian style, minimalism, hi-tech.

Pillows with the image of cats

1. The easiest, most reliable, effective way to transfer an image to fabric is to use thermal transfer paper. It is chosen according to the type of printer (inkjet, laser), fabric color (light, dark), size.

The pattern transferred to it is cut out with a margin of a couple of centimeters, placed on the fabric with cells up, ironed (upper temperature limit, without steaming). After cooling, the checkered layer gently peels off.

Photoprint

1. It is possible to directly apply the pattern to the fabric with an inkjet printer. Before this, the material is hard starched (2 tablespoons per liter of liquid), dried without clothespins, ironed dry, dried again, inserted into the printer. The finished image holds up well.

Pattern toy-pillow Hare

The hare thought is easy to sew, will give originality and warmth to the home interior. It is easy to sew according to the pattern presented above.

Bunny Pattern

Do-it-yourself animal pillows patterns

Animal pillow patterns are indispensable for beginner craftswomen.

People who spend a lot of time working at a computer with a mouse and keyboard develop carpal tunnel syndrome. You can avoid it by sewing a pad under the wrist of two rectangles filled with rice.

Subcarpal pad

A pig from Smeshariki will perfectly complement the interior of a children's room and cause genuine delight of the little household.

Nyushenka

An owl pillow of simple execution will serve as an excellent toy for any child.

owl

A do-it-yourself panda pillow made according to a pattern will become a rare specimen of a room with floral motifs.

pandochka

Also, creating do-it-yourself toy pillows, you can come up with original patterns.

Stuffing

Soft natural fillers for pillows (wool, feather, down) have a number of disadvantages:

• They don't keep their shape well.
• They cause allergies.
• High price range.
• Collect dust - require systematic cleaning.

Synthetics

Artificial materials are the best choice:

• Holofiber.
• Comfortel.
• Silicone.
• Sintepukh.
• Styrofoam.

Reference! Inexpensive synthetic winterizer is a bad choice (due to low elasticity, it quickly goes astray).

Unusual fillers, for example, buckwheat husks, cherry pits, have the following characteristics:

• Absolutely natural.
• They are hypoallergenic.
• Noise.
• Not available for washing.
• Possess poor orthopedics

Herbs give a unique aroma to the pillow, have a service life of one to two years.

Fillers can be orthopedic (latex, viscoelastic foams, polyurethane foam).

Pillow Decorating Methods

Decorating a pillow is a complex and exciting activity. Here are some finishing options that are feasible even for a novice master.

Attention! It is more convenient to decorate the front fabric of the product before sewing it to the back side.

decoration

Using bows

Accommodation options:

• Pillow corner.
• in the middle.
• At an angle.
• Similar to a gift (crosswise).
• Make it a butterfly - embroidered antennae.

Production: tie a ribbon neatly or 3 pieces of fabric (connect the bow and ponytails with a loop).

Actual in interior styles:

• Provence.
• Vintage.
• Country.

Ruffle placement

How to place ruffles:

1. Stitch a strip of fabric (the size is 1.5 times the required length, the edges are turned).
2. Pull on the thread.
3. Make the folds even.

Applicable in the interior of the rococo.

Idea! The ruffled flower will perfectly decorate the pillow.

Decor with flowers

How to make such decor:

1. Cut an old t-shirt into strips.
2. Fasten them around.

Decor with embroidery

Sashiko embroidery is simple, the outline of the pattern is repeated with large stitches.

Decoration with ribbons is possible (the direction of attachment depends on the imagination)

Applications

Useful:

• Colored scraps of fabric (you can cut something old).
• Drawing transferred to tracing paper.
• You can buy overlays specifically for creating masterpieces - the base is glued.
• Felt is suitable for the production of applications based on silicone glue.
• Special tape for application.
• Threads (sew patches with a zigzag seam of a sewing machine, with your hands - with a looped seam).
• Buttons (instead of pieces of fabric).

decorated product

The themes of masterpieces are diverse:

• Zodiac signs;
• drawings of children;
• the names of the occupants of the room;
• animals;
• hearts;
• insects;
• flowers.

This article presented options for pillows for every taste, how to sew pillows for toys with your own hands, based on the article, you can easily create something of your own unique, inimitable, functional and simply beautiful.

Sewing pillows with your own hands means not only saving on bedding, but also decorating your interior, giving it a personality with simple and inexpensive means. Looking at photos of homemade pillows on the Internet, it may seem that a lot of experience or innate talent is needed here. But the same tasks can be solved much easier, and certainly, while sewing pillows, there is an opportunity to go from simple to complex, eventually creating things worthy of prizes at exhibitions of amateur art. This article is intended to help readers overcome several stages of this path.

What you need to know right away

It is not always possible to sew original pillows as simple sleeping pillows, in the form of a base and pillowcases. So special attention should be paid to the choice of fabric and padding. The pillow is conducive to sleep, and someone will fall asleep on it sometime. Probably tired, with unwashed and unkempt hair; That is, the sheathing fabric should not only accept the finish well, but also be amenable to cleaning. And best of all, the stuffing can be removed and the cover washed without spoiling its decor. In addition, the stuffing itself should retain hygienic qualities, elasticity and be moderately pliable for as long as possible. We will return to pillow materials that meet these requirements, but for now we will discuss ways to decorate them from simple to complex, keeping the above in mind.

Pillow Decorating Methods

Colors

The easiest way to sew decorative pillows in the same way as ordinary sleeping pillows is to choose the color of the fabric. And the simplest of the simplest solutions - several pillows of different colors, forming an ensemble inscribed in the interior. In this way, you can not only turn the boudoir of a cocotte into something similar to a soft fluffy cloud, but also express the individuality of laconic interior styles. Such work, I must say, is mentally very difficult, but technologically and financially elementary. For example, on the left in Fig. the sofa with a composition of pillows is not in vain placed against the backdrop of a window (picture?) with live greenery contrasting with the general tone, and the flower in a vase is placed to the right of the sofa for good reason.

In the center in Fig. a method based on similar aesthetic principles, but not requiring a laconic interior and a special organization for the placement of its objects. The point here is that the background of the upholstery of the furniture and the upholstery of the pillow is the same, as well as the tone and density of the pattern here and there, but the patterns of the patterns are somewhat different. And the pillow is highlighted with a wide, so-called. French, edging, the same as the general background, but darker in color; the color scheme is slightly lighter on the lower and side parts of the furniture upholstery.

Finally, on the right in Fig. shows a way to give the pillow a choice of fabric colors, as they say, aesthetic self-sufficiency, i.e. the ability to express the meaning inherent in it by the craftswoman in any situation. Imagine such a pillow in ... a garbage dump. Will she look worse? And the point here is not only and not so much in the choice of 2-3, no more, catchy flowers that make up a fairly large pattern, but also in the arrangement of stylized images of flowers on the visible surface of the thing.

Applications and printing

Only a little more technically, but no less expressive, can be decorating pillows with appliqués. Here, as before. case, the key to success is the artistic taste of the author and, preferably, the combination of at least 2 things in an ensemble, and, unlike the use of colors, its meaning can be absolutely clear up to frivolity, as on the left in a row of photos, but obscene morally healthy a person in this composition will see no more than in normal marital relations.

A detailed, multi-valued composition of pillows with appliqués is technically more difficult to perform, and there is a risk of falling into flickering. However, today photo printing on fabric is affordable, and the images are durable and of the same quality as the texture of the material allows. So, when considering a multi-cushion group with pictures, first of all, it is worth considering the option of photo printing on blanks, in the center in the figure, especially since you can select / create pictures and simulate the entire ensemble in advance on a computer.

Note: modern technique of photo printing on fabric allows you to create images that are visually equivalent to embroideries. Patches with printed pictures can also form the basis of the application, on the right in fig.

Shape and Fragment

Most good designers prefer to work with form, considering it to be the root cause of the expressiveness of things, and color, texture and drawing/pattern as factors of the next orders. One-two-three-tone sofa cushions, the aesthetic value of which is achieved by the form, can also be technologically uncomplicated (pos. 1 in the figure) thanks to the use of modern materials, see below.

Working with the form, it becomes possible to apply a new approach to the meaningful decoration of things: modularity, pos. 2. Technologically, in this case, only the labor intensity increases monotonously without the appearance of fundamental difficulties, since all modules assembled into the product are structurally similar and simple. But in such cases, you need to think about how to clean it, unless there is a desire to completely redo it at least once every 1-2 years. A furniture vacuum cleaner and cleaning products for it are understandable, but it is necessary to use them less frequently.

The modular principle also allows, without a significant increase in labor intensity, to create sewn things of a simple form, in which the form nevertheless works for aesthetics. This is the so-called. patchwork technique; simply patchwork. Patchwork is not necessarily something deliberately rough, rough, even clumsy.

Decorative pillows using the patchwork technique can be sewn gracefully and neatly without painful reflections and looking at samples / sketches to the pain in the eyes, pos. 3 and 4. All you need is a key element (mainly in the center), which is in harmony with the overall design of the thing, but also stands out in something. At pos. 3 this is achieved by a pattern of the same tone, but much larger than that of the elements of one diagonal and at the same time, of course, smaller than the solid color fill of the squares of the other. And on pos. Key 4, on the contrary, is distinguished by its shape, small size and relief (bulge).

Key element

In general, a compact key element (elements) is able to give grace to a pillow made in any technique. For example, at pos. Fig. 1, the key is a simple button combined with a twist of patches of fabric with a trivial black and white geometric pattern, down to scraps of an old mattress. In the case of using a brighter and more colorful material instead of a button covered with fabric, a button with a round gathered bow, pos. 4.

At pos. 2 tassels and a button ennoble cushions in modestly colored fabric. This approach is attractive in that it is possible to use furniture upholstery and even technical fabrics that do not get dirty easily, are easy to clean, but are not produced bright and shiny. And on pos. 3 is an example of how brushes add aesthetic value to a pillow with a pattern that is too small for this purpose. Perhaps the larger pattern did not suit the overall design, but the pillow still needed decorative self-sufficiency, so the brushes came to the rescue.

Note: a single brush on the corner of the pillow can play, without losing its aesthetic value, a purely utilitarian role, hiding the last seam, see below. In this case, it can be successfully replaced with a pom-pom. How to make a brush and a pompom with your own hands, see next. fig., but in general, with tassels and pompoms as numerous elements of the main decoration of pillows, you need to be more careful, see below.

Lace, knitting and embroidery

All these ways of decorating pillows (see fig.) have in common that things, on the one hand, are laborious and difficult to perform (unless ready-made lace or organdy is used). On the other hand, lace and knitted cushions on the sofa provide not only a magnificent aesthetic effect, but also respect with prestige: complex high-quality work speaks for itself. Moreover, all such things are cleaned and washed many times: people have been weaving lace and knitting for centuries; both craftsmanship is quite adapted to washing much more harshly than in a modern washing machine with synthetic detergents.

Knitted sofa cushions have another advantage: the last seam is masked without any difficulties, see below. And by the way, thanks to the same circumstance, knitted decorative pillows can be very easy to make if you sew them from old sweaters, as on the right in Fig.

About knitwear

Knitwear as a material for covering the pillow retains all the advantages of knitted items, incl. the ability to conduct a hidden facial seam. It also has its own special merits. Firstly, the softness of the surface - wool sometimes “bites” the face, and knitting from mohair or down is more difficult. Secondly, accessibility: who hasn’t had to guess what to do with a grown-up child’s sweaters-blouses? Stuff with holofiber (see below), sew up the armholes, embellish a little - and in an hour and a half a good original pillow made from improvised materials is ready, see fig. Whether it fits in the living room is a matter of general design, but as a pillow in the nursery it will be quite in its place. You can also sleep on it without risking button prints on your cheek: turn it over, and that's it.

About embroidery on pillows

For those who know how to embroider, a pillow is a fertile canvas in all respects, see fig.:

If you want to embroider over the entire field, you will need a special hoop in the form of a frame; the canvas in it is stretched (unhoisted) with harsh threads. Drawing, pattern - everything is at your discretion and skill, but there are some features compared to embroidery of other things:

1. No need to embroider with beads, it will be unhygienic and uncomfortable. It is impossible to completely remove particles of dirt from the holes in the beads using any known methods of cleaning pillows, and lying down on the beaded surface is also not very pleasant;
2. Cross-stitch: satin stitch embroidery under the head/body quickly gets dirty and slips, and wrinkles when washed;
3. When embroidering all over the field, make a continuous wide edging: it is just as easy to hide the last seam in it as in a knitted pillow.

Relief

Embossed decor: fringes, bows, frills, puffs, intarsia, weaving, voluminous applications (patches), quilting, etc., etc., see fig. - widely used for finishing pillows, because. allows you to achieve stunning aesthetic effects. However, when starting your first (or next) masterpiece, keep in mind, firstly, that to create beauty by the method “I want a lot of everything! And more!”, is not true in principle. You need to understand what you feel, what you want, and express it in the means available to you. Which do not necessarily have to be tricky and intricate.

Secondly, remember - you are not the trusted seamstress of the Marquise Pompadour or the Countess de Monsoreau. The charm created by your own hands, inexpressible to you once and erased. And the point is not only whether this thing will withstand washing, but also whether the machine will withstand washing such a thing. Not that, the hour is uneven, you will have to learn interesting, but by no means simple ways to repair washing machines. Tassel fringe can still be torn off and sewn on again, but for a soiled, labor-intensive pom-pom pillow, it’s hard to think of something better than throwing it away and making a new one. If the spirit is enough for it after such an opportunity.

However, to dissuade people from striving for beauty is meaningless, and worthless. So about every case in Fig. above - 2 ways to make roses from felt or cotton pads. Such flowers, if necessary, are easy to rip, and then re-sew. Or just make new ones to replace worn ones.

And in fig. on the right - advice about bows: take the same principle of conciseness as a basis, it will never fail, and make bows simple so that they can be untied and tied to take care of the pillow. That pillow is made of burlap, but does it look?

About puffs

Puffs on a suitable fabric, smooth and glossy, are another matter. Properly made, they can be vacuumed and washed by hand without any problems. And to make all this splendor is not at all as difficult as it seems. First you need to learn how to read the schemes for assembling puffs (assembling them, as the sewers say).

For an example, schemes for assembling simple puffs are given in fig. below. All puff schemes are built on an orthogonal-diagonal grid, the module of which (the side of the square) is 2-7 cm, depending on the size of the product and the density of the fabric. The grid in the diagram can be shown explicitly, as on the right in the figure, or its nodes are only marked with dots, as on the left. The mesh is applied to the inside of the workpiece with a textile marker in a mirror image.

Further, the areas that are pulled together (collected, collected) into a puff are marked either with converging arrows (on the left) or red lines (on the right), and those that are not pulled together are marked with simple thin lines. You can collect puffs either with one thread or separately. The first way is for the lazy, because a web of threads is formed from the inside. In any case, each puff is assembled with at least 3 stitches 4-5 mm wide, unless otherwise indicated in the notes to the diagram.

Then, the assembly sequence. It is produced in horizontal or vertical rows, again, unless otherwise indicated in the description of the circuit. In the case when the rows are indicated explicitly (on the left), they are displayed in the order of numbering and puffs in the row are also collected by numbers; here - Row1 1-2, 3-4, etc., then the same Row2 and so on. In the absence of an explicit indication of the rows (on the right), the puffs will be assembled simply in the order of numbering; according to the diagram on the right - 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, etc.

Try to collect any piece of fabric in puffs according to these entry-level schemes, and you will see that it will take a little time, even if you collect one at a time. And then watching a selection of master classes on making pillows with puffs that are much more spectacular and complex will not seem like a nightmarish horror:

Video: do-it-yourself puff pillows, master classes

About figurine pillows

The principle “You don’t need a lot of things! And sooner!” especially appropriate for decorative pillows, aesthetically working primarily in form. They are often sewn according to patterns for soft toys, forgetting that a sewn cat cannot wash itself under its tail. And he will have to take on not only room dust, but also grease. Perhaps, especially when it comes to children's pillows, so to speak, salvo emissions of pollution of biogenic origin.

On children's pillows, in addition, not only jump and ride on them; they not only fight and throw them, they also sleep on them. And a dream, leaning sideways, with a head that has moved to one side, is in no way useful to the emerging skeleton. This should be especially taken into account when sewing a children's toy pillow; For example, we give patterns in Fig.

On the left is a fish pillow. The shape and technique of execution seem to be chosen correctly: it is quite subject to care, the last seam can be covered with a tail or fins. But - the head of a sleeping person can slide to one side, a shoulder will stretch behind it and it turns out that we are sleeping crouched. An owl pillow is free from this drawback, at the top right: the “ears” will be held. Whoever tosses and turns in a dream is better to put such a pillow with a deflection between the “ears” to the neck; this pattern is easy to adapt for a cat pillow, only without a tail. In either case, for better ergonomics, it is desirable to make a diagonal cut as a bedding, see below.

Note: for kids - indefatigable sleepy little spinners at the bottom right, a pattern of a special pillow on which the child learns to sleep on his back or on his side, freely stretched out.

Pillows in the form of letters (see Fig.) Moved even closer from pillows to soft toys than pillows-figures: there are many gaps in them, where to sleep there. It is believed that letter pillows are educational, developing, etc. Well, except for the coordination of movements and orientation in space, to climb between them big, like in a maze. As for the speedy learning to read and write, science has not yet been confirmed. Nevertheless, no harm from pillows in the form of letters was also noted, and fun for the child is already good for him.

Large letter cushions must hold their shape well and withstand the corresponding operational stresses, with which little users show amazing ingenuity. One of the variants of this kind of construction is shown in Fig.:

Foam 45 is the highest density furniture foam; we will talk about what holofiber is below. Of course, other ways of sewing letter pillows are also possible, see for example. next video.

Note: diagram in fig. also suitable for stuffing pillows, rolls, if you want to get their ends rounded.

Video: do-it-yourself letter pillows, manufacturing option

About puzzle pillows

Pillow in the form of elements of prefabricated mosaic paintings Puzzle is also quite popular. It is believed that if necessary, a mattress can be assembled from them. You can collect something, yes, yes. But anyone who has tried to sleep on such a mattress knows: it is impossible, it is spreading under you. Pillows, unlike puzzle pieces, are soft, pliable, otherwise not pillows, but some kind of bunks will turn out.

Materials and technique

The fact that when sewing it is necessary to give lapels of 20-30 mm, iron them, sew from the inside out and then turn the product inside out, etc., which is well known, we will not spread. Let's talk in this section about things that beginner seamstresses are not always aware of.

Textile

To properly sew a pillow without a pillowcase that is comfortable, hygienic, practical and durable, you need to choose the right fabric. Firstly, particles of dirt should not stick to its fibers so that they can be sucked out with a vacuum cleaner without the use of detergents. Secondly, the lining fabric should, as far as possible, prevent the migration of dirt into the packing, which is difficult to clean and change. Silk, satin, crepe-satin and their synthetic counterparts satisfy these conditions from light, smooth and bright textile materials. From light, but soft - coarse calico, baize and other linen fabrics. From rough, but very durable - any furniture upholstery materials. Also, depending on the style of execution, it is possible to use any technical fabrics, except, perhaps, propylene matting and the like - too slippery, but at the same time rough and harsh.

Warp and weft

When cutting a pillow, the orientation of the warp and weft threads of the fabric matters. Orthogonal (straight) orientation, when the warp and weft are oriented perpendicular (along) resp. sides, allows you to more accurately maintain the shape of the pillow according to the pattern. But, if a straight-cut pillow with sharp corners is stuffed with sufficiently dense material, its corners may be empty and sag, pos. 1 in fig.

In pillows with a diagonal cut (warp and weft - at 45 degrees to the sides), the corners will always be full, but a “waist” will appear larger than provided by the pattern, pos. 2. If the pillow is elongated, the thinnest "waist" will be on the long sides, pos. 3, which is not always desirable. In this case, the use of satin or twill weave fabric will help to give the pillow a pleasant fullness, pos. 4.

Stuffing

However, feather / down stuffing, firstly, is not elastic enough for decorative pillows; Secondly, small soft feathers and natural down for stuffing pillows are hard to reach. In the old days, the whole family collected feathers and down for the wedding featherbed (an indispensable attribute of the dowry) for the future bride.

Nowadays, almost ideal stuffing materials for pillows have been developed - syntepuh and holofiber. In terms of hygiene, they are not inferior to swan's down; however, not for the lifetime of generations, but up to 7-10 years. On the other hand, the pillow decor is no longer alive. But these materials have an undoubted advantage: they are moderately elastic and retain this quality for years.

In essence, sintepukh and holofiber are the same material based on the finest tangled polyester fibers; This is the same polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used to make food utensils and bottles. Sintepuh is produced in the form of fluffy granules (on the left in the figure), and holofiber undergoes additional molding and goes on sale in sheets (plates), on the right there.

Sheet holofiber keeps its shape no worse than the best furniture foam rubber. By the way, in letter pillows (see above), you can make the entire base out of it, but it will cost a lot: sheet holofiber is much more expensive than foam rubber, and the material waste in this case is large. But where sheet holofiber is indispensable is in the manufacture of cloud pillows, etc. of complex irregular shape: the workpiece must be cut with scissors, and then covered with a cloth without a pattern in place.

Another stuffing material particularly suitable for baby pillows is round silicone granules. They don't get wet, this time. Two - silicone granules can be poured into the cover through an armhole that is only 2-4 cm wide, which greatly simplifies the problem of the last seam. Three - the cover from them can be emptied through the same armhole, and the granules can be washed by hand in a basin. In the car - in no case, it will fail instantly! Washed and dried silicone granules can be put back into the same bag; the pillow will be the same as before.

Note: to expanded polystyrene granules, which fill frameless furniture, all of the above regarding the sanitary and hygienic properties of silicone granules does not apply.

Last seam...

... he is the most difficult. You probably already guessed that this is the very seam that needs to be sewn up from the face when the pillow is already inside out and stuffed. Usually for this it is recommended to sew a zipper in advance. With regard to, say, a pear chair or other frameless furniture, this is really the best option.

But the pillow does not have a bottom and a back, on which they never sit, do not sleep, do not lean on them, and waking up with the imprint of a fastener on your cheek is useless under any circumstances. As for the representatives of the stronger sex, a pillow with a zipper is able to cling to their mustache, beard and just 3-5 day stubble. The pillow sticking to the personality harmonizes perfectly with the rumpled physiognomy, but only in a comical sense.

There is no problem at all with knitted, knitted and embroidered pillows with edging, if the thread for the last seam is taken to match the material of the face: stitches of only 1-2 mm in this case are completely drawn into it and turn out to be quite strong. Good options are also a solid narrow textile piping in tone with the general color, see fig., lace or pleated border, inlay, etc. However, the universal solution for the last seam is a narrow, 2-4 cm, armhole in the corner. Through it, you can fill the pillow with sintepuh or silicone granules, and mask the front seam with a brush or pompom. Sintepukh, if necessary, is pulled out in shreds with a crochet hook. At first, silicone granules are simply squeezed out, like paste from a tube, and their remainder is removed from the inside-out cover.

About seamless pillows

Representatives of nomadic professions and residents of student hostels from times up to the middle of Khrushchev's have long been familiar with such people. A beautiful scarf allows you to make decorative seamless pillows in just minutes; the basis can be either an ordinary pillow or a piece of foam rubber cut in shape or just a lump of rags. How this magnificent illustration of the saying “Need for inventions is cunning” is created is shown in the figure:

You can tie a curly knot or straighten its ends into a socket and grab it with threads; however, this will be a formal violation of the “seamless” principle. In this case, something like a rose from those described above will also fit in the center.

In Conclusion: Form Functionality

It doesn’t matter if decorative pillows are sewn with your own hands or bought, they will organically fit into the decor of the room. However, the first option will save you from exhausting shopping in search of a pillow of the desired style, color, material. Sewing beautiful decorative pillows on a sofa with your own hands is quite simple, many patterns are so simple that even a novice needlewoman can handle them.

The variety of this accessory, which can be seen in the photo, excites the imagination: animals, a rose, letters, flowers, puffs. You can sew sofa cushions of any shape - a rose or a turtle, and for any occasion.

Materials and tools

For sewing any pillow, certain materials will be required:

• fabrics;
• stuffing;
• decoration elements;
• threads;
• instruments.

fabrics

Fabric is the main element when tailoring any kind of pillow. When choosing, the most important thing is to turn on the imagination and choose the option that suits the texture and color. It can be linen, cotton, upholstery fabric, knitwear, jeans, felt, fleece and even fur.

There are a number of materials most commonly used for sewing decorative pillows:

• fleece and flock;
• linen and cotton;
• plush and velor;
• sackcloth;
• satin and velvet;
• jeans;
• artificial and natural fur;
• leather and dermantin.

Often, fabrics are combined, but in this case, their own rules apply, since, for example, you cannot combine "non-stretch" options with stretch.

When choosing a fabric, you should be guided by some rules:

• the material of the pillow does not have to be combined with the upholstery of the sofa, bed, armchairs. This accessory may well be a kind of accent in the interior of the room;
• combine colors. For example, if green shades predominate in the interior, then the pillow can be made of blue, yellow or blue fabric;
• When choosing a material with a pattern or pattern, make sure that it is lively and relaxed. Patterns in the form of flowers or fruits look good, as well as cage and floral motifs;
• there is a way to check whether the material is suitable for making a decorative pillow. Stare at the material in good light for 1 minute, then close your eyes. If you see bright spots or flashes before your eyes, then this is not a suitable option;
• for a pillow in a nursery, you should choose materials of all colors of the rainbow with drawings in the form of your favorite fairy-tale characters;
• when choosing a fabric, it is important to consider the purpose of the product. If it will be used for sleeping, then the fabric should be soft, pleasant to the touch. For exclusively decorative products, you can choose a dense fabric;
• if you want to make the interior more calm, choose dark material, light and bright colors will make the atmosphere more energetic and lively;
• if it is planned to use down or feathers as a filler, then a denser fabric is required that can hold the filler inside the product;
• give preference to versatile cotton fabrics;
• silk is famous for the fact that products made from it stand out with a cool surface;
• brocade is best used for decorative pillows in the bedroom;
• one of the main criteria for choosing a material is ease of care.

Stuffing

All fillers for decorative pillows can be divided into:

• natural;
• vegetable;
• artificial and synthetic.

natural

Since ancient times, natural materials such as down, feathers, and wool have been used as stuffing for pillows. The main advantages of materials are that they perfectly retain heat, do not crumple and do not go astray.

As for the disadvantages, this is the absorption of moisture and the fact that various small animals and bacteria often start up in natural materials, which can cause allergies. Such products require special care.

vegetable

Recently, more and more often medicinal herbs, buckwheat husks, hop cones, and bamboo are used to stuff decorative pillows. Many prefer such stuffing, believing that it has a beneficial effect on the well-being and health of a person. Actually it is not. The fact is that the smell of some herbs can cause headaches. In addition, having absorbed moisture, the vegetable filler becomes damp and begins to rot. Decorative pillows with vegetable filling require special care and frequent replacement of the filler.

artificial and synthetic

The most commonly used synthetic winterizer, foam rubber, synthetic winterizer, holofiber, polyester materials. All these materials are hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and do not absorb moisture. The only downside is that such materials are pressed over time, caked. It is best to choose a soft-touch holofiber that is machine washable. The best choice as a filler will be fiberglass or sintepuh, which do not stray, are hypoallergenic, products with them restore their original appearance without any problems. Roller pillows can be filled with foam rubber.

What you should refuse as a stuffing for a pillow is cotton wool, as it will very soon go astray and the product will take on an unsightly appearance. It is better to dwell on a synthetic winterizer, although this material is also capable of losing volume over time.

If there are no funds to purchase special material for filling, then you can use what is at hand. For example, a pillow can be stuffed with fur or fabric remnants, although in this case the product will turn out to be not very neat.

In addition to commonly used materials, the following are often used:

• cotton wool - the material quickly gets off, because of which the product loses its original shape. Cotton wool can only be used for pillows intended solely for decorative purposes;
• fur - suitable as a filler only when using coarse, durable fabrics;
• silicone balls are a soft, safe material suitable for baby pillows.

When choosing a filler, you should remember some rules:

• only hypoallergenic fillers can be used;
• the filling material must hold its shape;
• the material should not be too soft, even and too hard;
• the filler should be easy to wash.

Threads must be chosen not only by quality, but also by combination with the fabric. At the same time, the thickness is also important, so for a denser fabric, more durable options will be required. When working, floss threads may be required, which are excellent for making decorative seams or making decorative tassels.

When choosing the right thread, knowing what sewing threads exist will help:

• cotton - the most common type of thread, 100% cotton. Suitable for sewing cotton fabrics. Do not use them for stretchy fabrics, as cotton threads can break when pulled;
• polyester - dense threads, which can often have a wax or silicone coating. Suitable for working with stretchy fabrics, synthetics, knitwear and stretch fabric;
• viscose - embroidery threads with which you can create smooth stitches;
• nylon - strong threads suitable for light and ordinary synthetic fabrics;
• silk - durable threads for silk and wool. Such threads will not leave marks on the fabric, besides they are very elastic;
• woolen - suitable for embroidering and processing the edges of heavy fabrics;
• metal - most often found in gold, silver or bronze. Used for embroidery and decoration of things.

There are also some rules that should be followed when choosing threads:

• threads should be chosen not only by color, but also by thickness, which should correspond to the thickness of the fabric;
• if a sewing machine is used for sewing, then the lower and upper threads in it must be the same;
• a thin thread on a dense fabric will break, and a thick thread on a thin fabric will tighten the product, spoiling the appearance;
• if it is not possible to choose threads to match the fabric, then you should take threads 1-2 tones darker than the fabric, so the stitches will be less noticeable.

Instruments

To make a pillow, you will need the following tools:

• scissors;
• needles;
• crayon, soap or pencil (to transfer the pattern to the fabric);
• paper for modeling patterns;
• hook or knitting needles (if knitted elements are supposed to be in the product);
• sewing machine.

Decoration Methods

Even the most ordinary-looking pillow can be turned into a real work of art if you apply the right kind of decoration.

Colors

The easiest way to create an original design is to sew decorative pillows in different colors. Choose several options for matching fabrics in color and texture, make pillows and place them on the sofa. Also, when sewing, you can use elements in the background upholstery, which also looks very original.

Here are some tips to help you choose the color and pattern of your throw pillow:

• if you plan to sew two pillows for one side of the sofa, then it is better to make one of them plain and the other with a color pattern, like the first pillow;
• for a large sofa, two solid color cushions around the edges will do. The color of the pillows should contrast with the color of the furniture. In addition to these products for the sofa, you can also make several patterned cushions with a pattern color that does not contrast with the color of the furniture;
• for patterned pillows, it is worth choosing prints in neutral colors: white, beige or cream;
• try the method of mixing patterns, but at the same time, prints must have at least one common color;
• Avoid the same type of pillows. If one product is with a floral print, then a large pattern can be used on the other;
• when making decorative pillows, give up the idea of ​​​​decorating the entire room with the same products. Cushions for sofas and chairs may differ in color and pattern, but at the same time they must be in harmony with each other and the surrounding interior.

Applications and printing

The product can be decorated with an application, the drawing of which can be developed independently, or peeped on the Internet. It’s just not worth choosing an application consisting of many elements, otherwise the work will turn into a continuous flicker as a result. The pattern should be simple and clear.

To make the right choice and not spoil the product, follow some rules:

• flowers from satin ribbons are suitable for decorating pillows in pastel colors. Similar flowers from ribbons of different colors look original;
• you can bring to life the most intricate drawing with the help of a fabric application;
• as a pillow decoration, you can use various details connected with knitting needles or a hook;
• as appliqué elements, you can use the fabric of old clothes, perfect for this sweater;
• the most popular appliqué elements are lace, beads, sequins, buttons;
• the pillow can even be painted, depicting a landscape or portrait on it with the help of special paints.

Form and Fragments

For many, the shape of the future product is very important, which can be very diverse. An example of using a mold when sewing a pillow can be products in the form of flowers, animals, and so on. But it is better to avoid too complex forms, since it will be problematic to care for such products.

There are four main forms of decorative pillows:

• roller - suitable for decorating leather sofas;
• square - the most suitable shape for decorative products. In addition, it is convenient to lie down or sit down on such a pillow if necessary;
• rectangular - balances the soft shapes of puffy sofas;
• round - will help soften the sharp lines of strict sofas.

You can combine products of different shapes. For example, a combination of square and rectangular products looks good.

Try using the patchwork technique when sewing, which allows you to create original and at the same time practical options.

Key element

Just one correctly selected element, called the key, can give any pillow elegance.

Here are just a few possible options for key elements:

• it can be a regular button located in the center of the pillow, a small bow, frills or tassels. Moreover, these elements can be located not only in the center, but also on the side and in the corner of the product. It may not be an ordinary button, but covered with fabric, or with a bow sewn to it. Using buttons, you can create a simple pattern or even embroider your own name;
• brushes will help to ennoble even the most ordinary product;
• instead of a brush, you can use a homemade pompom, which is sewn to the corner of the pillow and not only decorates it, but also hides the last seam;
• ribbons - ordinary satin ribbons can serve as material for creating various volumetric drawings and patterns;
• fleece or felt patterns.

Lace, knitting

Pillows with this type of decor are somewhat difficult to make, but believe me, it's worth it. Lacy and knitted options provide an aesthetic effect and indicate that the hostess of the house has “golden” hands. Such things are easy to wash by placing them in the washing machine with a special care product for knitwear.

The pillow cover can be completely knitted or some separate element is knitted, serving as a decoration. Pillows with knitted braids or ornaments look beautiful. There are many patterns for knitting techniques, and you can make both a smooth surface and with ornaments.

Embroidery

If you know how to embroider, then you can easily create a real miracle by embroidering a colorful, original pattern on a sewn decorative pillow. But keep in mind some rules:

• do not use beads when embroidering, as this will be inconvenient in the future;
• use the cross-stitch technique, as the surface will get dirty and slip when used;
• in the course of work, do not forget to make a continuous wide edging across the field, in which it is easy to hide the last seam.

Relief

The embossed decor is a fringe, frills, puffs, weaving, voluminous applications and much more. With the help of such elements, it is possible to achieve excellent aesthetic effects. But when choosing another intricate element, remember that in the future you will have to take care of this product and it can be difficult if you choose the wrong one.

Each type of overlay decor has its own characteristics:

• decorative braid - the use of this element brings originality to the entire interior. To decorate the edges of the pillows, a motley woolen braid is suitable. Wool braid looks good in combination with velvet, satin and organza;
• brushes - are a mandatory attribute when sewing decorative pillows made of brocade, velvet, silk, tapestry. Brushes can be made from melange or linen threads, which rarely have metallic thread added;
• fringe - can become a decoration even for the most ordinary and nondescript at first glance decorative pillow. It is enough to attach bright silk fringe or viscose fringe with the addition of glass beads to its edges and the pillow will take on a completely new look;
• bows - making this type of decoration is not difficult at all. It is enough to take a piece of matter and tie it in the form of a bow.

For pregnant

Pregnancy is a wonderful time, but there comes a time when it is difficult for a woman to find a comfortable position during rest, it is necessary to put something under her back. To do this, you can sew a special pillow for pregnant women in the form of a roller.

For her, you will need about 2.5 m of cotton or satin fabric. A pillow for pregnant women is sewn in a few steps:

• using the diagram, you need to make a pattern: fold the fabric in half, circle the template and cut out the part;

Pattern of a classic pillow for pregnant women, on the right - a fold or middle of the fabric

Transfer the pattern to the fabric

Fold the pieces of fabric to get 2 pieces of the product.

Secure fabric with pins

Carefully cut out pieces with seam allowances

• along the contours of the first we cut out another one;
• we sew the resulting elements on a sewing machine, leaving a small opening. We turn the basis for the future pillow for pregnant women on the front side;

Sew the cover with a straight stitch along the entire contour, except for the stuffing hole

Leave an unsewn area at the top of the product

Finish the edges

• through the opening we fill the pillow with holofiber or other filler. Use a filler that does not cause allergies in pregnant women;

Turn the collar right side out

Stuff the case with filler

• we sew up the opening;

• pillow for pregnant women is ready.

The pillow can be decorated with various applications. The muzzles of animals look original on rollers for pregnant women. This pillow is great for feeding a baby after childbirth.

For feeding twins

The wonderful time of pregnancy has passed, and you have become a happy mother of twins. And then the question arises, how to make the process of feeding babies comfortable. After all, while you feed one, the other is torn in a scream. There is a way out - sew a special pillow for feeding twins in the form of a horseshoe or crescent.

• draw a pattern on a sheet of suitable size;

• transfer it to a fabric folded in half. Cut out the detail;
• stitch it from the inside, leaving a small gap;
• Turn inside out and fill the nursing pillow with non-allergic filler. Sew up the gap;
• while feeding children, the pillow may become dirty. Therefore, sew several covers for her to change them if necessary.

The twin feeding pillow will give you the opportunity to feed the babies at the same time, which means that their biorhythms will match. Animal pillows are especially popular among children. Often they become an uneasy accessory for decorating a children's room or an object for a comfortable sleep, children use pillows as toys, hugs. Therefore, for the baby, you can sew original animal pillows - it can be an elephant, a cat, a frog or a turtle.

monkey

In order to sew toys for children or an accessory on a sofa in the form of a monkey with your own hands, you need to cut out a pattern, and then proceed according to the algorithm:

• take a chocolate-colored satin and cut out two parts of the monkey's head from it;
• on a coffee-colored gabardine, circle the muzzle and cut it out;
• further, it is necessary to cut out the ears: two parts from gabardine - this will be the front part, and two from satin - the back part;
• with the help of white interlining, it is necessary to duplicate the details of the muzzle and ears;
• We sew the front and back parts of the ears, leaving a small opening. Using scissors, cut the edges;
• the details of the toy must be turned out and, having filled, sewn up, the ears are ready;
• now you need to draw the head of the monkey. To do this, we sew a muzzle to its front part. We fix the ears with pins;
• attach the back of the head and sew in a circle on a sewing machine. Do not forget to leave a hole for filling the head;
• after you turn the part on the front side, you get a funny face of a monkey. Now it remains only to fill and sew;
• further, we sew two small circles, buttons on top and more devoted eyes for children can no longer be found;
• it remains only to make the monkey smile, for this we embroider a smile and nostrils with black threads.

You can add a pillow with a forelock of woolen threads and the original pillow in the form of a monkey is ready.

For those who like to watch videos on a tablet in the evening, we suggest creating an original pillow-stand for a tablet on your own. This will require:

• piece of fabric;
• stuffing material;
• button on the leg;
• pattern paper;
• tailor's pins;
• needle and thread.

The work consists of several simple steps:

• cut out a rectangle on the fabric measuring 46x30 cm;

• from a fabric for decoration in the form of a flower, we cut out a rectangle 6x21 cm, three squares 10x10;
• First we create a decor element. To do this, fold the rectangle of fabric in half, before bending the fabric to the wrong side and ironing it. We do the same with the fabric squares. For folded squares, we cut off the corners from the side of the slices, thus obtaining a sector of the circle. We sew all three square parts as shown in the photo and assemble them on a thread so that there is room for a button in the center;

• now it's time to create the pillow. To do this, the part is folded in half along the long side and fastened with pins, forming a bag;

• on the long and short sides you need to walk with a sewing machine, laying a line, cut off the corners. To make the cover easy to turn out, one side must remain unstitched;

• turning the “bag” right side out, place it on its side so that the corners and seams are in the middle, as shown in the photo;

• after that, you need to gently press the fabric from above, forming a square;

• secure the middle of the square with a pin;

• the lower corner of the fabric must be wrapped in the direction of the square and stabbed with a pin. This place will house our decorative flower;

• you need to sew on the decor by first raising the other corner of the square vertically;

• cut out a piece of cardboard with approximate dimensions: top width 9.5 cm, width 19.7 cm, height 14.6 cm;

• we insert the resulting cardboard template into the middle of the “bag” so that its narrow side is located towards the flower;

• fill the place on top of the cardboard with filler;
• we sew the side from the wide edge of the cardboard part;

• we turn the unsewn fabric inside;

• we chop off with pins and sew again;

• do not sew the edge to the end, leaving an opening for adding filler;

• tablet stand ready.

A separate place among decorative pillows is given to floor options. It is not difficult to make such a pillow by preparing triangular sectors of the same type of fabric in different colors for this.

Cut out the triangles, trimming the corners as shown in the photo, so that in the future you get a voluminous pillow.

All sectors are carefully sewn together from the wrong side, and then both sides are sewn together, not forgetting to leave room for stuffing.

The cover is turned inside out, the product is stuffed with filler, the hole is sutured. A comfortable floor cushion to sit on is ready.

Original pillow elephant

A pink elephant is every girl's dream. But decorative pillows-animals in the store do not always look attractive. The hand-sewn elephant will please your child.

• to do this, draw or print an elephant template of the size you need;

• circle it on two pieces of fleece. Don't forget to add a few inches for the allowance;
• sew the parts together, leaving a gap for stuffing;
• turn the part on the front side;
• further, the elephant is stuffed with filler;
• according to the same algorithm, it is necessary to sew the ears and tail;
• sew the details to the body;
• we complement the pillow with eyes. Cut out a small cloud from blue fabric. Attach the cloud to the body.

The unusual elephant is ready.

Decorative pillow turtle

The turtle pillow will decorate not only the children's room, but will also fit perfectly into the gazebo in the garden. A turtle is sewn from colored patches that match the color scheme.

• cut out a round base for the belly of the toy. Its dimensions depend on the scale of the pillow you want to sew;

• cut out four multi-colored triangles, slightly rounding its edges. Together they should form a circle with the diameter of the abdomen;
• prepare 8 parts for legs, two heads and a tail. Details should be proportional to the size of the body. They must be stitched in pairs, leaving a gap. Next, turn out and fill with padding polyester;

• colored flaps must be sewn in pairs. Stitching them together, attach the details of the head and tail;

• now sew the belly and back of the turtle, distributing the details of the legs;

• turn the base through the hole left and stuff it with filler. Sew on the eyes, mouth and the turtle is ready.

Sew toys of different sizes and you will have a real turtle family. Examples of unusual turtle pillows can be seen in the photo.

splyushki

Often, children are capricious before going to bed, not wanting to go to bed. Sew an unusual owl-shaped pillow for him. It's very easy to make it:

• take a sheet of paper corresponding to the size of the future toy;
• draw a sketch of an owl on it, cut out the template;
• transfer it to felt, make a pattern;
• cut out the eyes and beak of an owl from the template. Cut out the details from the felt of the desired color;
• glue the felt on a double-sided adhesive web, iron it;
• place the details on the body of the owl. Sew with a tight zigzag;
• stuff the toy with stuffing.

The Scops Owl will help your child fall asleep much faster.

Pillows with the image of cats

Especially popular are decorative pillows with the image of cats.

hug

Decorative hugging pillow is suitable for adults and children, as well as pregnant women. What could be better than hugging your friend while relaxing. You can perform it in the form of your favorite pet - a cat.

• make paired patterns of the body, head and paws of the cat of the desired size;
• prepare the nose detail by folding the padding polyester several times;
• make the cat's eyes with a French knot;
• redraw the sketch of the head on the duplicate fabric. Using thick threads, embroider the cat's mouth and whiskers in a zigzag pattern;
• sew the nose, after gluing it in several places;
• sew eyes and ears in the same way;
• sew the parts of the head from the inside out, leaving a gap. Turn it inside out and fill it with filler;
• in the same way we sew the paws and tail of the cat;
• separately we sew the pillow itself, round or rectangular, stuff it with padding polyester;
• sew all parts of the cat to it.

The photo shows how you can decorate a hug pillow: add a bow tie and you get a cat, or you can attach a bow and now you have a cute cat. Such a hugging cat will appeal to any kid and will organically fit into the interior of the nursery.

Schemes of patterns of pillows in the form of cats

We offer several patterns, according to which it is very simple to create an original, beautiful product.

Letters

Recently, decorative pillows letters have become very popular. They are used to lay out the names of relatives and friends, or they acquire an entire alphabet to teach a child to read. However, you can sew beautiful letters for names with your own hands.

• print letters for names or alphabet on paper, cut out;

• transfer the sketch to the fabric, cut out two parts;