Sewing

pieced heart pillow tutorial

[Re-posting this today from a guest post I did on Ucreate a month ago.  The flu has wiped out our house so I’m hoping to get the envelope clutch pattern up for sale either tomorrow or Wednesday.]

Hi Ucreate fans!  I’m super honored to be here today.  Kari always seems to round up the most fun sewing projects from around blogland.  I’m Anna, my blog is noodlehead, I’ve got two little girls, am a working mama, and am trying to find the balance between my hobby, my job, and my family.  I’ve got lots of tutorials and even a few patterns if you want to stop by and check them out!

Lately I really have been enjoying collecting vintage kitchenware, so this pillow is inspired by a vintage enamel bowl designed by Kaj Franck.  Valentine’s day is one of my favorites, so here we go!

Materials:

  • 20″x 20″ pillow form
  • 2/3 yard white fabric (for background)
  • 20.5″ by 20.5″ muslin for lining (optional)
  • 20.5″ by 20.5″ piece for back of pillow
  • fat quarter (18×22) for heart
  • 18″ invisible zipper, I just shortened a 20″ zip  ** if you don’t want to try an invisible zip, you can do a simple envelope closure
  • thread
  • templates: noodlehead white background template, noodlehead red heart

Directions:
Cut out pieces, you’ll need two of the half-heart shaped pattern pieces and two of the white background pieces.  I would err on leaving plenty of wiggle room on the white pieces, then after completing the heart, just trim down to 20.5″ by 20.5″. You’ll also need to cut two additional pieces 20.5″ by 20.5″.  One is the pillow back the other you can use muslin, it’ll line the font of the pillow and hide the heart seams and make it sturdy and durable for washing, etc.

Ready for the curves?
Don’t be scared. Watch this video for piecing the heart.

Sorry, both parts I say wrong sides facing, guess I was nervous, it’s supposed to be right sides facing!  🙂

Once you complete both halves of the heart, you’ll have to pieces like this (they’ll be mirrored though, obviously, to complete the heart shape):

Press all seams towards red part of the heart.  I like to use a little spray starch to make things nice and crisp.

Trim heart halves, making sure you have room for the 1/4″ seam allowance.

Place RIGHT sides facing and sew together.

Press center seam open.

Serge (or zig zag) pillow top and muslin together, also serge (or zig zag) the edges of the pillow back.

Install the zipper:
(You might also want to check out this invisible zipper tutorial too, it’s how I learned to install one.)
I really recommend an invisible zipper foot, they should be relatively inexpensive (between $2-8), but you can also use a regular zipper foot.  Press the zipper if you’re using a zipper foot, it’ll let you get close to the zipper teeth.

Align the edge of the zipper tape with the serged edge of the bottom of the pillow front, zipper open, zipper teeth and zipper pull facing down.  Sew close to zipper teeth.

Align remaining zipper tape edge with serged edge of bottom of the pillow back.  Sew close to zipper teeth.

Place pillow front and back RIGHT sides facing, pin, being sure to pull out the zipper tape ends (those zig zaggy things) and pin them out of the way.  Be sure to open the zipper at least half-way at this point otherwise you won’t be able to open it up!

Sew starting at the point where you stopped sewing the zipper using a 1/2″ seam allowance all the way around, ending where the other side of the zipper had been sewn.

I like to taper in the corners to more of a 5/8″ seam allowance, it gives the pillow and nice shape and the corners look nicer.

Using a pinking shears, clip the corners.  Turn right side out, insert pillow form.

Thanks Kari for having me!

8 thoughts on “pieced heart pillow tutorial

  1. Simple and pretty. I love it.

  2. Carolyn says:

    I’m hoping that you guys are feeling better soon!!

  3. DKB says:

    argggh the flu! thats no good. Luckily we havent seen much of it in these parts- and my kids just got vaccines last week (crosses fingers)
    and i was so looking forward to the clutch pattern- i kept checking the blog today

  4. Sew Much Ado says:

    I really do love that pillow :). And I’m sorry you’ve all been sick! No fun :(. Hope things get better soon, wish I could bring you some chicken noodle soup!

  5. Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that you are sick. Love the pillow. Love your cute little accent too 🙂

  6. kristin says:

    Oh boo, so sorry you’re sick over there. No fun. I second Jo – I didn’t watch the video when I saw this post the first time, and your accent is super cute! 🙂

  7. Katy Cameron says:

    Oh no, sorry about being attacked by the ick! Hope you’re all feeling much better soon, but you have a very cute cushion to keep you company in the meantime :o)

  8. you are the cutest pillow model 🙂

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