How to Make State Specific Pillows (TUTORIAL)

Every year some of my closest friends and I get together around the holiday season and share laughs, food and gifts along the way. Our goal is to purchase/make five of the exact same items that represent our favorite thing of the year and gift them to one another. And so was named our annual “Favorite Things Party“!

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

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After having spent a good amount of time creating winter slipcovers for my home (check out my tutorial on how to make them for yourself here), I quickly learned they were my new “favorite” thing of the year and I wanted to share them with my friends! This was when I decided to make my friends their very own state pillow with a special personalized touch. All of my friends live around the Wisconsin area (we actually all met at occupational therapy school together!) and so I knew I wanted something unique to Wisconsin.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Sticking with my love for all things plaid, I found a color scheme I liked and secured multiple yards of the corresponding fabric. I then picked up 5 solid white felt sheets, one red felt sheet, white thread and 5 pillow inserts. Before I knew it I was back home and sewing away on my state pillow!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• sewing machine (you could always stitch by hand, but it may take you until the following holiday season to finish them. Eek! Note: Don’t want to spend a small fortune on a machine? This one here is a starter favorite and very affordable!
• thread
• scissors
• pins
• ruler/yard stick/measuring tape
• tailors chalk (I prefer chalk to mark measurement cutting line so I don’t damage the fabric)
• fabric (Note: my favorite place to choose from the largest selections of fabric is here.)
• 9×12 felt sheets (one sheet per pattern)

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My exact step-by-step TUTORIAL on how to make a slipcover can be found here. 

Don’t quite feel confident in your sewing skills? Don’t let that stop you! Check out my post on “How I Taught Myself to Sew and You can Too!” Or, simply, check out this ideal video tutorial of Sewing Machine Basics. Then step over to these Online Craft Classes (select “Sewing”) that include video demonstrations in order to learn more advanced techniques!

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A STATE PILLOW PATTERN/TEMPLATE

After cutting all the appropriate pieces of fabric for my five state pillow inserts, I switched the focus over to creating the state of Wisconsin with my white felt. (Note: do NOT sew your slipcover pieces together until after securing your felt state piece). I created a Wisconsin pattern that I used to expedite the process. I am attaching it here for any Wisconsinites that desire to make a pattern for themselves! Simply download this pattern, cut it out and place it over the white fabric tracing along the borders. (Note: for those not from Wisconsin, I suggest a quick online search for your state of interest. After locating the map, enlarge it to your desired size and trace the border.)

ADDING THE HEART

Next, I cut a small heart out of my red felt. (Heart also available on pattern here) I then placed the heart on the map in the exact location each friend lived. Taking out my red thread I secured the heart to my Wisconsin. (As you can see, the hearts are in different locations as my friends live in different cities).

FINISHING TOUCHES

With the heart properly secured down, I pinned my Wisconsin felt to the middle of the front piece of the slipcover and sewed it on. Once secured, I attached the back panels of the slipcover (per tutorial above), and inserted my pillow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And just like that my “favorite” state pillow gifts were created and customized to each of my friends!

Don’t live in Wisconsin or know of anyone who does? No worry! This project can be easily altered per state! Enjoy!

 

ADDITIONAL HOME DECOR SEWING PROJECTS

Looking to create even more quick and Easy Home Decor Sewing projects? Click here to check out more tutorials!

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