Learn to Sew Pillow

This is part of a Learn to Sew Series:

Teaching Children to Sew
This is a way to teach your child to sew (even if you dont know how.)
There are instructions for the adult and for the child.
It is perfect for a first project after Sewing My First Stitch.
This project is sewn with only two straight seams.

This is a Mini Friendly Pattern and can be made on a mini sewing machine.
Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

Materials Needed

yard of fabric
Thread
12 X 12 pillow form
Supplies Needed

Sewing machine (Janome Mini works great for this project)

Iron
Basic sewing kit
Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler
Wonder Clips (optional)
Point turner (optional)
Spray starch (optional)

Links to various resources can be found at:

http://www.thelostapron.com/resources.html

Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

This is part of a Learn to Sew Series:

Teaching Children to Sew
This is a way to teach children to sew (even if you dont know how.)
There are instructions for the adult and for the child.
Adult: Make a Pre-Cut Sew Kit.

1. Iron fabric. Iron out any folds. Optional: Use spray starch for a crisp, smooth
finish on the fabric. This makes it easier for little hands to handle. Use
manufacturers instructions.
2. Fold fabric in half so that selvages are together. (Cut edges may not be even.)
3. Lay fabric on the rotary mat so that the fold is near you. Align the fold along
the bottom line of the board. (Picture top left)
4. Align the left edge so that both layers of fabric are within the zero line. You
may have to move fabric to the left to achieve this. (Picture top right)
5. Cut fabric using the rotary cutter and ruler along the zero line. You may need
to do this from the other side of the table. (Picture bottom left)
6. Leave fabric in place and make a cut along the 13 line. (Picture bottom right)
Warning: Do not let children use a rotary cutter.
Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

7. Continue to leave fabric in place. Bring rotary ruler crosswise on fabric to the
18 line that is on the side of the rotary mat. Cut across the fabric at the 18
line.

Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

8. Rotate cut fabric turn so that the fold is now on your right at the 18 mark
on the bottom line of the rotary mat. (Picture top left)
9. Fold fabric once toward you so that there are now 4 layers of fabric along the
bottom line of the rotary mat and 2 folds on the 18 mark. (Picture top right)
10. Cut a small snip with your scissors through all 4 layers at the 4 mark and the
12 mark. (Pictures bottom left and right)

Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

11. On ironing board, place fabric right side down. Iron out the center fold. On
both side edges fold 4 inward using snips as a guide. Iron in place. (Picture
left and upper right)
12. Turn fabric over on ironing board. Fold over left side using the next set of
snips. Iron in place. (Picture right center)
13. Fold over right side using the last set of snips. This fold will overlap the last
fold. Iron in place. (Picture right bottom) The measurement of this folded
piece should be 13 from cut edge to cut edge and 12 from fold to fold.

Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

14. Pin along both cut edges through all layers. You may use pins as shown or use
Wonder Clips.
This completes the Pre-Cut Sew Kit.

Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

Child: Sew Seams and Turn Right Side Out

1. Take a Pre-Cut Sew Kit, sew 2 seams at 4/8 as shown using a sewing
machine. Be careful to keep folds flat in the center as you sew over them.
(Review How to Sew a Seam.)
For a more detailed instruction on sewing a seam,
find Sewing My First Stitch at:
http://www.craftsy.com/user/1128843/pattern-store

Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

How to Sew a Seam

Thread the sewing machine.

Have the needle and presser foot in the up
position.
Pull 6 inches of thread out from machine.
Place the project so that the right edge is
along the seam gauge and the top edge is near
the needle.
Lower the needle so that it pierces the fabric.
Lower the presser foot.
Place hands on project to guide.
With eyes on the seam gauge, press on the
foot pedal and begin to sew a few stitches.
Stop.
Press on the reverse button and stitch in
reverse until you reach the top of the project
again. Stop.
Let go of the reverse button. Sew all the way
down the side of the project (watching the
seam gauge) until you reach the end. Stop.
Stitch in reverse for a few stitches. Stop.
Sew to the end of the project. Stop.
Turn the handwheel so that the needle is up.
Lift the presser foot.
Pull the project from the machine leaving 6
inches of thread.
Cut threads at the beginning and end of the
seam.

Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

2. Reach hand into center of pillow and turn pillow right side out.
3. Try to poke out the corners. If using a point turner, at each corner, take your
tool and first have it hit the inside below the seam. Then run it up the fold
until you reach the seam. This will pull the fabric that is still tucked in, out
into a point.
Adult: Iron and press flat.

Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

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Child: Insert pillow form.

1. Insert the pillow form into the first half of the sewn pillow easily, aligning the
points.
2. Scrunch the pillow form to insert into second half of the sewn pillow.
3. Smooth out any fullness and folds.

Ana Sullivan
TheLostApron.com

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