For a friend for Christmas, I decided to do the latter. Since she is a big Firefly/Serenity fan, I decided to use the Captain Malcolm Reynolds quote "I swear by my pretty floral bonnet, I will end you"(while wearing a floral bonnet, obviously!). I made up the pattern for the cross-stitch myself, using some graph paper, a pencil and two websites for inspiration: an online site with fonts that helps with spacing for words and a site that had a few floral corner patterns for me to improvise off of.
After the design and sewing parts were done, I gave it to my friend for Christmas and then I asked my friend if she wanted it framed or made into a pillow. She went with the pillow (smart choice!), which meant that I had to figure out how to do that. After a bit of research, I decided to go with something that would frame the stitching in front and would have a flap/envelope in the back. Basically, so that the pillow would look nice, but wouldn't require a zipper or to be sewn closed.
I managed to finally get the pillow finished by May...it took a while but it turned out really well.
I looked at a lot of instructions online, but the most useful pages I found were these two:
- https://tinymodernist.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/how-to-make-a-cross-stitch-pillow-cushion/ (for the front)
- http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Envelope-Throw-Pillow-Cover/ (for the back)
Basic steps were:
- Iron (on the reverse), then measure and cut the panel for the front
- Iron, then draw out pattern on blue fabric for the "frame" on the front of the pillow
- Cut out frame pieces
- One at a time, pin and sew frame pieces to the front center panel
- Then sew angled corners together to complete the frame
- Iron corners so that they lay flat
- Cut out two pieces for the back
- Sew the edges of the envelope in the back pieces
- Lay back pieces and front piece out, right sides together
- Sew back and front together
- Turn pillow/cushion case right-side out and insert 12 X 12 inch pillow
- Finished!
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