You Can Sew and Sew You Should

I meet so many ladies who have sewing machines collecting dust in a closet or garage who say "I don't even know where to start!" Start by dusting that machine off and learn to thread it. You can search the make of your machine and likely find a tutorial. I would encourage you to dive in. Once you sew that first straight line, the possibilities are limitless and your skill level and confidence only increase with each project.

Take on something simple to start, I would recommend a throw pillow because it's so straight forward.

Supplies:

1/2 Yard of the fabric of your choice (knit not recommended for this project)

Needle for hand-sewing open seam

Thread

Your newly dusted machine

A good, sharp pair of scissors

1 bag of fiber filling/stuffing*

* Here's a link to show you what to look for- buy any brand you like http://www.joann.com/search/_stuffing/

1) Cut your fabric into two, 14" squares (go bigger if you like.)

2) Place those fabrics right sides together (this means the pretty sides face each other,) you will be sewing on the wrong side.

3) Seam Allowance- this is the distance between your needle and the edge or your fabric. Go with at least 1/4 seam allowance up to 5/8 seam allowance. You will notice on most machines there is a little guide just to the right of your needle & presser foot (that's the guy that holds the fabric flat.)

4) Begin at a corner and sew down an entire side of your pillow.

5) When you are almost to the end of your first side, leave the needle down into the fabric, lift presser foot and turn the pillow. You've just navigated a corner. Now continue sewing two more sides.

6) The fourth side. You will need to leave about a 3" opening at the end of this side. When you get to the end of the line you are sewing, press your backstitch button. This will add durability to the area where you'll be working to stuff the pillow.

7) So now we have three sides of our pillow completely sewn, and a fourth side with about an 11" seam and a 3" opening.

8) Turn your pillow inside out. Wow! It's so pretty! Ok, now, press the pillow, smoothing out the sides.

9) About that opening, tuck the fabric into the pillow so that it lines up with the other seams and press into place.

10) PS- if you are new to sewing, let me tell you now that you will be ironing A LOT! It's just impossible to put a solid piece together without pressing every step of the way.

11) Now stuff that stuffing into your pillow. Really fill it up or you'll be lumpy.

12) Take that needle for manual sewing, thread it and stitch your open edge. When you are done stitching, tie a knot 2 or 3 times, doing your best to hide it between the two layers of fabric.

13) I'm so proud of you! You did it!!!

Just FYI- as you progress there are many ways to improve upon your pillow making such as adding a zipper, working with a pillow form, adding cording, tassels or embellishment. Now that you've got the concept though, you are rocking and rolling!

Stay tuned because we'll talk more about some of the basics.

Let's Sew Together!