Summer is here and it's time to decorate the deck, porch, pation or poolside! Sewing simples square outdoor pillows is easy, and the variety of outdoor fabrics is amazing. I just love the way this pillow turned out, and the jute twine bow adds natural texture against the modern zig-sag print fabric.
This pillow is tufted, which means the front and back are pulled-in slightly together. Buttons are usually used for tufting, but you can tuft with small cord, ribbon or yarn. Since this pillow was going to be outside, the jute twine was a great choice.
Tufted pillows usually do not have a removable cover; so they are not practical in outdoor settings but this pillow has a secret; brass eyelets on the front and back. The twine goes through the pillow form and is tied on the outside. When the bow is untied the pillow cover can be unzipped and removed for cleaning.
This pillow was made using materials and supplies that work great in outdoor settings; Waverly SunShade® fabric, Coats® Outdoor Living Thread and Coats® Polyester Invisible Zipper and a washable polyester fiber fill pillow form.
I hope you enjoy this project. If you make a Twine Tufted Pillow I would love to see a photo so please share it on the Home Dec Gal facebook page.
Best Wishes,
Susan AKA HomeDecGal
Materials and Supplies for one 17 inch finished pillow:
½ yard fabric
4 – 5/32” brass eyelets and eyelet-setting tool
1 – 18” polyester pillow form
Coats® Outdoor Living thread
Coats® polyester invisible zipper
Jute twine
Basic sewing tools; scissors, sewing machine, ruler, large upholstery or tapestry needle
Step-by-step:
1. Cut front and back pieces the size of the pillow form. For this pillow the pillow form is 18 inches square so I cut two 18” square pieces.
2. Mark for the eyelets in the center of the front and back pieces, spaced one inch apart. Cut very small holes at each mark for the eyelets.
3. Crimp eyelets in each small hole using the eyelet-setting tool
4. Place one pillow piece centered on top of the pillow form. Mark for the placement of the twine in each eyelet with a pencil.
5. Cut two pieces of twine 25 inches long. Using a large needle, push the twine all the way through the pillow form and out the other side. Helpful Tip: Wrap one end of each piece of twine with tape to make it easier to thread through the eye of the needle. You may need to use pliers to pull the needle through the other side.
6. Sew the invisible zipper to the bottom of the front and back pieces following the instructions provided in the package. Helpful Tip: Use a zipper that is longer than needed (a 20 inch zipper was used for this pillow), you can cut off the excess after the pillow is finished. This makes it easier to sew next to the teeth because you can move the slide off the end and out of the way. Sew using a zipper foot, getting close to the teeth.
7. After the zipper is sewn, sew around the other three sides. At the bottom of the pillow, stitch just above the zipper teeth 1 inch inset on each side. Cut off the excess zipper and clip off the square the corners.
8. Turn the pillow right sides out and iron all the edges.
9. Stuff the pillow form with twine inside the pillow. Feed the twine through the eyelets on the front and back and zip closed. Don’t pull the twine all the way through and out the pillow! Tie a bow on one side and then cinch it a little tighter and tie a bow on the other side. Tie a knot in the twine and trim below the knot.
