The Pillow Pillow

Yes, I know it sounds repetitive, but it is a pillow with pillows. This is a really comfy pillow that you can put lots of little twists on if you please. This really didn't take me a long time and I had a fun time making it. In all it probably took around 4-5 hours to finish creating, but depending on how you make it, it could take a lot more time, or a lot less. I don't have much sewing experience, but I was still really happy with the end result, though it wasn't perfect. It isn't too hard, so this may be a fun project for someone who isn't an expert at sewing, like me.

Step 1: Gather Materials

For this project, I did actually go out to my local craft store and I had to purchase a couple of items. For this project, you will need to obtain:

A pillow form (the form I chose is a 20-inch by 20-inch form)

A backing for the pillow (that is the grey fabric)

Fabric for the individual pillows (the other more colorful fabrics are for the pillows I had one fabric for two pillows each and one fabric that would be for three pillows, so nine pillows total)

Pillow fluff (imagine how many pillows, how big the form will be, etc and try to get a reasonable amount)

A needle

Thread to match fabrics

Sewing pins

A sewing machine (not needed, but highly recommended, a HUGE time saver)

Sewing scissors

Step 2: Cut the Fabric for Pillows

This is where you are going to have to plan out the pillow. It will help you out so much, so PLAN OUT YOUR PILLOW! It will make your life easier. My plan stated that each pillow needed to be a 6 2/3 inch square by 6 2/3 inch square. I cut the squares to 8 inches by 8 inches to have seam allowance, but I wish that I had cut larger squares. Cut two squares of the fabric as you will be sewing these two together.

Step 3: Making a Plan

Lay out the tops of the squares on a table in the places that you want to put them. To me, this was very helpful because I didn't want to have the same color next to each other. Doing this step will allow you to create a better picture in your head of the final product.

Step 4: Matching Up the Squares

This is where you take the two squares that you cut, match them up and pin them together. This is getting ready for sewing. Here I would recommend ironing the squares, I didn't do it but I wish that I had. It will make the finished product much more put together. When you pin them, pin the squares inside out. For example, if you have a patterned square, have the pattern side be facing the side of the backing of the pillow whatever that fabric may be. This is an important thing to have what you want on the outside of the pillow on the inside because you will turn it inside out.

Step 5: Sewing the Pillows

In this next step take either your sewing machine or needle and thread and start to sew the actual squares. I used a sewing machine and I was able to get this step done pretty quickly. Sew three sides in full and the last side enough so that you can put you hand inside it. It is hard to tell how much space to leave, so leave a little more than you think you need just to be sure. Once these three sides are sewn, turn the pillow inside out through the hole.

Step 6: Stuffing the Pillows

Here is when you get to put that pillow fluff to use! I am assuming that you have probably been wanting to use it as it has been just sitting on the side. Here you use the hole that you put on one side of the pillow and take small bunches of the fluff to stuff it. Be sure to put fluff in the corners. Also, I wanted my pillows to be a little more formed and have more fluff, so I put in more fluff than it seemed like it could handle. If you want to do this as well, I was happy with the end result.

Step 7: Plan It Out... Again

Once all of the pillows are stuffed and sewed, put it in the design that you want again. This is so you can have a better idea on how big the pillow will be at the end. If you want to make any adjustments to how the pillow looks, this is the last time that you can do it. I was perfectly happy with how mine looked, so I went on to closing the holes. Make sure that the sides with the holes aren't on the outside of the pillow as if they are it may make the edges look lumpier than they are.

Step 8: Closing the Holes

Before you do this step, make sure that the fluff in the pillow is what you wanted and imagined. This is the first step where you have to kiss the sewing machine goodbye and go onto needle and thread. If you don't know how to sew with a needle and thread, search it up on YouTube and you can find many videos explaining what to do. Here you will pin the holes closed. Make sure that you tuck each edge in slightly so that it will create a nice, clean line. Don't worry about how it looks because it is on the inside and will be sewn over. Do this for each pillow and then put the pillows in a grid one last time before you start to sew them together.

Step 9: Sewing the Pillows Together

This may be the most tedious step in the entire thing because there is a lot that can go wrong. You have to hand sew the pillows together. I tried to sew it with the sewing machine, but it didn't work. You have to sew at least a quarter inch into the pillow to not see the backing if you bend it from above. Be careful when choosing what pillows to sew to other pillows and what way to sew them. You are going to need a really sharp needle, it will make your life much easier. I sewed the pillows in lines of 3 since I am doing a 9x9 pillow square and then sewed those rows together. This may be the most important step as you are creating the top of the main pillow.

Step 10: Cutting the Back of the Pillow

Here you will take that backing that you purchased and measure it to the pillow top you created and the pillow itself. I would say to make it bigger than the actual back of the pillow. I then ironed the back to make it look nice.

Step 11: Sewing the Top to the Back on 2 Sides

You can sew the top of the pillow to the back on two OPPOSITE sides of the pillow with a sewing machine. Pin it the same way you pinned each pillow, allowing enough room, but not too much. Be very careful when sewing, go very slowly and keep a close eye on it. When you finish sewing these two sides, flip the pillow cover inside out to reveal the real pillow cover to check how it will fit against your pillow form. Then flip it inside out again to hand sew the second to last side.

Step 12: Sewing the Second to Last Side

On this side of sewing, you have to hand sew it. Don't put the pillow form in while sewing this side. Make sure that the stitches are nice and even and very tight. I wish I would have done this, but I am still happy with the result as you can't see it very much. You may have to tuck in sides of the backing, but don't worry about that as it will look fine after the pillow is complete.

Step 13: Sewing the Last Side

On this side, turn what you have sewn inside out to reveal that you have one more side to sew. Sew this side with the pillow form inside as this is the very last step. Make sure the seam that you are sewing is tucked in and looks nice. Start the line of stitches inside the seam and make very small stitches. This will hold the pillow together, but try to make the stitches as small as you possibly can with still having the stitch hold the pillow together.

Step 14: Enjoy the Pillow!

You are finally done and you have a new, nice pillow to put anywhere in your house. Thanks for doing this instructable project and I hope that you are happy with the end result!