That Mama Gretchen BLOG: {GUEST POST} DIY Ruffled Pillow

Instead of toys and other gifts, for Max's first birthday Dominic and I are planning to complete a house project in his honor ... the understair hideout room! It's going to be decked out with toy and game shelves, an IKEA spice rack book display and best of all, a super cozy reading corner. As soon as I unearth my sewing machine I'll be starting on some homemade pillows ... much like the ones in this darling DIY from amykathryn!

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Using this season’s sealife-inspired amykathryn fabric in coral, we made this cute ruffled accent pillow. Below are instructions on how we did it – join in on the fun & creativity!

What you will need:

Cut two 19” squares of fabric for front and back panel of pillow. Then cut four 38” x 4” pieces of fabric for ruffled edge trim. Once you have all of your supplies and your materials are cut & ironed, you’re ready to start!

Take one trim piece and fold the short end of trim ½ ”. Fold in half lengthwise to show a folded edge at short end.
Sew a long stitch lengthwise ½” from cut edge without backstitching at either end. Leave about 5” of thread hanging off each end.
Hold one thread and scrunch the fabric gently along the other thread towards the middle to get a ruffle. Be careful not to break the thread. If that happens, you must start over with Step 2.
Pull your fabric so it has an even gather throughout the length and so that it fits along one 19” edge of your square pillow. Repeat four times and pin ruffles in place. Folded edge of ruffles should face the center of pillow. Sew trim to pillow facing over the existing stitch line on ruffle.
Sew second panel to facing with ruffle. Make sure fabric is right sides facing each other. Sew to the inside of your existing stitch line. Do not sew almost all of one side. Just sew about 2″ in from the corner on the final fourth side of the square. Then, turn pillow right side out and place pillow form inside case.
Fold and pin the fourth side together. Topstitch the opening closed.