Making a pillow with cording is a fantastic way to add a decorative touch to your living space. To create such a pillow, you’ll need materials like fabric, pillow insert, cording, scissors, sewing machine, pins, and an iron. The basic steps involve cutting the fabric to the desired size, attaching the cording, sewing the fabric pieces together, leaving an opening for the insert, and finally, closing the pillow. Now let’s delve deeper into the process with step-by-step instructions to guide you through.
Materials Required
- Fabric of your choice
- Pillow insert or stuffing
- Cording
- Scissors
- Sewing machine (or needle and thread for hand-sewing)
- Straight pins
- Iron
- Zipper or sewing tape (optional for closure)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Selecting Your Fabric and Cording
Before you start, choose a durable fabric that complements your decor. For the cording, you can either purchase pre-made cording or make your own by covering cording rope with a strip of fabric. The width of the fabric strip should be enough to encircle the cording plus seam allowance.
Cutting Your Fabric
Measure your pillow insert, then cut two pieces of fabric with an additional 1 inch on all sides to accommodate the seams. If you want a firmer pillow, reduce the size of the fabric to make a tighter fit.
Attaching the Cording
To attach the cording, place it on the right side of one fabric piece along the edge. The raw edges of the cording fabric and the pillow fabric should align. Use pins to keep the cording in place. If your pillow is not square, carefully snip the cording fabric at the corners to help it turn neatly. Ensure the cording meets nicely where it starts and finishes.
Sewing the Cording
With a zipper foot attached to your sewing machine, sew as close as you can to the cording. A zipper foot will allow you to stitch closer to the cording, giving a tighter and cleaner finish.
Sewing the Pillow Pieces Together
Once the cording is attached, place the other piece of fabric on top of the cording, with the right sides facing together, and align all edges. Pin the fabric pieces together, then sew around the perimeter, once again as close to the cording as possible, which is now sandwiched between the layers. Leave an opening large enough to insert your pillow or stuffing.
Finishing the Pillow
Clip the corners to reduce bulk and turn the pillow right-side-out through the opening. Use your fingers or a blunt tool to push out the corners for a neat finish. Iron the edges if necessary to make them crisp.
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Inserting the Pillow or Stuffing
Now it’s time to insert the pillow or stuffing into the cover. Gradually work the pillow insert into the corners and make sure it’s evenly distributed. If you are using loose stuffing, fill the pillow to your desired firmness, ensuring the stuffing is evenly packed to avoid lumps.
Closing the Pillow
The final step is to close the opening. You can do this by hand using an invisible stitch, also known as a ladder stitch, for a seamless finish. Alternatively, you can install a zipper or use velcro for a removable pillow cover, which is handy for washing purposes.
Customizing Your Pillow
You can customize your pillow by adding extra decorations such as buttons, sequins, or even fabric paint. Remember, creativity has no limits! The key is to choose embellishments that can be secured properly and safely, especially if the pillow will be used frequently.
Tips for Success
- Use a matching thread color to help hide the stitching.
- If making your own cording, cut the fabric on the bias (at a 45-degree angle) so it has more stretch and wraps neatly around the cording rope.
- Practicing on scrap fabric can be helpful if you are new to installing cording.
- For durability, you can double stitch over the seam that has the cording to reinforce the pillow’s edges.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not cutting the strips for the homemade cording wide enough, resulting in difficulty encasing the rope.
- Pulling the cording too tight while sewing, which can cause the pillow to pucker.
- Skipping the step of clipping the corners, which can result in a rounded corner instead of a sharp one.
Finishing Thoughts
Creating a pillow with cording can seem like an intricate task, but with these steps, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a beautiful, customized piece that adds flair to any room. Remember that attention to detail, such as ensuring cording lies flat and sewing seams neatly, makes all the difference in your final product. Be patient with yourself, especially if you are new to sewing, and enjoy the process. Whether for personal use or a handmade gift, a corded pillow is sure to impress and provide comfort for years to come.
