To make a pillow with fleece fabric, you’ll first need to pick out your fleece material, cut two identical pieces to the size you desire for your pillow, place these pieces right-sides facing each other, and sew around the edges, leaving a small opening. Through this opening, turn the fabric right-side out, stuff your pillow to the desired fullness with a pillow stuffing material, and then stitch the opening closed. Now, let’s delve into the details of each step to ensure your fleece pillow is both comfortable and well-made.
Gathering Your Materials
Before you begin making your fleece pillow, it is essential to gather all the necessary materials. Here are the basics that you’ll need:
- Fleece Fabric: Choose the color and pattern you like. Ensure you have enough fabric to cut two pieces to your desired pillow size, plus a little extra for seam allowances.
- Pillow Stuffing: You can use polyester fiberfill, cotton, wool, or even buckwheat hulls, depending on the pillow feel you prefer.
- Sewing Machine: Although you can sew by hand, a sewing machine will make the process quicker and stitches more consistent.
- Sewing Needle: You’ll need it for hand-stitching the opening shut after stuffing the pillow.
- Thread: Choose a color that matches or complements your fleece fabric.
- Scissors: For cutting the fabric and trimming threads.
- Straight Pins: To hold the fabric pieces together before sewing.
- Measuring Tape or Ruler: To measure and cut your fabric accurately.
- Fabric Marker or Chalk: To mark the dimensions on your fabric before cutting.
Preparing the Fabric
Once you have all your materials, the next step is to prepare your fleece fabric:
Cutting the Fabric
- Lay your fleece fabric out on a flat surface. Use a measuring tape and fabric marker or chalk to mark out two identical squares or rectangles for your pillow. Add an extra inch to both the length and width for a 1/2-inch seam allowance around the entire pillow.
- Ensuring the fabric is flat and without wrinkles, cut along the lines you have marked using a pair of sharp scissors.
Pin the Pieces Together
- Place the two pieces of fleece with the right sides (the side you want to be visible on the finished product) facing each other.
- Use straight pins to pin around the edges to keep the pieces from shifting when sewing.
- Make sure to leave an opening on one side, around 3 to 4 inches long, so you can turn the pillow right-side out and add the stuffing later.
Sewing the Pillow
Machine Stitching
- Starting at one end of the opening, begin sewing a 1/2-inch seam around the perimeter of the fabric. Remember to backstitch at the beginning and end of your sewing to secure the stitches.
- When you reach corners, leave the needle down, raise the presser foot, and turn the fabric 90 degrees to maintain sharp corners.
- Continue sewing around until you reach the other side of the opening. Backstitch and cut the thread.
- Before turning the pillow right-side out, clip the corners at a diagonal. Be careful not to cut your stitches. This reduces bulk and helps to create a crisper corner.
- Turn your pillow right-side out through the opening. Use a pointy but not sharp object, like a chopstick or the eraser end of a pencil, to push out the corners.
- Now it’s time to stuff your pillow. Gradually fill the pillowcase with your chosen stuffing material. You’ll want to stuff it evenly to avoid lumps.
- Keep adding filling until the pillow reaches your desired fullness and firmness.
- Once stuffed, fold the raw edges of the opening inside the pillow to match the sewn seams.
- Pin the opening closed to hold everything in place.
- Using a needle and thread, hand-sew the opening using an invisible stitch, ladder stitch, or whip stitch, being sure to secure your thread well when you start and finish.
- Consider sewing on buttons, ribbon, pom-poms, or other decorative items to give your pillow a unique look.
- Appliqué patterns or initials to personalize it further.
- Follow the same steps as above but make the overall size slightly larger than your pillow form for ease of removal.
- Instead of sewing the opening closed, add snaps, Velcro, or a zipper so that the cover can be removed.
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Trimming and Turning
Stuffing the Pillow
Closing the Pillow
Adding Decorative Touches
If you like, you can add some decorative touches to your pillow:
Applying Embellishments
Creating a Pillow Cover
Another option is to create a removable pillow cover that can be washed separately:
Finishing Thoughts
Making a pillow with fleece fabric is a fun and simple project, great for beginners and seasoned sewers alike. By following these steps, you can create a comfortable, durable, and personalized pillow perfect for any room in your home. The joy of this project is the ability to customize the size, shape, firmness, and decorative elements. Use your creativity, enjoy the process, and before long, you’ll have a custom pillow that adds a cozy touch to your space. Remember that the quality of the materials and careful attention to the details will determine the finished pillow’s look and feel, so take your time and enjoy crafting a pillow that you’ll be proud to display or give as a gift.
