Crayon Pillow Tutorial

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The first time I saw Mathew Boudreaux's (aka Mister Domestic) new Playroom fabric, I immediately thought how fantastic it would be for making crayon pillows!! You know, like those giant inflatable crayons you can win from carnival games? But pillows!! It sounded so fun!

Crayon pillows

I'm elated to tell you that idea came to reality, and the pillows are featured in the Lookbook for the fabric collection!! Be sure to hop over there and see all the amazing projects included!!


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For my pillows, I used three prints from the Playroom collection, and I paired them with AGF Pure Elements solids in Raspberry Rose, Zambia Stone, and Parisian Blue. I used coordinating 50wt Aurifil threads too! I picked #2725 Light Wedgewood, #2588 Light Magenta, and #4661 Mint Julep.

Playroom fabric and Aurifil thread

I'll share a tutorial here if you want to make some of your own crayon pillows!

Crayon pillow tutorial

Want to get the tutorial as a PDF so you can save it and print it when you're ready to use it? Enter your email in this form, and the tutorial will be emailed to you!



Crayon Pillows

What you need to make ONE pillow:

1/2 yard print fabric (I used prints from the Playroom collection for Art Gallery Fabrics)
1/2 yard coordinating solid fabric (I used AGF Pure Elements solids)
(1) 18" x 6" Foam Bolster Pillow (I got mine from here)
Olfa Circle Rotary Cutter (this is optional, but it really helps to cut circles!)


Olfa rotary circle cutter


Directions:

1. From the print fabric, cut (1) 16 1/2" x 19 1/2" rectangle.

2. Print the cone template HERE. Be sure the template prints at 100% scale (NOT fit to page or scale to fit, etc). Cut out each half and tape together along the vertical line. Trace template onto solid fabric. **IMPORTANT** CUT 1/4" AWAY FROM DRAWN LINE to cut out the template. This is the required seam allowance.


Fabric pieces for crayon pillows


3. From the solid fabric, also cut (2) 1 1/2" x 19 1/2" rectangles, (1) 6 1/2" diameter circle, AND (1) 1 1/2" diameter circle. (If using the Olfa Rotary Circle Cutter, you'll set the measurement for half the diameter - so 3 1/4" for the large circle and 3/4" for the small circle.)


Olfa rotary circle cutter


4. Sew the long solid rectangles to both ends of the print rectangle. Press.


Sewing crayon pillows


5. Fold the circles in half, and then in half again. Finger press, then mark the folds. I like to use an air erasable pen.


Crayon pillows


6. Hold the piece from step 4 so that a solid piece is across the top. Fold in half, right sides together, so the two ends of the top solid strip are aligned. Begin sewing down the side, but stop just after the solid fabric! Repeat for the other end too.


Sewing crayon pillows


7. Fold the piece in half, using the sewn line as the edge. Then fold in half again. Mark each of these spots.


Sewing crayon pillows


8. Place the large circle inside the "tube" and align two marked spots. Stitch about 1/2", then align the edge again. Sew another 1/2" and align the edges again. Use the marked spots as a guide and pull or ease in the fabric as needed. Keep repeating until you get all the way around.


Sewing crayon pillows


9. Fold cone shape piece in half right sides together and sew along straight edge.


Sewing crayon pillows


10. Fold bottom in half then in half again and mark the four creases.


Sewing crayon pillows

Sewing crayon pillows


11. Fold the top in half then in half again and mark the four creases.


Sewing crayon pillows


12. Place the small circle inside the small end of the cone, lining up the marked spots, and carefully stitch them together. Go just a couple stitches at a time before realigning the edges. Repeat until all the way around. Note: This is tricky. It took me several tries to get it acceptable. Do your best and don't worry if it's not perfect!


Sewing crayon pillows


13. Use scissors to clip the curves about every 1/4" all the way around. Clip just up to the stitching line, but not through the stitches. Turn the cone right side out.


Sewing crayon pillows


14. Fold the other end of the unit from step 8 in half up to the stitched line, then in half again. Mark the four creases.


Sewing crayon pillows


15. Place the cone inside the end of the "tube." Align the seams on both pieces and begin stitching there. Stitch about 1/2", then stop and realign the edges. Repeat until all the way around, using the marked lines as a guide and pulling or easing in the fabric as needed.

Sewing crayon pillows


16. Stuff the crayon end until as firm as desired (I used Poly-fil). Insert the bolster pillow form into the crayon. Fold and/or compress the foam to get it through the opening.


Stuffing crayon pillows


17. Hand stitch the opening closed.


Sewing crayon pillows


Repeat to make as many pillows as you want! 


Crayon bolster pillows

Jumbo crayon pillows


After making the pillows, I made a quilt to match! But I can't share it with you quite yet! Soon!!

Let me know if you make any crayon pillows! I'd love to see what you create!!


Crayon pillows tutorial

4 comments:

  1. Fantastic tutorial. I like the advice in Step 12. Can't wait to see the matching quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great idea and such a fun collection. I am sure the quilt is worth waiting for.

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are super cute! What a fun idea!

    ReplyDelete

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