If you are going to sew, you need some basic tools – what I call your Sewing Survival Kit. These are tools I work with everytime I sew and you will, too. For more information on these tools and everything sewing read Sewing for Dummies, Third Edition (Wiley, 2010).
- 5-inch trimming scissors
- 8-inch Dressmaking Shears
- Glass head pins
- Wrist pin cushion
- Water-erasable marker
- Measuring tape
- Seam Ripper
- Sewing Machine
- Iron and ironing board
Sewing a One-Piece Fringed Envelope Pillow
Make this really easy pillow using a fabric that complements your decor and a sensational decorator trim called bullion fringe. Think 2 to 3-inch fringe that is attached to a braid (see Figure 15-10 below). After making this easy pillow, you may amaze even yourself with your new found creativity and sewing skills.
To make this project, you need the following materials in addition to your Sewing Survival Kit (See Chapter 1 for a kit rundown):
- One 18-inch pillow form
- 1/2 yard of 48-or-54-inch-wide home decor fabric
- Thread that matches the fabric
- 1-yard bullion fringe to coordinate with the fabric
Follow these steps to create the pillow:
1. Cut the fabric 18 x 46 inches, as shown in Figure 15-9.
2. Finish the short ends of the pillow cover. See Chapter 6 for more information on edge finishing.
3. Press and stitch a 1/2-inch hem on both short ends of the fabric.
4. Cut the bullion fringe in half and place the two 18-inch lengths on the pillow cover as shown in Figure 15-10. See information in Chapter 13 on how to safely cut the fringe so that it doesn’t unravel unexpectedly.
5. Place the trim on the right side of the fabric, centering it on the sides of the fabric strip so that the lip edge of the fringe is even with the raw edges.
6. Fold the short ends toward the center, right sides together, so that the pillow cover measures 18 inches square, as shown in Figure 15-11. The short ends overlap each other about 4 1/2 inches and sandwich the bullion fringe in the seam line.
7. Set your machine like this:
- Stitch: Straight
- Length: 3 to 4 mm/6 to 9 spi
- Width: 0
- Foot: All-purpose
8. Sew a 1/2-inch seam on both sides of the pillow cover, back stitching at both ends of each seam.
9. Press the seams flat and together.
10. Turn the pillow cover right side out and pop the pillow form into the cover through the opening in the back.

Figure 15-9: Cut your fringed envelope pillow fabric 18 x 46 inches.

Figure 15-10: Hem both short ends, then center the two lengths of fringe on the pillow cover fabric.

Figure 15-11: Fold and overlap the short ends toward the center so that your pillow cover measures 18 inches square.