No-Sew Accent Pillows

Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-818 -- More Projects »

Denim throw pillow and bolster pillows are easy to make with cast-off jeans. See instructions below.

Interior designer Tracey Dale shows how to create unique no-sew accent pillows.

Jeans Pillows

These pillows are a great way to recycle jeans that no longer fit or are worn out. They're perfect for a child's room or casual family room.

Materials:

pair of jeans
scissors
fabric glue
hook-and-loop strip
pillow form or batting

Steps:

Cut off the legs of an old pair of jeans just below the zipper.
Use fabric glue to seal the bottom half. The heavier the fabric, the more glue you will need. Just turn under the rough edge of the bottom layer, without the zipper, about a half inch, then run a generous bead of glue along the edge.
Turn under the edge of the top side of the jeans about a half inch and press onto the glue on the bottom side to seal.
To seal the top edge, glue a hook-and-loop strip on each side. Set something heavy on the strips while the glue dries--about an hour.
Wait 24 hours before stuffing the pillow with a pillow form or batting, and press closed along the top edge. Tuck fun items into the pockets, like a teddy bear or the remote control.
Once stuffed, let it cure for about a week before using it.

Use the cutoff legs of the jeans to make bolster pillows.

Steps:

Cut each end of the pants leg so they are even.
Turn under the rough edge about an inch.
Take a strip of trim such as faux-suede fringe and glue it, placing it just up and under the turned edge. Seal each leg with trim.

Faux Suede Pillow

These pillows have the look and feel of suede without the cleaning worries.

Materials:

fabric
scissors
pillow form
needle and thread or sewing machine
fabric glue
fabric tape
strip of hook-and-loop tape

Steps:

Cut fabric to desired size, using a pillow form as a guide, if desired. Lay out with right side together.
Hem on three sides. Use glue for sealing by lining the edges with a piece of fabric tape. This way you won't get a bumpy line on the thin fabric.

Figure A
Run the bead of glue on the tape, rather than directly on the fabric (figure A).
On the fourth side, glue a strip of hook-and-loop tape* to each side.
Let the glue dry an hour and then turn inside out, for finished seams on all sides.
Let dry for 24 hours before stuffing, then cure for one week before using.

* Note: Since the fabric is inside out, one strip should go on the fabric facing up (not on the inside as with tape and glue), and the other strip should go on the side facing down on the surface. That way, when the pillow is turned inside out, the strips will touch each other properly.

A linen dishtowel can be used to make a quick pillow cover with just a little glue.

Dishtowel Pillow

This is fun for a seating area or kitchen.

Materials:

dishtowel
fabric glue
hook-and-loop tape squares
marker

Steps:

Lay a towel out flat and run a bead of glue along both side edges on the middle third of the towel.
Fold up the bottom third and press onto glue to create a pocket.
Glue on two squares of hook-and-loop tape about three inches in from each side of the towel.
Turn down the top third of the towel (like an envelope), and mark where the other piece of hook-and-loop tape should go to correspond with the bottom pieces, and glue on.
Let dry 24 hours before stuffing, then cure for a week.

Sophisticated Pillow

This trick can be used to dress up pillows for a party, using just a yard of shimmery fabric and decorative jewelry.

Steps:

Lay out the fabric on a flat surface and place the pillow form in the middle.
Gather fabric up evenly around all edges, fluffing and arranging for desired look.

Figure B
Fasten the ends of the fabric in the center with a brooch or decorative fastener (figure B).

Rug Pillow

Use an inexpensive rug to make a quick cover for a good pillow that will be getting rough use. It is easy to make and just as easy to put on and take off when a gang of kids is coming over.

Steps:

Stretch an inexpensive rug out flat.

Figure C
Place the good pillow in the center and fold the bottom half up (figure C).
Glue a hook-and-loop strip across the inside upper edge and on the outside of the folded up edge.
Fold over the top third to seal. The sides should remain open.

Guests
Tracey Dale
Designer
E-mail: traceydale_style@yahoo.com
Website: www.traceydale.com
Also in this Episode

Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-818
•	No-Sew Accent Pillows
•	Scrumptious Skewers
•	Naptime Help
•	Smart Solution of the Day