DIY Throw Pillow Re-Style

We purchased a cool vintage sectional sofa off Craigslist a few months back, but I have been having a difficult time trying to figure out what kind of throw pillows to use with it. I am used to having a solid colored sofa with colorful print pillows. However, this sofa is a blue and green fabric with a pattern. I found some cream ruffled pillows that made a cute accent, but it still wasn't enough. I pulled an old solid green pillow out of the closet and liked the way the color looked with the couch, but it still looked drab. So I thought I would dress it up a bit.

My mother-in-law gave me the book I had asked for at Christmas, Handmade Beginnings by Anna Marie Horner. In the book is a cute project doing bird and leaf appliqué on a lampshade to make a baby mobile. I LOVE to decorate with birds so I thought I would use the patterns and do the appliqué on my pillow. I had some pretty fabrics in my stash that I thought would go well together and would also coordinate with the sofa.

I ironed Heat'n Bond onto the back of my three fabrics and then traced the patterns onto the paper side and cut them out. I played around with the layout for a little until I found one I was happy with. Then I peeled off the paper backing and ironed them onto the pillow case. I then stitched around each pattern with my sewing machine using a regular stitch. To finish it off, I made a flower out of a long scrap piece of fabric. I hot glued a circle of felt to the back and then hot glued a pin closure to that, so I could just pin it the pillow. I am really pleased with how it turned out.

I have one more pillow in the same fabric but a different shape that I am also planning to do something to. I think I am going to appliqué a word onto it. Still thinking about it...

I know I said that I was going to do a post about shopping on Craigslist and FSOT, but I just finished this pillow and had to show it off! :) I'll try to do that post tomorrow or by next week at the latest.

Always,

Amanda