Cut out heart
template, and use cardstock or cardboard to
trace a heavier template. Trace the heart
onto any scrap fabric that you don't plan to
see. Cut out the heart. Center needlework
piece over the center of heart- it's not
necessary to trim edges at this point.
2. Crazy
Quilting Steps
Choose about 4 or 5
cotton fabric scraps which are complimentary
to the center focus of your pillow. Light
and dark are nice for contrast. Rectangles
will be approx. 7 x 3" or the size you need
to #1. Sew from heart edge to heart edge,
and #2. leave plenty of room when fabric is
opened up to cover heart before trimming.
There is no need to hem fabrics.
You will be sewing
fabrics right side facing to the right side
of embroidery piece, with the bulk of fabric
to the inside, and the seam on the outer
edge. You place, pin, and sew as you go.
Here are the steps you'll repeat which I'll
show in the following illustrations.
Place fabric
(eyeball it)
Turn over and
pin, right side facing with bulk to the
inside
Sew from edge to
edge
Turn over and
flatten out with fingers
Turn heart over,
trim to heart edge
Plan where you
would like your first fabric piece to be. Be
sure that you will not be covering your
center focus piece.
Turn fabric over,
place pins on both edges of heart. This will
be your sewing guide- sew from pin to pin,
off the fabric to off the fabric, with no
backstitching to secure edges. (They will be
secured when pillow is made). Notice how
there is enough fabric at the top to cover
the bottom of the heart when it is folded
out, right side facing.
Seam made. Now, flip fabric over and finger
press so that right side is facing up.
Turn heart over, trim fabric evenly with
heart.
First fabric sewn.
Decide where your next piece will be. Overlap
this fabric over the first, covering a different area. (Still being
careful not to sew over center).
**Remember that you need enough fabric to sew
from heart edge to heart edge, and to cover the opposite edge of the
heart when right side is facing.
Pin edges (this helps to avoid accidents and
to ensure exact seam placement). Sew from pin to pin.
Seam flattened out to right side.
Turn heart over- trim all fabric evenly to
heart.
Plan next fabric piece to overlap last piece,
edge to edge, with enough to cover opposite edge of heart.
Pin, sew, turn over, flatten out, turn over,
and trim to heart edge.
Let's go on to the next piece, repeating same
steps:
place, pin, sew, flatten out, and trim to
heart edge on back side.
Next- repeat the same steps as you go. (Be
careful not to trim too deeply into heart center on back side).
Next- notice how the last fabric piece will
overlap the first.
Finished!
1. Sewing The Pillow
Using heart template and one of your fabrics
from the front, cut out a heart backing piece.
Decide if you want a hanger for your pillow.
For a hanger, cut a narrow piece of regular ribbon (not silk) to 8
1/2".
With right side of crazy quilt piece facing
up, pin hanger ribbon edges at top points of heart, with edges
overlapping outside about 1" (you could go less), and inside loop of
ribbon not twisted. Place backing heart piece (right side down) over
first heart- repin on ribbon hangers.
How this looks inside:
Begin sewing pillow. (The one below doesn't
have the ribbon hanger).
Use a 1/4" hem, or slightly more, being sure
to include all fabrics.
Notice where the pins in the next picture are-
begin sewing at bottom pin, around lower point of heart, up around
sides, around top, and stopping at top pin. Leave about 2 1/2-3"
unsewn between pins for turning right side out. This is my method of
not handsewing the difficult point at the end nor the visible parts
at the top.
Trim off any ribbon ends or excess fabric that
is very large. (No need to trim regular hems).
Separate fabrics with fingers and very
carefully pull pillow right side out. You may use a pin to pull out
corners, being very careful not to pierce the fabric.
Begin stuffing with fiberfill in the top area
opposite the raw edge. Small pieces work better to fill in. Stuff
firmly down opposite edge to point. Keep stuffing until pillow is
fairly firm, not so tight that you can't sew the seam.
Place a small amount of good quality candle
shavings or lavender bath seeds, etc. inside a small wad of
fiberfill. Squeeze a little to release scent- place inside pillow,
not under embroidery. (Once I used a cotton ball with a drop of
essential oil and it leaked through to the front, so dry scents are
better).
Choose a sewing thread that compliments your
fabrics and sew a very tiny seam up sides to close raw edges. Knot
about 3 times at end and push needle through back of heart to
outside- cut thread end so that it disappears inside the fiberfill
of pillow.
