The No Tears Needlepoint Pillow

As I mentioned in my earlier post An Elegant Finished Edge, I had come up with a use for the odd-shapped design that we had designed for our first test custom needlepoint canvas. This 6″ x 7″ canvas is now the center piece of a 12′ x 12′  pillow  for my granddaughter’s nursery.

As you can see, this pillow does not have piping — the most difficult and frustrating part of needlepoing pillow finishing. Also, there is no zipper, no turning inside out, and IT IS EASY!  It is a modified pillow sham which fits over a 12″ x 12″ pillow form.

Materials for the pillow are:

• 12″ x 12″ polyester-filled pillow
• 1/2 yard 42″-45″ fabric
• 1/4 yard Velcro (optional)
• finished needlepoint canvas that is smaller than 12″ x 12″ and whose edges have been bound

Directions:

1. Cut one 18″ x 18″ front.
2. Cut two 11″ x 18″ piece for left and right sides of back.
3. Position finished needlepoint canvas in the center of the front. Stitch in place by machine using zig-zag stitch or by hand using an overcast slip stitch.
4. Sew 2″ hem on left back side and narrow hem on right back side as shown below. (Optionally sew Velcro as shown.)
5. Place left back over right back to create a 18″ x 18″ square.
6. Fold under 1 3/4″ on all four sides of front and back and press with steam iron, mitering each corner.
7. With wrong sides together, stitch around  1 1/4″ from the edge.
8. Stuff pillow form into completed pillow sham.

This method works well for a casual cushion and especially well for a child’s pillow because the finished needlepoint can be easily removed and the pillow sham washed.