Pocket Pillow

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 1/2 yd Fabric for Pillow Back
• 1/2 yd Coordinating Fabric for Pocket
• 1/2 yd Coordinating Fabric for Pillow Front
• Decorative Trim for Around Pillow, approximately 2 yards
• Coordinating Bias Tape
• Coordinating Webbing/Belting
• Basic Sewing Supplies
• Rotary Cutter, Ruler & Mat
• Pillow Form or Pillow

DIRECTIONS:

• Cut 18"x 10" rectangle from pocket fabric.
• Cut 17"x 13" rectangle from pillow front fabric.
• Cut two 11"x 13" rectangles from pillow back fabric.
• On one 13" side of each back piece, fold under 1/2", press, and fold under 1/2" and press again.

• Cut 18"x 11" rectangle from pocket fabric.
• Cut 17"x 17" rectangle from pillow front fabric.
• Cut two - 11"x 17" rectangles from pillow back fabric.
• On one 17" side of each back piece, fold under 1/2", press, and fold under 1/2" and press again.

1. Topstitch near inner folded edge on back pieces.
2. Sew the bias tape onto the top edge of your pocket.
3. On the bottom of the pocket piece 1" in on each side fold a little 1/2" pleat.
4. Secure the pleats 1/4" from the edge. This makes room in the pocket for more or bigger books.
5. Pin pocket piece to front rectangle matching sides (raw edges) and bottom of pillow and baste edges 1/4" in.
6. Cut 11" of belting/webbing to make a handle.
7. Find center at the top of pillow front and mark with a pin.
8. Pin the edges of your belting 3" from your center mark, making sure the handle isn't twisted & lays towards the center of the pillow.
9. Sew the handle down 1/4" in.
10. Sew decorative trim along outer edge of pillow front.
11. Lay back pieces right sides together to the pillow front (good sides facing each other), overlapping the center finished edges to create an envelope back.
12. Pin and stitch around outer edge using 1/2" seam allowance.
13. Turn right side out and press.
14. Insert pillow form.

JOANN HACKS:

• If your fabric is sheer, cut an extra piece in white solid. Sew (with a long stitch length) along edges 1/4" in to baste them together.
• Packaged bias tape overlaps farther on one side than the other. When sewing bias onto to a straight edge, put the skinnier side on the top & sew near the folded inner edge. This ensures you catch both sides of the bias in one stitch line.