Nursing Pillow and Cover

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 1 1/4 yard Muslin or cotton for pillow form
• 1 1/4 yard Cotton or flannel print for removable cover
• 2 2/3 yards Lightweight fusible interfacing
• 1 package Poly-fil®, 32oz
• 1 yard 3/4" wide Velcro®
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Sewing notions
• Rotary cutter and cutting board
• Tape

DIRECTIONS:

1. Make the pillow form:

• Fold the muslin or cotton to 16"x 23" with the fold on one 23" edge.
• Lay the pattern on the muslin or cotton lining up the center fold edge of the pattern on the folded edge of fabric.
• Transfer the pattern to the fabric. Cut around the perimeter of the pattern.
• Repeat.
• Place the two muslin or cotton pieces right sides together, matching all the edges.
• Sew a 1/2" seam allowance around the perimeter leaving 6" open to turn.
• Backstitch on either side of the opening.
• Trim the seam allowance edge to 1/4" and add a zigzag stitch around the perimeter.
• Turn the fabric right side out through the opening.
• Fold the opening edges in to match the seams on either side.
• Press the fabric.
• Fill the pillow with Poly-fil. The pillow should be rather firm.
• Handstitch the pillow opening closed with a ladder stitch.



2. Make the removable cover:

• Cut one of the full pattern from the interfacing, same as the muslin.
• Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the print fabric.
• Cut the fabric along the perimeter line of the full pattern. This will be the front.
• The back of the cover will be made up of two pieces overlapped in the center.
• Cut the pattern at the horizontal line marked "Back cover top edge". Use the bottom of the pattern.
• Cut one print fabric and one interfacing on the fold for the bottom of the back using this pattern.
• Tape the pattern back together.
• Cut the pattern at the horizontal line marked "Back cover bottom edge". Use the top of the pattern.
• Cut one print fabric and one interfacing on the fold for the top of the back using this pattern.
• Fuse the interfacing to the top and bottom pieces of the back.
• To hem to horizontal, overlapping edges of the back cover, fold the edge back 1/4" and press.
• Fold the edge back again 1" and press.
• On the bottom panel, fold the ends of the hem under at an angle to encase the raw edges. On the top panel, trim off the excess hem that runs past the side curves of the pattern.
• Sew close to the fold of the hems.
• Fold the Velcro and the top and bottom back panels in half to find the centers. Align the centers of the Velcro with the centers of the back panels.
• Place one side of Velcro on the back of the top back panel and the other on the front of the bottom back panel.
• Center the Velcro on the 1" wide hem.
• Sew the Velcro close to both sides and over the ends.
• Lay the front panel right side up on a flat surface.
• Layer the top back panel right side down on top of the front panel matching the edges.
• Layer the bottom back panel on top of the front panel matching the raw edges. The hems between the two back panels should lay directly over one another. Press the Velcro to hold the back panels together.
• Pin or use fabric clips to hold the front and back panels together.
• Sew a 1/2" seam allowance around the perimeter of the cover.
• Trim the seam allowance to 1/4" and add a zigzag stitch around the perimeter.
• Turn the cover right side out through the Velcro opening and press.
• Insert the pillow form into the removable cover. The cover should be tight.
• Align the Velcro and press to close.