Finished Pillows: 16˝ × 12˝
Folk art has a long tradition of interpreting animals of all sorts. They often have a simplified, whimsical charm that is very appealing. Some of my favorites are chalkware cats, mohair bears, and elephant pull toys.
The idea for the cat pillow came from my own special feline, Triss. She sits just that way as she stares out the window watching for birds. In the fall, we have these amazing flocks of blackbirds that come into our yard by the hundreds. Together their many wings make the most incredible sound. As for rabbits, they show up in the most unexpected places. Often I will come upon them on a summer evening as I head from my studio to the house. They keep a watchful eye on me.
This beautiful chalkware cat is a wonderful example of whimsical folk art.
In keeping with my desire to use materials I already have, all of these projects use different fabrics from my shelves. It certainly helps with the budget to be able to use what is in your stash! You can easily adjust the colors to suit your own inspiration and the changing seasons.
Each one of these pillows has its own charm, so make one or all of them and bring a bit of creature comfort into your home.
MATERIALS
For each pillow
•½ yard of heavy cotton, twill, or wool fabric, or 2 rectangles 13˝ × 17˝ for pillow front and back
•12˝ × 16˝ pillow form
•Embroidery floss: 1 skein each of antique white, dark brown, and dark mustard
•Sewing machine
Wool for cat
•1 tan rectangle 14½˝ × 11˝ for background
•1 blue rectangle 4˝ × 8˝ for circles
•1 dark orange rectangle 3˝ × 7˝ for hearts and circle
•1 gray rectangle 5˝ × 6˝ for cat head and body
•1 white rectangle 3˝ × 5½˝ for cat legs
•1 light orange rectangle 2½˝ × 3½˝ for spots on cat
•1 green rectangle 2˝ × 12˝ for leaves and heart
•1 tan rectangle 3˝ × 3¼˝ for flowerpot details
•1 black rectangle 2½˝ × 3˝ for flowerpot
Wool for rabbit
•1 dark brown rectangle 15˝ × 11˝ for background
•1 dark mustard rectangle 6˝ × 8½˝ for rabbit front body
•1 light mustard rectangle 6˝ × 7˝ for rabbit hind body
•1 medium green rectangle 5˝ × 9˝ for fans
•1 light green rectangle 4˝ × 7˝ for smaller fans
•1 dark green rectangle 3˝ × 5˝ for fan details
•1 brown rectangle 1½˝ × 12˝ for spots
•1 tan rectangle 1˝ × 4˝ for ear detail
•1 white 1½˝ square for eye
Wool for blackbird
•1 light gray rectangle 14˝ × 11½˝ for the background
•1 gray rectangle 4˝ × 12˝ for fence
•1 dark gray rectangle 4½˝ × 6½˝ for the bird
•1 black rectangle 2˝ × 3˝ for the wings
•1 light brown rectangle 3˝ × 6˝ for leaves
•1 orange rectangle 3˝ × 6˝ for leaves
•1 green rectangle 3˝ × 6˝ for leaves
•1 mustard rectangle 2˝ × 4˝ for leaves
•1 dark brown square 3˝ × 3˝ for leaf
GETTING STARTED
Refer to Preparing the Wool Pieces as needed for additional details on these steps.
1 Cut out the wool appliqué pieces using the pattern for the cat, rabbit, or bird.
2 Lay out your appliqués according to the pattern to be sure you have all of the pieces.
SEWING FUN
Refer to Stitching Your Project for details on the blanket stitch and embroidery stitches.
1 Blanket stitch the design to the wool background. Add the embroidery details as shown on the patterns.
2 Using steam, press the design on the wrong side. Trim the wool, referring to Finishing Your Project, as needed. For the cat, trim the background to 13⅛˝ × 9¾˝. For the rabbit, trim to 13½˝ × 9¼˝. For the blackbird, trim to 12¾˝ × 10˝.
3 Center and pin the appliquéd wool rectangle to the right side of the 17˝ × 13˝ piece of cotton, twill, or wool.
4 Blanket stitch the appliquéd rectangle to the pillow fabric.
5 Pin the pillow rectangle right sides together with the second 17˝ × 13˝ piece of fabric.
6 Machine sew around the edges using a ¼˝ seam allowance and leaving an opening (approximately 12˝) along the bottom for turning and inserting the pillow form. I like my pillows to be soft with a flatter look. If you like a fuller pillow, feel free to trim the pillow front and back down by ¼˝ to ½˝ or sew with a larger seam allowance.
Stitch around the edges and leave an opening at the bottom.
hint 
Because I like flatter pillows, I usually remove about one-third of the fill from the pillow form before inserting it. For easy insertion, fold the pillow form in half to insert it into the cover.
7 Turn the piece right side out and insert the pillow form.
8 Pin the opening together and carefully whipstitch the opening closed.
Use a whipstitch to close the pillow.