CANDY STRIPE

PILLOW

TECHNIQUE

Overlap Method

Such a sweet pillow.
What more can I say?

Materials

Yardages are based on fabric that is at least 40˝ wide.

•  Solid fabric: ½ yard for pillow ends

•  Wide-cut selvages: At least 12–18 strips, each at least 20˝ long

•  Scrap fabric: 1 rectangle at least 2˝ × 20˝

•  Ribbon: 1 yard for pillow ties

•  Pillow form: Either a 5˝ × 14˝ or 6˝ × 14˝ neck-roll pillow form

•  Glue stick

•  White thread

Cutting

WOF = width of fabric

SOLID FABRIC

•  Cut 1 strip 13˝ × WOF.
Subcut 2 rectangles 13˝ × 20˝.

WIDE-CUT SELVAGES

•  Cut 12 strips 20˝ long to start. Cut additional strips, if needed, as you go during construction.

SCRAP FABRIC

•  Cut 1 rectangle 2˝ × 20˝.

RIBBON

•  Cut 2 lengths 18˝ each.

CONSTRUCTION

Use a ¼˝ seam allowance throughout.

Make the Pillow Cover

1. Referring to the Overlap Method, use the scrap rectangle and the selvages to make a selvage block 14½˝ × 20˝ for the center section of the pillow. Glue, sew, press, and trim.

2. Referring to the pillow cuff assembly diagram, add a solid-fabric cuff onto 1 end of the selvage block. Place a 13˝ × 20˝ solid rectangle with the right side facing up on a flat surface, with a long edge at the top. Place the selvage block right side facing down on top of it, aligning a long edge of the selvage block with the top long edge of the solid rectangle. Roll up the selvage fabric toward the aligned edge, exposing the solid fabric beneath.

Pillow cuff assembly

Lift up and flip the solid fabric so the selvage block is rolled inside it and the wrong side of the solid fabric is exposed. Align the other long edge of the solid fabric with the 2 layers already at the top edge. Pin the top edge, where 3 layers should be meeting now—the solid fabric, the selvage block, and the other end of the solid fabric. Sew the top edge with a ¼˝ seam, backstitching at the start and end.

3. Turn right side out. Press. The selvage pillow cover will now have a cuff of the solid fabric with no raw edges showing on either side.

4. Using the remaining 13˝ × 20˝ solid fabric rectangle, repeat Steps 2 and 3 on the other end of the selvage block to create a second cuff. Press.

The selvage block finished with 2 cuffs

5. To sew the pillow cover together with an enclosed seam, fold the finished pillow cover in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together, matching the seams at the fabric cuffs. Pin. Sew the long edge with a ¼˝ seam.

Wrong sides together

6. Trim the excess seam allowance to an ⅛˝.

7. Turn the pillow right sides together. Sew the same edge with a ¼˝ seam. Turn right side out.

FINISH THE PILLOW

1. Pull the pillow cover over the pillow form. Center the cover so that the ends of the pillow form align with the ends of the selvage sections, with the solid fabric cuffs extending beyond.

2. Using a ribbon piece for each end, gather the fabric that extends beyond the form and tie it tightly closed. Double knot, then tie in a bow.

It will look like a candy in a wrapper now. Yummy!