Friday, November 11, 2011

Step By Step

This afternoon I worked on my ornament. I'll show you exactly how I do this. I hardly touched a sewing machine until only a couple years ago ~ I'm NO expert. Dinna be askin' me to sew ye a shirt, lassies! This is about all I have really mastered, simple pillows. So far it's all I've needed. My point is this is easy!

After I pulled threads on the design and ironed interfacing on the back (and some on the back of the backing fabric as well) I trimmed the design on the lines. I also trimmed the backing fabric to fit and pinned the two together. Front sides together, please! The interfacing simply gives the pillow a little bit of body or "stiffness" to help keep it's shape. Plus, it helps keep fiberfill from squiggling out and driving OCD people like me crazy.


Now, I sew down each side and across the top. I don't "turn" the corners ~ I sew straight up and take a few stitches backwards then up again to reinforce the corner. Then I do the next seam the same way to create a + at each corner.


Once each side and the top is sewn I trim the threads and nip off the top corners. See the +?


Then I turn it right side out. I use a stuffing tool to gently poke out the top corners. This stuffing tool came with my package of fiberfill. After I have it turned out I fold in the bottom edges where I am going to sew it closed and run the tip of my iron over it to crease it. Careful ~ don't melt any buttons with that iron!


Yay stuffing! This being an ornament, I don't want it too heavy so I'm using fiberfill, just enough to fluff it out all puffy. DO NOT EVER use paper towels or toilet paper for stuffing material! You want fluffy and puffy not lumpy and flattening! I've used cotton balls as puffy backing behind stitching on greeting cards but I think they'd get too lumpy in pillows. Besides, fiberfill is extra cheap and easy to find as well.


Once it's stuffed I sew the seam closed on my fold-over using a ladder stitch. This is an excellent hidden seam stitch every needleworker should be able to do ~ so learn it! Learn it now, and here is a video to help you. Seriously, if I can learn this anyone can. And it's a lot easier if you fold and iron those edges first!


A very nice seam! If you are nervous about working with backing fabric try homespun like this or a gingham print fabric. Those straight lines will help you cut, sew and finish the closing seam neatly! Now my little ornament is ready for some edging.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox

42 comments:

  1. Sharon,
    Another great tutorial. I'm going to give it a try. Thanks!

    your ornament is very cute and I love the baking fabric!

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  2. lovely clear tutorial Daffycat, again tis much appreciated, I've never thought about reinforcing my corners before but given the problems I've had with turning I think I will from now on!!!

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  3. great tutorial! even those of us (me) petrified of a sewing machine should be able to give it a try using your instructions!

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  4. Thanks for the tutorial! Your ornament came out really, really well!

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  5. This post is an absolute God-send!!! I can stitch just fine, but I have a drawer-full of happy dances just sitting around because I break out in a cold sweat thinking about finishing them. You did a wonderful job explaining and the youtube link is brilliant. Thanks for the great post!

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  6. That is BRILLIANT!! I'd never heard of the ladder stitch before, I am so going to try that the next time I finish something! Thank you!

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  7. Thanks for showing how to do this! I never thought about the interfacing and I like how you explained the seams too ~ very helpful. :)

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  8. Thanks for giving us non-sewers a great tutorial.

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  9. Thanks for the great tutorial! I'm not new to CS but I'm new to making smalls & have had quite a stressful time trying to finish them to look nice. I really appreciate the help! Blessings, Shirlee

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  10. Looks lovely. Thank you for the pics.

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  11. That is a great tutorial. Ladder stitch is my fave, too.

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  12. Thank you SOOO much for this I have some stitching ready to be made into an ornie and this is so helpful - as I was a bit scared I would spoil it - thanks also for the link to the ladder stitch as I've not heard of that stitch before xx

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  13. And another great tutorial. Just as great as the one about tea staining. But the funniest so far is the one about the loop method, lol.
    I loved the ornament you stitched for Conny.

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  14. Thank you very much for this tutorial Sharon, it's extremly useful for beginner finishers like me! Best wishes.

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  15. Thanks for the tutorial. I am very new to finishing ornaments and usually get my mum to do them for me lol. I am going to give this a go. Thank you.

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  16. oooo you sew just like me too ...lol I gave lesson to a friend exactly like this and showed her the ladder stitch too and she was soooooo impressed .... it was a bit like dejavu reading this ..lol .. lovely simple tutorial to help others :) love mouse xxxx

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  17. That is so helpful Sharon, thanks so much.

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  18. Love this! Thanks for always taking the time to show us a "how to"! :) Cathryn

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  19. thank you dear for the great tutorial..it is very helpful.
    love for you xx

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  20. Thanks for the help Sharon! I'm still trying to get my ladder stitch down pat. I seem to have a bit of puckering after I'm done stitching it. I know it will improve over time.

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  21. Your ornament is so nice! Thanks for the ladder stitch idea, I didn't know about it but will definitely try it.

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  22. I really like your work! Hugs from Poland!

    Cyber Julka
    http://cyberjulka.blogspot.com/

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  23. Just a daft question would bondaweb be the same as interfacing??? Also, would you be doing another tutorial on edging??? (I am sat here doing my four straight edges xx)

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  24. Wonderful tutorial, Sharon! I have always turned my edges when sewing on the machine, but I'll give this a try--sewing right through looks easier :)

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  25. Lol - sorted it was interfacing the mysterious fabric xx

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  26. Thanks so much! My finished pillows always come out looking a little amateur-like, so i will try your great tips and see if I can improve. Would you consider doing a little tutorial on adding the edging? (Please!) That part really scares me too ........
    Thanks, Nicky

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  27. thank you Sharon a great tutorial for us few that are frightened with the thought of using a sewing machine

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  28. I love your ornament! I do the same thing but I hand sew everything. And my ladder stitch really sucks. I'll have to go watch that video.

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  29. Aha! The bit about not turning the corner was very helpful. You give me confidence to even try...my sewing machine and I are NOT on speaking terms right now. =)

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  30. Awesome tutorial Sharon! I never thought of sewing it this way :o)

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  31. Exactly how I do my pillows also. Nice stuffing tool. I use a chopstick!

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  32. Definitely some ideas here for keeping the corners nice--thanks!

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  33. Beautiful!!! I'm so glad you posted that video!!! I can never get mine to look right so I tend to avoid that way of finishing.

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  34. I have counted canvas stocking to finish as a ornament. I have been trying to figure out how to finish and your instructions provided the answers. Thanks for the perfect timing!

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  35. I am so happy I have found your tutorial, I am dancing :) I have just completed my LHN The North Wind and as I stitched it on 16ct aida I wasn't sure I wanted to make it into a picture. A pillow is the way to go and I know how to make one that will (hopefully) be neat.I have my fibre fill and backing fabric and my little sewing machine :):) Thanks Daffycat.

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  36. I've done a ton of pillow ornaments and I'm still learning new little tips from these tutorials so thank you for posting them. :)

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  37. Thanks for the lovely tutorial! I have been having trouble with turning the pillows right side out because I sew a little bit on the opening. Next one I do I will have to try leaving that side totally open.

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  38. Looks wonderful, and you make it look so easy!

    ~Kat

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  39. Thank you so much for posting this!! I am getting ready to sew up my pillow ornament gifts and have always used the very visible whipstitch to close them. The ladder stitch looks unbelievably easy!!! I will be giving that a go later today. :)

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