Hi- I'm Angel with FleeceFun.com! I confess I am loving Shannon Fabric's new Superhero, a Robert Kaufman Cuddle Collection. This collection is perfect for my little boy! Today I'll show you how you can take a panel from the line of superhero fabric and turn it into a couple of pillows. Superheros need a soft place to land!
For this project you will need:
1 panel of Comic Strip from the Superhero collection
1 addition piece of Cuddle fabric that is 17 inches by 21 1/2 inches ( in the example I used some left over Red Chevron)
1 bedroom pillow
1 14 by 14 inch pillow form
Rotary cutter
Ruler
Mat
Walking foot (optional, but recommended)
Large Pillow:
Step 1 - cut up the panel
This panel was brilliantly designed to have a 1 inch border between the elements - making it perfect to cut up for a .5 inch seam allowance! So first thing You need to do is to cut up the pieces that we're going to work with. Cut down the middle of the white borders so each element has a .5 inch border around them.
Step 2 - begin to assemble pieces for large pillowcase
For the pillowcase we will need the elements that are not highlighted in the picture, plus the extra 17 inches by 21 1/2 inches rectangle of Cuddle mentioned above.
Cut the 2 cityscape images (the elements on the sides) so they are the same length as the newspaper element. One will be for the front, the other for the back.
Step 3 - sew the large pillowcase together
Sew one of the cityscape pieces to the right side of the newspaper graphic, using a half inch seam allowance. Then repeat by sewing the cityscape to one side of the Chevron back. Then with right sides together, sew the newspaper front to the Chevron back (using a .5 inch seam allowance), making sure the cityscape is on the same side, leave the side with the cityscape open. Then, turn the edge of the cityscape under 1 inch and sew down using a medium zigzag stitch to finish the case. Trim your threads and turn right side out!
Step 4 - Make the block envelope pillow
I prefer to make envelope pillows so you can wash the cover when you need to ( that is the beauty of Cuddle). Gather the elements that are not highlighted to make your pillow. Choose which four Superhero Character blocks you want for the front and which two you want for the back.
Step 5 - Make the front
Using a .5 inch seam allowance sew the two blocks together to make a column (make sure they are laying in the same direction). Repeat two more times. Then take two columns and sew them together using a .5 inch seam allowance to form a square. This square is the front of your pillow.
Step 6 - Make the back
For the envelope to be effective, the back pieces need to overlap well. We are going to take two of the expression blocks ( the Zap and the Pow) and make them part of the back. Center the zap block and then using 3 inch end sections from another expression block, sew them to the ends of the zap (using a .5 inch seam allowance) to make it the same height as the character column you're using for the back. Sew the lengthened expression blocks to the column using a .5 inch seam allowance. Now take the remaining cityscape pieces and sew them into a column that is 15 inches tall ( you will need to cut off the sky on one of the blocks). This will be the other side of your pillow.
Step 7 - sew the pillow together
Finish up the back by turning under the edge of the zap expression block .5 inch and sew down using a medium zigzag stitch. Then stack the pillow pieces for sewing. Place the front right side up. Then place the column with the characters and the zap face down, and lastly place the cityscape column down. The cityscape and the other back piece ( the zap with characters) should over lap in the middle ( making the envelope. Pin well. Then sew all the way around using a .5 inch seam allowance. Turn right side out and insert pillow form.
You can find more free patterns and tutorials on my website - including the Superhero Cuddle Cape featured in the pictures above!.
