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Raggedy Denim Pillow.... how to make yours!Make a Raggedy Denim Pillow... make loads of them, from different coloured denim, different shades of blue, you can go crazy with them!. As long as your denim is more of a soft worn denim, then it will fray easier and will be a softer pillow. Materials needed: 8 x denim squares (I used 7 inch squares) denim needle for your sewing machine polyester fill (the really soft kind)
Sew the squares together, (remember your seams will be the right side, so make sure you put wrong sides together when sewing your squares)
Make a strip of 4 denim squares making sure to use 1/2 inch seam allowance. (this will make your pillow one foot square). Make the other strip the same way.. You now have 2 strips of denim squares... your raggedy denim pillow is forming!
Then throw in the dryer, make sure to clean the lint traps on both machines as this is where you will get lots of denim fuzzy's... and there is your pillow, this is where you will notice right away whether you missed clipping a seam, or whether you didn't clip close enough.. if you clip to far apart, you will end up with more of a "curly cue", but if that is the look you want.. then that is good too! Now stuff your pillow to desired plumpiness!.. and sew the opening closed.
If you would like to make more things from denim, but don't want to be spending your days and nights cutting out denim squares, then why not check online?... I have purchased many thru ebay.. After some research, I have created a page here from Ebay for denim squares and supplies. This is a current live page, and you can click on the link, then on any title for more information, or to search the category further or to sign up with Ebay.com, its free and then go shopping!
or if you do wish to cut out denim yourself, you will need to find a supply of old jeans, or become the "jean lady" like I am, and every relative and neighbour will get rid of their jeans at your house!..
You can purchase scissors and supplies, just make youself a template for the size squares you want and get cutting.. |
Sew Both strips together, making sure to lay previous seams (from sewing squares together) flat, in order to create less bulk for your sewing machine, you can lay one seam one way and the other side the opposite way, but do NOT open the seams out, lay them flat to one side, this make its easier to trim your raggedy denim pillow edges.
Now you have your rectangle of 8 squares all sewn together, this is the basic pattern for your raggedy denim pillow
Fold your rectangle in 1/2, so that there are 4 squares on each side (this is also a good base for making a tote bag!). Sew up the sides and across the top, making sure to leave a couple of inches open for stuffing your pillow.
Now you should have your pillow with all the raw edges on the outside, now the fun part!. Making sure you have good sharp scissors, make cuts 1/8" apart all along the seams, the outside edges as well as all edges where your squares are sewn together. Now, the part where your seams were sewn over, just clip as close to the edge as you can to release the seam, when its frayed in the washer, it will look like one continues fray. Just be careful not to clip any seams,
Throw you pillow into the washing machine, and add a bit of detergent and softener as you were handling this pillow, you want it nice and clean and soft!
I love working with denim, and have made a lot of these pillows. I have them all over my house, as well as sell them in craft shows, you can make them up very quickly and they seem to sell well at shows as well as online, as they are soft and lightweight..You do not have to use 7 inch squares, you can use any size you want.. I just did that to get a one foot square pillow, as I added enough for 1/2 inch seam allowance.