Hey everyone. Today we're making a cozy throw pillow you can finish in an afternoon and enjoy for years.
Let's start with the fabric, y'all. This is the 2 yd Luxe Cuddle Cut Wild Pony, from Shannon Fabrics. It comes to you as a 2-yard Luxe Cuddle cut.
The colorway is Wild Pony in Ivory and Brown. Those warm neutrals work in so many rooms, on a sofa or a bed.
Luxe Cuddle is the plush side of the family. Folks also call this kind of fabric minky. Run your hand across it once. You will feel that soft pile right away.
This fabric is 100% polyester. Care is simple and clear. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. No fabric softener. Softener can coat plush fibers over time. Skip it, and your pillow stays soft longer.
A 2-yard cut is generous here. One pillow uses just part of it. You will have plenty left for a second pillow. Just like that, you have a matching pair.
The Project: A Throw Pillow
A throw pillow is a simple home decor staple — a soft square cushion with a stitched cover. It adds color and texture, and makes a plain chair feel finished.
We are aiming for an 18-inch square pillow. That is a classic throw size. It is big enough to lean against. It is not so big that it takes over the couch.
Why does this fabric suit it so well? A pillow lives on touch. You grab it. You hug it during a movie. Plush Luxe Cuddle feels good every single time. The pile also hides small seam wobbles. That is a kind gift for all of us.
Materials
- Your 2 yd Luxe Cuddle Cut Wild Pony — part of the cut makes one 18-inch pillow, with fabric left over
- One 18-inch pillow form, or polyester fiberfill if you prefer a softer fill
- 50-weight polyester thread to match
- A 90/14 ballpoint or stretch needle
- Wonder clips or long pins — plush likes to shift
- A walking foot, if you have one
- Sharp scissors or a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
- A marking tool and a tape measure
- A chopstick or point turner for the corners
Brief Steps
First, decide your cut size. For an 18-inch pillow form, cut two squares at 19 inches by 19 inches. That gives you a 1/2-inch seam allowance on all sides. Measure twice, folks. Then cut once.
Shake each piece gently outside, or over a trash can. Fresh-cut Cuddle leaves little fluffy bits. That is normal.
Check the pile direction before you sew. Run your hand down each square. Smooth is the direction the pile runs. Keep both squares running the same way. Your pillow will look even in the light.
Place the two squares right sides together. Clip all the way around. Use clips every 2 to 3 inches. Plush stretches a little as you sew. Clips help hold it honest.
Sew around all four sides with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Leave a 6-inch opening along the bottom edge for turning. Lengthen your stitch a touch. About 3.0 to 3.5 millimeters works well on plush. Backstitch at the start and end of that opening.
Trim the corners at an angle. Do not cut through your stitches. Turn the cover right side out. Push each corner out gently with your chopstick. Do not force it. Slow and easy does it.
Slide your 18-inch pillow form inside. Work the corners of the form into the corners of the cover. Smooth the front with your hand. Then close that 6-inch opening with a ladder stitch by hand. Or topstitch it closed on the machine. Completely up to you.
Practical Tips
Use a walking foot if you have one. It feeds both layers evenly. If you do not have one, use lots of clips and sew slower. Slow down near the corners, too. That is where plush likes to creep.
Here is your permission beat. It does not have to be perfect. If one corner is a tiny bit softer than the others, nobody will measure it. You are your own worst critic. Take your time. It is not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. A simple pillow like this is a really really easy way to freshen a room, and super duper fun to gift.
For care, remember the basics. Wash cold. Tumble dry low. No fabric softener. Your Ivory and Brown colors will stay cozy and inviting.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 2 yd Luxe Cuddle Cut Wild Pony at Linda's Electric Quilters.
