Hey everyone. Today we're making a cozy reading pillow, and you're going to learn how a finished plush blanket can become the softest book nook in the house.
Meet the fabric first
This is the Alloy Signature Luxe Cuddle Snowy Owl Blanket from Shannon Fabrics. It is a finished Cuddle blanket, not yardage. And oh my goodness, it feels lovely.
The fabric is Luxe Cuddle minky. It's 100% polyester plush. It has a long-pile faux fur feel, so it is warm and cushy right away.
The texture is Snowy Owl. That means a frosted, tipped texture. The color here is Alloy, a soft gray. The frosting adds depth, so the gray never looks flat.
Now the numbers, because they matter here. This is the Signature size. It measures 60 by 72 inches, or 152 by 183 centimeters. That is an oversized throw size. It fully covers an adult on the sofa. It also tops a twin bed.
For our project, that size is great news. One blanket gives you big, unpieced panels. No seams right where you lean back. Just like that, your main material is handled.
Care is simple, folks. Machine wash cold, on a gentle cycle. Tumble dry low. Never iron it. Heat crushes that plush pile, and we do not want that.
The project: a reading pillow cover
A reading pillow is a firm backrest pillow. Some folks call it a husband pillow. It props you up in bed or on the couch. It supports your back, neck, and arms while you read.
Today we are sewing a plush cover for a ready-made reading pillow form. We are using this blanket as our fabric source. Yes, you will cut into the blanket. Take a deep breath. It is worth it.
Why does Snowy Owl suit it so well? First, that long pile feels good against your shoulders. Second, the frosted Alloy color hides everyday use nicely. Third, one 60 by 72 inch blanket yields a front, a back, and a handy book pocket, with plush left over for a small cushion.
I like adding that pocket on the front. It holds your book, glasses, or remote. Completely up to you, though. Leave it off for a clean, simple pillow.
Materials list
- 1 Alloy Signature Luxe Cuddle Snowy Owl Blanket, 60" x 72"
- 1 reading pillow / husband pillow form — mine is about 26 inches wide and 24 inches tall, arms included
- All-purpose polyester thread to match the Alloy gray
- Walking foot for your machine
- Size 90/14 ballpoint or stretch needle
- Long ruler, marking pen, sharp scissors or rotary cutter, and lots of pins or clips
- Paper or muslin for tracing your pillow form
Measure your own form before you cut. Forms vary a lot. Your traced paper pattern is your truth here, not my numbers.
Brief steps
Step one. Lay the pillow form on paper. Trace all the way around it. Add 1 inch all around for seam allowance and plush room. Cut out your paper pattern.
Step two. Shake the blanket well, then lay it flat, pile up. Pin your pattern on top. Cut one front and one back. Keep the pile direction running the same way on both pieces, downward when the pillow stands up.
Step three. For the optional pocket, cut a piece about 20 inches wide by 12 inches tall from a leftover corner. Hem the top edge with a 1/2-inch fold. Sew it down with a straight stitch.
Step four. Pin the pocket to the front piece, centered low. Sew the sides and bottom close to the edge. Go slow. That pile likes to travel.
Step five. Place front and back right sides together. Pin or clip every 2 to 3 inches. Sew around with a 1/2-inch seam and a longer stitch, about 3.0 to 3.5 millimeters, roughly 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Leave a 14-inch opening along the bottom for the form.
Step six. Turn the cover right side out. Work the form in through the opening, arms first. Push gently into the corners. Close the opening with a ladder stitch by hand, or topstitch it close to the edge. Here we go. Fluff the pile with your hands, and you are done.
Practical tips before you sew
Cut over a trash can if you can. Long-pile plush sheds fluff at the cut edges. A quick shake outside saves a big cleanup later.
Use that walking foot. Really. I have sewn minky without one, and the top layer crept a full inch. I had to rip it out and start again. Learn from my mistake, y'all.
Slow down around the arm curves. Slow down or the needle snaps, and nobody needs that on a Saturday. Shorten your focus, not your patience.
Never press this pile with a hot iron. Finger press only. And remember that care rule after you finish too: wash cold and gentle, tumble dry low.
And here is your permission beat. Your tracing does not have to be perfect. Your pocket can sit a little crooked. You are your own worst critic here. Once you are leaned back with a good book, you will not see a wobbly seam. 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. We're just making reading even cozier.
Alrighty. Thanks for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Alloy Signature Luxe Cuddle Snowy Owl Blanket 60" x 72" at Linda's Electric Quilters.
