Hey everyone. Today you will learn to make soft pillow covers with Fog wool appliqué on the front.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
This is the LN03 - Fog Merino Wool Fabric, from WonderFil USA.
It is part of Sue Spargo's mill-dyed colors. The collection includes 60 colors in all. This one is Fog.
Fog is a soft, quiet grey.
The fabric is 100% Superior Grade Virgin Australian Merino Wool. It is proficiently woven. It is richly dyed. And it is raised to a perfect hand.
It feels soft and luxuriously felted. It is designed for ease of stitch penetration. So your needle passes through without a fight.
The color boasts an even and saturated dye. It also possesses unparalleled colorfastness.
Now the real numbers. This size is a Fat 1/8. It measures 18 inches by 14 inches. It is cut from a true 36-inch yard.
The listed usages include wool appliqué, rug hooking, quilts, apparel, crafts, and more. We are using it for wool appliqué.
A matching Ellana 28wt 50/50 wool/acrylic appliqué thread is available separately. Use it, or use what you have. Completely up to you.
The project: Fog appliqué pillow covers
We will make two pillow covers. Each one finishes at 16 inches square. That fits a standard 16-inch pillow form nice and snug.
One Fat 1/8 will not cover two whole fronts. That is just fine, folks. A sturdy base fabric does the heavy work. The Fog wool becomes the pretty detail.
Cut simple shapes from the wool for each front. Think circles, leaves, or a sweet little bird. Stitch them on before you build the covers.
Why does it suit pillow covers? Wool appliqué does not fray like cotton. Edges stay clean. The felted hand adds warmth and texture to a plain front.
And y'all, your shapes do not have to be perfect. Real leaves never match. You are your own worst critic. Take your time. This is not a race.
Materials list
- 1 piece of LN03 - Fog Merino Wool Fabric — Fat 1/8, 18 inches by 14 inches
- 1 yard of quilting cotton or cotton canvas for the cover fronts and backs
- Two 16-inch pillow forms
- Optional matching Ellana 28wt 50/50 wool/acrylic appliqué thread, available separately
- All-purpose sewing thread for construction
- Freezer paper, a fine marker, and sharp small scissors
- Hand-sewing needles, pins, a ruler, and a rotary cutter
Brief steps
1. Cut the cover pieces. For each cover, cut one front at 17 inches square. Cut two back pieces at 17 inches wide by 12 inches tall. The backs will overlap.
2. Cut the wool shapes. Trace circles about 2 inches across onto freezer paper. Trace leaves about 2 1/2 inches long. You need about six to eight shapes per cover. Press the paper lightly to the wool. Cut slowly, or points get ragged.
3. Arrange the design. Lay the shapes on the front piece. Leave at least 1 inch clear on every side for seams.
4. Stitch the shapes down. Blanket stitch each shape by hand. Aim for stitches about 1/4 inch apart and about 1/4 inch deep. Keep the thread snug, not tight. Slow down on tight curves, or the edge puckers.
5. Hem the back pieces. Fold one long edge of each back piece under 1/2 inch. Press it. Fold it under again and stitch it down. Just like that, you have a clean edge.
6. Build the cover. Lay the front right side up. Place the two back pieces on top, right sides down. Overlap the hemmed edges by about 4 inches in the middle. Pin all the way around.
7. Sew and turn. Sew around all four sides with a 1/2-inch seam. Clip the corners on the diagonal, close but not through the stitching. Turn the cover right side out. Poke the corners out gently.
8. Finish up. Press the cover flat with a light hand. Slip in the 16-inch form. Fluff it, set it on the couch, and enjoy.
Practical tips
Save every wool scrap. Small circles make great flower centers later. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Test your stitch length on a scrap first. Wool forgives a lot, but a test tells you the truth. If a stitch sinks in too deep, ease up on your tension.
Want a different look? Use one big shape, or scatter lots of small ones. Both work. My preference is a small cluster off to one side, but the choice is completely up to you.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Super duper easy, and really really satisfying.
Thanks so much for stitching along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the LN03 - Fog Merino Wool Fabric at Linda's Electric Quilters.
