Linen Placemat Pillows

This is one of those projects that I've unnecessarily been putting off for weeks.  Why did I avoid it?  I have no idea.  I knew it would be easy. I knew it would look nice in the end.  I just wasn't into it....until today.  I finally conquered the great "Linen Placemat Pillow" project!  Hold your applause, please~


I picked up two of these pretty linen pieces at the thrift store a couple of months ago.  I'm not really sure if they're actually placemats but they're about the right size.  There's no way I'm eating on pretty hand embroidered linen though.  I'd be bleaching till the cows come home.  So....pillows they will become!

Materials:
linen placemats
thread
cotton for backing
cotton for pillow liner
batting or stuffing (I used old pillows)
tape measure
iron
sewing machine

Steps:
1) After pressing all of your fabrics, fold your pillow backing with wrong sides together.  Fold your placemat in half and align it with the selvedge of your fabric but in about 2 3/4".

2) Cut your fabric around the outside of your placemat, ensuring a hem of at least 5/8".

3) Fold over the straight edge approximately 5/8" and press.  If you weren't able to use a selvedge edge, finish the edge with a narrow hem.

You can sew this down if you want, but it's not necessary.

4) Zig zag or serge around the curved edge of your backing fabric.

5) Place your fabric on top of your placemat.  Fold and press along the edge to create a hem.

6) Pin your fabric to your placemat, one side only.  VERY IMPORTANT: place wrong sides together.  We will not be turning anything so make sure your wrong sides are together.

7) Sew as close as you dare to the edge.

8) Repeat, placing the second side of your backing down, overlapping the straight edges.

9) And there you have it!  Two wonderfully flat but pretty pillows!

KIDDING.  Now we have to fill them with something.  You could go out and buy pillow forms, but the odds of you finding something the same size as your placemats are pretty low.  Besides, pillow forms are a bit on the pricey side considering no one every even sees them.

First up is something to hold your pillow inside of the case.

10) I found some very inexpensive brushed cotton in a neutral colour in the bargain bin.  Just trace along the outside of your linen pillow case with a generous hem.

11) Cut and sew together.  This does not have to be pretty.  Absolutely no one will see this, so I just serged my edges together.

Next, I dug into my closet FULL of pillows.  Yes, I have a closet of pillows.  I was having major neck and shoulder problems and tried pillow after pillow, each one fluffier or more sturdy than the next.  Eventually I figured out that the only thing that works is one of those stupid molded foam wave pillows.  Not pretty, but at least I can sleep now.   Anyhow....

10) Open up your pillow.  I was very surprised that the first one I opened up was nothing but a quilt batt inside.

The second one had little foam chips.

12) Fill your pillow form and serge closed.  Place your pillow form inside your pretty linen pillow case.

Wish I had an embroidery machine to monogram the centers~

These are going on the day bed in my spare room.  I'm going for "Grandma's Spare Room Chic".

Before:

Just random pillows I had, that don't go with anything.

After:

It's a work in progress, but it's getting there.

Big thanks to my special helper, Katya.

"Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task." ~William James

Do you have any projects you're putting off for no good reason?  What do you do to avoid procrastination.  Share your ideas below...I need as much as help as I can get~

Have a crafty week everyone!