Bolster Pillow

What to do:
Step 1: Decide what you want the circumference of your pillow to be and add 3cm to this measurement. Cut your fabric to this measurement. The long side of your bolster pillow should run the width of your fabric. Be sure to add 3cm to this measurement for the hem allowance.

Step 2: Pin the trim to the ends of your fabric as shown, with the finished edge of your trim facing inward. Then stitch it into place, being sure not to get too close to the good edge of your trim or the thread may show on the final pillow.

Step 3: Fold the fabric in half as shown, with the right sides facing inward. Pin the folded fabric into place at the raw edge. Then stitch along the pinned edge, about 1.5cm from the edge.

Step 4: Flip the sleeve you just stitched right-side-out and get the measurement of its height. Multiply this measurement by two, and that's the circumference the end caps of your pillow should be.

Step 5: Use a round object roughly the size of your circumference (make the circle larger or smaller as needed) as a stencil to cut out the end pieces of fabric.

Step 6: Pin the end pieces onto your pillow sleeve with the wrong sides facing out and the right sides facing each other, as shown above. Make sure to follow the shape of the circular pieces of fabric. You may need to remove the pins and adjust them once or twice if your circular fabric isn't the exact size of your pillow circumference.

Once you've pinned the end caps perfectly, stitch it with the needle shifted close to the edge of your trim, or use a zipper foot to bring the needle close.

Leave one end cap of your pillow only halfway stitched. You will need to reach your hand in there to add the stuffing.

Step 7: Flip the pillow right-side-out and fill it with batting. Make sure you are keeping the filling even and condensed. Try to smooth out any lumps from the inside before closing up the pillow.

Step 8: Use a darning needle and a slip-stitch technique to close up the open end of the pillow. This is a helpful YouTube video if you aren't sure how to do a slip-stitch.

What you need:
- Fabric
- Trim (optional)
- Loose batting or Poly-fil
- Straight pins
- Darning needle
- Thread to match main color in your fabric
- Sewing machine


Estimated time needed: 1 hour

ref: abeautifulmess.com