Pocket Pals Pillow – a Tutorial

Once again, Nicole of the Sewing Rabbit Team is AMAZING.  The pocket pals pillow is the cutest decorative pillow for kids I have seen in forever. Kids will love having a place to store their Legos, Polly Pockets, Lala Loopsies, and other small toys – to keep near and dear to them while they sleep. And for once, you won’t need to worry about stepping on them in the middle of the night – its a win / win! Making the pocket pal pillow a great gift for every child, and parent alike :).

Pocket Pals Pillow – a Tutorial

Hello Sewing Rabbit Friends! Nicole here from Modern Handcraft with a new project – The pocket pals pillow! We just started collecting Lego mini-figs in my house and have so many that we are running out of places to store them. This is a fun way to store your favorites and have them on display anywhere in your home. It can also be used as a place to tuck them in at night (use common sense when sleeping in an area with small toys). Follow along and my friend and I will show you how to make a pocket pals pillow of your own!

Materials: 

• 1 Fat Quarter of main fabric for front (Building blocks print via Spoonflower)
• 1 Fat Quarter of White fabric for front (Kona in solid white)
• 1 – 3″ x 18″ piece of fabric for pockets (Blue building block print via Spoonflower)
• 1 – 17″ x 17″ piece of fabric for backing
• 1 – 16 oz package of poly-fil
• 1 – 17″ x 17″ piece of Heat N Bond Fusible Fleece
• Sewing Machine and notions (coordinating thread, straight pins, rotary cutter or scissors, acrylic ruler, fabric pen/pencil)
• Seam allowances should be 1/4 unless otherwise noted

Additional Cutting Instructions –

White fabric: 1 – 2.5″ x 18″ strip, 2 – 1.5″ x 18″ strips, 3 – 1.5″ x 12″ strips

Building Blocks print: 2 – 4″ x 7.5″ pieces, 2 – 5.5″ x 18″ pieces

 

Step 1: 

• Take your pocket fabric measuring 3″ x 18″ to your iron. Fold over along the long side 1/2″ – iron, fold over another 1/2″ – iron. You will now have a piece measuring 2″ x 18″. At your machine, stitch along the folded part to secure.

• Using your ruler and a marker or fabric pencil draw a line on your fabric every two inches.

• Lay your pocket fabric now measuring 2″ x 18″ on top of a white strip of fabric measuring 2.5″ x 18″, making sure that the extra 1/2″ of white is showing at the top like shown. Pin in place and carefully sew along side each marked line. The goal is to have a space in between the stitches measure about 1/4″. I made a red dotted line showing you where your marked line is and also where you will be cutting in the next step. Make sure to stitch along the ends as well – there will be a total of 9 made, the extra is in case there are any mistakes.

• With your rotary cutter and ruler or scissors cut along your drawn line in between each sewn space. There was enough to create 9 pockets – you will only be using 8 for this pillow.

• Now that your 8 pockets are ready you are going to group them into 2 groups of 4. Take a strip of white fabric measuring 1.5″ x 18″ wide and sew in between the pockets and on the ends. I used a longer strip so I could give myself a little extra room at the top when sewing – trim down once you are finished with your row.  Repeat for the next 4 pockets.

• Your two rows should now look like this, 1.5″ white fabric on the ends and in between the pockets. Take to your iron and iron flat.

• Take a strip of white fabric measuring 1.5″ x 12″ and sew under a row of pockets – take another strip and sew above the pockets for the middle.

• Pin your second row of pockets above that middle white strip making sure to line up your pockets. Add your third and final white strip of fabric to the very top. Trim off the extra fabric from your rectangle. This should now measure roughly 7.5″ x 11″.

• Time to finish up the front of your pillow. Add your main fabric sections measuring 7.5″ x 4″ to the sides of your pocket section – iron seams.

• Now add your final two main fabric sections measuring 5.5″ x 18″ to the top and bottom – iron seams. Square up your pillow front to measure 17″ x 17″ finished.

• When I stuff pillows with poly-fil they tend to look a bit lumpy after a bit. To keep the front of the pillow looking smooth I like to add a layer of fusible fleece. Following directions iron to the back of your pillow front.

• I did a little stitch around the white border, this is optional – you can also quilt the area surrounding the pockets if you like!

• Lay your pillow front facing your backing fabric measuring 17″ x 17 and stitch around the perimeter. Make sure to leave an opening large enough to turn your pillow right side out. Trim your corners before doing so. I also like to give my pillow a nice ironing once I have it turned right side out.

• Stuff with poly-fill, I ended up using almost an entire 16 oz bag.

• Stitch the opening closed – thanks Lego man!

Now you have a fun little place for all of your pals to rest, don’t they look cozy?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…

Happy Sewing!