more pillows
May 21st, 2012
When I am frustrated with a project, but not frustrated enough to pour a big glass of wine and watch some trashy tv, I make pillows. We have a lot of pillows. Tell me I am not the only one who does this. Do you turn to simple projects to make you feel better when you are failing miserably?
The fabric for the new ones are, from right to left: some ikea fabric left over from the crib bumper, plain old random blue fabric (some of which is half way to being shorts for my son), and this awesome drop cloth print by Jay McCarroll.
One more too, because that Wiksten tank I’m trying to fix is looking pretty Becky HomeEcy. This print is by Geninne who did a lovely line of organic fabric for Cloud 9. I fell for it when Erin made this top (it seems the wiksten tank is haunting me).
You are not alone – I have had a frustrating day of trying (and failing) to design new earrings. I am going to give up and make a new version of an old favourite handbag instead.
I fall back to pillows or bags when i get really creatively frustrated with whatever I’m trying to do but I still want to make something. Or I knit washcloths and drink whiskey and watch Dr. Who. (Hello, rest of the week!)
LOVE those, especially the drop cloth fabric!
I closed my etsy shop a few months back because I was TIRED OF SEWING PILLOWS, but I made one last week for a gift, and it was definitely nice and refreshing to do something so straightforward and almost rhythmic(for me, anyway). I don’t want to mass produce them anymore, but I think they’re a nice way to sortof detox from directions and rules, and they’re very gratifying (which is exactly what we need, often!).
Ha! I love this: When I am frustrated with a project, but not frustrated enough to pour a big glass of wine and watch some trashy tv, I make pillows.
I CAN so relate. They look absolutely lovely.
Your fabrics on those pillows are so great! I need an easy pillow project right about now too. I have that drop cloth print in the purple, and I’m not sure what to do with it. Originally I had thought wiksten tank, but that might be a bit much for me to pull off- maybe I’ll go with pillows now!
Love all these prints and the colours together. Yeah I always turn to easy knit projects for the kids when I need a boost. I’ve never sewn a cushion…but these are inviting!
I love all your fabrics, especially that last one. I just made a dress last week with that drop cloth fabric – I love it – http://www.laricci-smunch.blogspot.com/2012/05/knot-front-dress.html
Lovely pillows! And yes, I do simple when I’m putting off something more problematic! Last week I was all “put bust darts into an ill-fitting tunic…or do a wonky patchwork star?” Yes the star won out :)
A quick sewing project can be so satisfying when things are going wrong.
My 3yo just told me “that pillow is dirty” for the dropsheet one. He won’t believe me that it’s meant to be like that…
I’m guessing my mother would say the same thing :)
sweet bird pillow on the swanky black chair :)
fancy pillows in my house are scarce. i hate sewing pillows for some reason! i have no idea why, they are so easy! i tend to sew something from a pattern, for the kids, that i’ve made before, so i can go on autopilot.
Do you go out and buy massive quantities of pillow forms or make your own out of scrap this & that? I have lots of pillows (of odd shapes and sizes) to make and I’m thinking of re-purposing an old futon mattress.
Yes, I definitely do this! It’s knitting rather than sewing for me, but when I’m frustrated with a new design I’m prototyping, I’ll fall back on another, relaxing and less challenging knitting project to regain my sanity.