Vintage linens make me swoon! Not only are they beautiful but they can be very economical. I am alway on the lookout for old linens in good condition with interesting designs.
They are just too pretty to sit in a drawer waiting to be used. One of my favorite ways to display vintage tea towels is to make pillows...
This sweet-as-sugar pink pillow took under an hour to make. So easy!
Vintage Tea Towel Pillows make a wonderful gift, too! Wouldn't you love to receive one?
So, dig out your pretty tea towel and put it to use as a decorative pillow!
StoneGable Vintage Tea Towel Pillow
1 vintage tea towel with interesting design and edges
white cotton muslin
fiberfill
matching thread
Iron tea towel flat.
Turn the top edge of the tea towel down to make the front flap of the pillow. Make sure motif is showing.
Press.
Take bottom edge of the tea towel and fold up so that 2 inches show out from under the top flap.
Press.
Cut a piece of muslin to match the width of the tea towel and 2 inches longer than the crease at the top of the pillow.
With RIGHT sides together, pin the bottom of the tea towel to the bottom of the muslin. Stitch tea towel and muslin together.
Cut off excess fabric and press seams open.
Using the fold lines at the top and bottom of your tea towel, fold fabric the opposite way, so that RIGHT sides are together and the motif is facing inward.
Pin the front flap with the design towards the center of your pillow. You do not want to catch any part of it when you sew up your pillow for the flap will be sandwiched between the front and back of your pillow. Leave 1/4 inch at the top to sew. Be very careful that your front flap fabric is not in the way!
Fold up bottom of tea towel with attched muslin. Pin all around the pillow. The top layer will be muslin with the tea towel bottom, the middle layer will have the pinned up front flap with design and the bottom layer will be the tea towel back.
Leave a 2-3 inch opening at the side of the pillow that will be covered by the front flap. I used a fabric marking pen to remind me where to begin and end sewing.
Sew around the pillow, leaving tthe 2-3 inch opening. I use the side edge of the pillow determine my seam allowances. At the top I use a very small seam allowance so the flap will lay nicely.
Reinforce the ends very well as you will be using this whole to pull the pillow to the right side and to stuff it.
Cut any extra muslin away. Using the side opening, pull out any pins from the front flap. Turn pillow right side out. Press.
Fill pillow with fiber fill. Make sure corners are filled. Do not over stuff.
Close opening on the side with a whip stitch.
Press again, but do not press too hard. Gently tack down flap if desired. Press again. Fluff and find your pillow a home!
So beautiful and great instruction!
ReplyDeleteI am going to try and make one!
Have several antique tea towels..
Thank You! Happy Pink Saturday
Jane
Flora Doora
I have a couple of old towels that were turned into pillows. They make the prettiest pillows. Yours look so fresh and crisp! What a wonderful tutorial! I can't wait for your meme!
ReplyDeleteI think your pillow is gorgeous, thanks for the wonderful instructions. Pillows are so expensive now that I would love to just make my own.
ReplyDeleteDonna
Wow! this is beautiful! I have some tea towels I picked during the time I lived in Germany and may have to try this project!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pillows! I will have to look for a pretty tea towel to try this project, great tutorial.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful pillow you create with that gorgeous tea towel.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Happy Pink Saturday!
Hugs
Charo
very pretty, so delicate.
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial. I have so many tea towels from an estate sale I worked. Now I know what to do with them!
ReplyDeleteBonjour Yvonne,
ReplyDeleteA great way to showcase the beautiful designs. You did a marvelous job on this tutorial.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Mimi
All the pillows on your bed are simply gorgeous! Such a good tutorial too. Good luck with the vote.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! All your creations are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHappy Pink Saturday Yvonne.
BTW. I featured you on my previous PS post , "Yvonne @ Stone Gable"
Regards
xo
" Regina "
Beautiful your pink post !
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend ♥RINI♥
Now, I sm swooning,Yvonne! Those are gorgeous! Happy Pink Saturday!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sandi
Yvonne, your little pillow of vintage textile is so pretty and delicate. Thanks for sharing the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to do some voting. ;-)
Sarah
What a fabulous idea, Yvonne. I have a large collection of these lovely items, just sitting. And, my daughter would swoon to have them as pillows. So, it's done.
ReplyDeleteLove you, cookie.
oh that mega lovely and i agree a great tutorial.. thank you
ReplyDeleteSonny
Of course, I headed right over and voted for you.
ReplyDeleteHappy Pink Saturday, Yvonne.
This pillow is lovely. It is crisp, delicate, fresh and pretty - all at once.
Hello sweet lady...
ReplyDeleteOhhh my...what sweetness! Yvonne, your vintage tea towel pillows are simply gorgeous!!! You are so right about taking those pretty linens out of the drawer and using them...enjoying them...and this is a GRAND way to do that!!! Your tutorial was great! I have been sewing all weekend...I need to go and get a few of my linens and give this a try! Thank you so much for the idea and inspiration, my friend!!!
I also just wanted to congratulate you on being chosen as one of the contestants for the Daisy Pink Cupcake contest! I followed your link over there and ohhh, you are so right about all of the beautiful entries! But I must admit that your fabulous pink table was my most favorite!!! You have my vote, sweet lady! Wishing you and your pretty pink table...the best!!!
I hope that you're having a wonderful weekend!
Chari @Happy To Design
So very pretty! I think they look even better as pillows. Your posts are always so amazing. I added you to my "new" housewife post today. :)
ReplyDeleteYour pillow is beautiful! You are such a busy gal!
ReplyDeleteI voted, I loved that pink peony post!
How absolutely wonderful! Thanks for lesson- I'm going to try this on my vacation in 2 weeks! I need a fun and simple project!
ReplyDeleteHappy PS!
Maggie
"Do these shoes match this purse?"
Yvonne, these are beautiful! I wish I didn't just hate to sew. I always mess up something and get frustrated. You are so talented. laurie
ReplyDeleteBeautiful idea. Very creative.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Johanna
I always enjoy visiting here.. you take amazing photos, could I be so bold to ask what kind of camera you use? I am in the market for a new one... thanks
ReplyDeleteSweet Yvonne, You always have such loveliness at your blog. This pillow is absolutely gorgeous, just like everything else you do.
ReplyDeleteWell, off to church on this pretty Kansas morning.
Thank you for blessing us so!!! I still want to come and spend a day with you! smile
Blessings, Linda
Thanks for the info and the sweet note. I am so glad I found you or you found me... I don't know which came first. lol
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous little pillow you've made! I love the little embroidery design and the edging is just so pretty!
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Thank you for the step process...I need that since I am new to sewing! I will have to be on the lookout for some beautiful linens now!
ReplyDeleteYvonne, that pillow is so pretty in pink. I love it. I am surprised you can keep all the wrinkles out of that. It is so neatly pressed. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit to your blog (found you through House in the Roses)...I will definitely be back again. Your blog is lovely.
ReplyDeleteAbout this gorgeous tea towel...in answer to your question, yes, I would LOVE to receive a gift like this. It is simply beautiful!
Sadly, I always have to buy things, which I can't usually afford, because I'm not very able in the sewing and creating department. Oh, I can cross-stitch, but that is about the extent of my abilities with a needle. In fact, I'm close to tears right now at the thought of how I wish I could make something as beautiful as your pillow. Thank you for sharing the directions...even if this gal doesn't think she can do it.
Wishing you a blessed day,
Patti (Fill My Cup with Beauty)
Your pillows are gorgeous, and what a great tutorial...Loved the idea!!!!
ReplyDeleteSweet Blessings,
Virginia
Now this is a gorgeous pillow! You are amazingly talented!
ReplyDeleteSo elegant. So gorgeous. So you. All you do is just full of beauty and class! Thanks for sharing! ♥Laurie from Scene of the Grime
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great tutorial. I followed you over from The Girl Creative. What a fun and super easy idea. Thanks for sharing. Your photos are always so beautiful and inspiring.
ReplyDeletethanks for the tutorial. Doesnt look so difficult to do.. and the end result are just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I'll have to keep a look out for them. - www.delightfulcountrycookin.com
ReplyDeleteWonderful tutorial! Love the pillow! Where do you get your vintage linens?
ReplyDeleteI collect them from here and there. Mostly at antique shops and yard sales. If I see one I love I buy it and keep it until I get inspired to use it!
DeleteYvonne, just saw this post....I love it! Great idea to use those beautiful linen tea towels I inherited. Thanks for always doing such a beautiful job on your blog. You are one of my very favorites! Sue V.
ReplyDelete