The 30 Minute Pillow

Have you ever sewn an invisible zipper?  I haven't.  They intimidate me.  So for Madeline's throw pillows, I opted for the zipper-less envelope pillow.  They take no more than thirty minutes from start to finish.  (Posts on her dresser, curtains and duvet cover here, here and here).

To get started, cut your front piece of fabric the same size as your pillow insert - this makes the pillow fluffy and tight.  Next, divide the size of the insert by 2, make two separate pieces at this half size, and add 2 inches for an overlap and 2 inches for a seam allowance (4 inches extra on each back piece).  Hem both pieces.  Lay them over your front fabric right sides together and sew 1/2" seam.  

Cut the corners, turn right side out and insert your pillow.  Quite simple.

I loved this pillow from Rue Magazine,

and made a copycat version in purple.

There's my styling assistant again :)

The whole process of decorating Madeline's room started a few weeks ago when I sold her old bed on Craigslist for $200, which I then used as my budget for decorating the room.  It's coming along quite nicely, however, I'm going to have to get creative in decorating the walls because there's only $12 left in the "Madeline's room fund".