Population: I had great results with this project with adolescents (11-17) who have severe trauma in their backgrounds.
Materials: various fabrics (preferably cotton or muslin or others that don't stretch or fray easily), paper, pencil, transfer paper, scissors, puff paint (optional).
Time needed: at least two sessions (1 hour each), if not longer
Directions: Create a sketch of how the pillow should look on paper first, simple shapes work best (like circles, ovals, squares).
Cut out the pattern. Place on chosen fabric and trace around the edges of the pattern directly onto the fabric. Ensure to leave at least 2 inches of extra material all the way around the edges of the material to create ties.
If a design was created inside the basic shape, it can be transferred onto lighter fabric with transfer paper. Puff paint can be used to decorate it. If this is going to be used as a real pillow, might only want to decorate one side so a person could sleep on the non-decorated side.
Cut out pillow shape. Best to lay both pieces of fabric together with inside of the material (backs) touching. This ensures both pieces are exactly the same. Make sure to leave at least 2-3 inches of extra material around the entire edge of the pillow. This extra will be cut into strips up to the edge of the pillow that are about 1 inch wide and 2-3 inches long. Make all cuts with both material pieces together.
Start tying strips together with a simple double overhand know. Don't pull to tight or material will pucker. When all are tied except about 5 inches worth, stuff pillow. Can use anything soft, pillow stuffing (even from old pillows). Then finish tying the rest of the strips. The strips can now be trimmed, if desired.
P.S. You can google no sew fleece blanket and find videos & instructions. Same concept, just a smaller size.
My experiences: Both females and males liked this project. Those who say they can't draw have a little trouble starting. A lot wanted to do words, so we did an oval or heart shape with words inside. A complex design or picture looks great on square pillows. Some finished the design and puff paint portion within an hour, some needed extra time. I did all the cutting because of my population.
I brought back the pillows all cut with strips and ready to tie two weeks later, which gave me enough time to do all that inbetween. We did another directive during the week inbetween.
Materials: various fabrics (preferably cotton or muslin or others that don't stretch or fray easily), paper, pencil, transfer paper, scissors, puff paint (optional).
Time needed: at least two sessions (1 hour each), if not longer
Directions: Create a sketch of how the pillow should look on paper first, simple shapes work best (like circles, ovals, squares).
Cut out the pattern. Place on chosen fabric and trace around the edges of the pattern directly onto the fabric. Ensure to leave at least 2 inches of extra material all the way around the edges of the material to create ties.
If a design was created inside the basic shape, it can be transferred onto lighter fabric with transfer paper. Puff paint can be used to decorate it. If this is going to be used as a real pillow, might only want to decorate one side so a person could sleep on the non-decorated side.
Cut out pillow shape. Best to lay both pieces of fabric together with inside of the material (backs) touching. This ensures both pieces are exactly the same. Make sure to leave at least 2-3 inches of extra material around the entire edge of the pillow. This extra will be cut into strips up to the edge of the pillow that are about 1 inch wide and 2-3 inches long. Make all cuts with both material pieces together.
Start tying strips together with a simple double overhand know. Don't pull to tight or material will pucker. When all are tied except about 5 inches worth, stuff pillow. Can use anything soft, pillow stuffing (even from old pillows). Then finish tying the rest of the strips. The strips can now be trimmed, if desired.
P.S. You can google no sew fleece blanket and find videos & instructions. Same concept, just a smaller size.
My experiences: Both females and males liked this project. Those who say they can't draw have a little trouble starting. A lot wanted to do words, so we did an oval or heart shape with words inside. A complex design or picture looks great on square pillows. Some finished the design and puff paint portion within an hour, some needed extra time. I did all the cutting because of my population.
I brought back the pillows all cut with strips and ready to tie two weeks later, which gave me enough time to do all that inbetween. We did another directive during the week inbetween.
