R is for Reading

I have two posts up today. This one is for letter R of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z in April Challenge. The other is for Top Ten Tuesday.  If you're wanting to see the Top Ten post, you'll find it here.

As for A to Z, today's post is a Reading Pillow that I made for Darian for Christmas. What makes this a reading pillow? A few things actually:

1. It's nice and fluffy, perfect for reclining against no matter where you're reading.
2. It has a handle. The ribbon handle at the top makes it easy to lug around anywhere.
3. It has a pocket. That's right...the front piece is a pocket that is designed big enough to fit a book, or a Nook, or a notepad and pen, or a combination of the three, so you can take your reading show on the road (by the way, in the car is a great use for this pillow).

I'd love to take all of the credit for this one, but it's actually a Pinterest find. The original idea (at least for me) comes from Melissa Mortenson over at PolkaDot Chair. Since you can get the specifics from her (she has a great tutorial), I'm just going to give you a brief rundown of how I made mine.

I cut out cardstock letters with my Pazzle and then traced them upside down onto a piece of fusible interfacing paper that had been ironed to my letter fabric.

I lined my letters up on my pocket fabric, ironed them on and then zigzag stitched around the letters to secure them firmly.

I created my pocket with another rectangle of the polkadot fabric and sewed some bias ribbon on the top edge for a little flare.

I then attached my pocked to the big square for the front of my pillow. (In hind sight, regardless of how nice it looked, butterflies probably weren't the best choice for this. Tween boys don't really do butterflies. I'm surprised he hasn't yelled at me for it yet.)

I sewed the back onto the assembled front using the French seam envelope pillow technique we talked about for letter L's Loveseat Pillows and letter G's Good Night Pillows. See how many uses you can get out of that one technique? It's such a handy thing to learn!

Before I finished my French seams, I pinned in the handle so it would get tidily hemmed into the top seam.

Handle pinned on, I flipped it inside out and finished off those seams.

Ready for a nice, fluffy pillow!

It's pretty poofy and comfy. I specifically chose the pillow insert to be extra puffed and soft. So far it seems to be a hit. (But I'm still totally kicking myself over those butterflies.)

Miss any of my A to Z posts so far this year? Find them below...

1. A is for Anna (Easy Anna Cape)
2. B is for Bath (Appliqued Bath Mat)
3. C is for Child (Children's Growth Ruler)
4. D is for Denim (Denim Bib)
5. E is for Etch (Etched Casserole Dishes)
6. F is for Felt (Felt Hopscotch Mat)
7. G is for Good Night ("Good Night" Envelope Pillows)
8. H is for Hood (Easy Hooded Towel)
9. I is for Insulated (Insulated Beverage Cozies)
10. J is for Jumper (Embroidered Spring Jumper)
11. K is for Know (Know When to Hold 'Em/Fold 'Em Laundry Sign)
12. L is for Loveseat (Envelope Loveseat Pillows)
13. M is for Mittens (Fleece Baby Mittens)
14. N is for Ninja Turtle (Felt Ninja Turtle)
15. O is for Owl (Owl Stuffies)
16. P is for Princess (Princess Peg Dolls)
17. Q is for Quilt (Moustache Quilt)

Are you visiting from A to Z?

Be sure to leave me a comment (including your blog link) so I can come over and return the favor!

It's a good one tomorrow! You won't want to miss it! Letter S is one of my top three favorites. The other two? Letter P's Princess Peg Dolls and the still to come project for letter V. Have a great Tuesday!