Tuesday, April 21, 2015

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!

16 comments:

  1. I still covet a Pazzle :) I would never put a Nook or Kindle into a pocket on a pillow simply because I'm an idiot, would forget where I'd put it and then sit on it ;) Books, however, books could take it.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

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    1. You're going to have to put a Pazzle on your Christmas list. I'm totally with you on the Nook in the pocket problem. I'm terrible like that...

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  2. That is a fantastic idea, and I think I might now have to make one!
    Stopping by from the a to z challenge. And I honestly think this might be my favourite post of the day for the love of creativity and reading going on here.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks!!! Glad you were able to visit today. I'm heading over to check you out!

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  3. I love it!!! I definitely need one of these...
    (Also, thank you for linking to Top Ten Tuesday. I have seen it around in the past weeks but didn't know what it was. Looks like fun! I'll have to join in...)

    @TarkabarkaHolgy from
    Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
    MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad my Top Ten Tuesday post was helpful for you. It's a lot of fun. There are a lot of great book bloggers out there. I look forward to seeing your Tuesday posts from here out!

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  4. A reading pillow! I need one of those!

    Good luck with the A to Z Challenge!
    A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
    http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/

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    Replies
    1. I need to make one for myself. That's the problem with these crafts...I always seem to make things for everyone else...

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  5. Wow! What a great idea! I never thought of putting a pocket on a pillow and adding a handle. That would be great for traveling, or even taking up and down the stairs.

    Sunni
    http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sunni! So far it's worked pretty well for him. I only wish I'd thought of making him one sooner. One would've come in handy when we used to go on road trips when he was littler.

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  6. The handle is a neat idea. I am just starting to dabble in applique. This would make a wonderful gift.

    Sean at His and Her Hobbies

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    Replies
    1. The handle works pretty well, but it can also unfortunately serve to make this thing a handy swinging weapon. Flaw in the design...

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  7. I'm going to make this one for my daughter! I can just see her nestled in a little nook in her room with this reading away.

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    Replies
    1. Great! Having a kid that loves to read has been a really nice surprise for us, I'm sure it works well for you too.

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  8. Oh my gosh, I want one! This is absolutely awesome. I especially love that it has that pocket. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The pocket is the best part. Of course, I'd be more likely to stash snacks in mine...

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