This post was originally shared on Eighteen25.
So you have probably noticed I’ve been on a bit of a watercolor kick for a while now. I am slowly learning how it works, but what I really love about watercolor is how it seems have a mind of its own. It flows and mixes around and never does exactly what I want it to do but ends up looking beautiful despite my meddling because what do I know anyway?
I have been wanting to try to get a watercolor look on fabric, so I made this pretty pastel pillow. It was really simple and a lot of fun to make, so I think I will be experimenting with this technique again soon. Here’s how you can make your own.
You will need:
- Fabric paint or acrylic paint + fabric medium
- Washable Fabric (I chose a silky polyester that is machine washable)
- Water
- Brush
- Sewing machine and thread
- Pillow insert
After my paints were all mixed up I just started painting! I went for a kind of dark to light ombre thing and tried to mix the colors together on the fabric.
Splat!
By the way, this is really messy and I don’t recommend doing it on your kitchen table like I did (unless, like me, you hate your kitchen table and are secretly trying to ruin it so you just have to get a new one). The watered down paint will seep through the fabric, so be sure to protect your work surface!
When your painting has dried, use an iron to heat set the paint. I washed and dried the fabric after this, and it is definitely set and permanent.
Now it’s pillow-making time! I went to Home Goods and picked up a pillow on clearance to get my pillow form. I just love a nice, squishy down pillow, and picking up a clearance pillow with a cover you don’t like is a great way to get one on the cheap.
Here he is – not too bad, but not really my style and definitely itchy. I used my seam ripper to open up the pillow case and tucked those giant buttons safely away in my button stash.
I decided to make an envelope pillow case because they are so easy and zippers still scare me a bit, and I used one side of the original cover as a pattern piece to help cut out the three pieces.
Start off by cutting one piece for the front of your pillow using the original case as a guide.
For the back of the pillow, cut another piece using the original case, but cut this one 10 inches longer than the pattern piece (this will give your envelope back about a four to five inch overlap). Then, fold this piece in half and cut to create two pieces.
Finish one end of each back piece, by rolling the fabric under twice and top-stitching. Then stack the two back pieces and pin them in place so they are the same length as the front piece.
Stack the front pice on top of the pinned together back pieces, right sides together, and sew all the way around! Flip that baby right side out, stuff your pillow form in, and enjoy!
I love the edges of the watercolor where you can see the paint bleeding into the fabric. So pretty! I think this little guy will have a new home on our bed. What do you think?
I just made a new quilt for our bed, and the plan is to recover the headboard with a new fabric too. I’ve also decided it’s time to repaint the Master Bedroom, so a room reveal is probably in the cards. I’m getting excited for my new bedroom! And my husband is getting excited to help me paint (sarcasm, guys)! But in the end, he will realize what a genius I am, of course. The new design is going to be a lot more interesting and have a kind of collected look (in my head, anyway). Stick around to see how it ends up.
Linking up at some of my favorite parties.
If you like this, you may want to check out some of my other pillow projects:
Comments + Project Love
Toni Barsi says
Gracious Alexis, you always make me want to "Watercolor all the things!" hehe I actually have pillowcases very similar to this on on my bed. Mine's in shades of pink though, and was made <i>(rather accidentally)</i> with hair dye. 😛
Krista thehappyhousie says
So pretty Alexis! I love all your watercolor creations:)
Elise says
Oh watercolors are the best! I never would have thought to use them as inspiration for a pillow! Very cool!
Sonnet says
You are the watercolor queen, I love this pillow. Great idea!