enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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As promised, these project posts are going to be popping up frequently (even with the blanket knitting). I have "plans" for the next five but that doesn't really mean anything because I had "plans" for the original 26 and only maybe two of those have been realized.

But I really wanted to make a heart pillow after seeing lots of expensive ones all over Blogland the past few months. I picked up cream and red canvas and red thread that closely matched the fabric. I also got a zipper because after sewing the clutch, zippers are no longer mysterious.

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I cut out my heart, centered and pinned it on a square of cream canvas and then carefully sewed around the edges of the heart using a zig-zag stitch with a length of almost 0 so the stitches were super close together.

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It took awhile and my machine jammed up a few times but it worked! The heart is secure and the edges are pretty clean. Below is how it looked from the backside. Pretty cool on its own and I feel like something like that will be making it on to paper soon…

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Usually to make a pillow, I pin the front and back together (right sides facing in) and machine stitch three sides together. Then I turn it right-side out, slip in the pillow insert and hand-stitch the final side. But what's awesome about the zipper, is it means no hand-stitching.

I added the zipper to the bottom side (point of the heart side) and then attached that to the fabric that would be the back of the pillow. Then I pinned the front and the back together with right-sides facing each other and unzipped it a bit so once the other three sides were sewn, I could pull the pillow right-side out through the zippered edge.

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The pillow insert slipped right in. It looks much cleaner and it's easier.

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I ordered a gray couch about 10 weeks ago (after years of Ikea, I had no idea furniture that you don't put together yourself takes so long to ship) and this guy will look perfect on it, but for now it's living on the built-in couches.

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26projectslogo This is project 21 of 26.

I am attempting to tackle 26 personal craft projects before I turn 27 on 02.22.12. You can follow my progress here on the blog or on pinterest.

See project 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20.

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30 responses to “project 21 of 26 : heart pillow.”

  1. Samantha - Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog Avatar

    That’s so cute! Just for reference – the short-length zigzag stitch is called a satin stitch. You did a great job, I always have a hard time going around curves like that.
    And a gray couch! I decided long ago that I will have a gray couch once I have a place of my own… I can’t wait to see yours 🙂

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  2. Frankie Avatar

    This just reminded me that I knew to practice my sewing skills and get better, and make things I’ll actually use other than just a few Halloween Costumes. This pillow is super pretty. Did you consider putting yours and Paul’s initials in the center of the heart? That could be cute too!

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  3. Annelise Kliewer Avatar

    totally awesome! it is perfect.love the simpleness.

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  4. Melissa Avatar

    Love it! What kind of sewing machine do you have?

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  5. Michelle Avatar

    i heart it 🙂

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  6. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    adorable. seriously.

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  7. Katie Avatar

    it’s as cute as a button! thanks for the zipper encouragement – i don’t know why we all avoid them like the plague!

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  8. mandie Avatar

    super super cute!

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  9. oh shoot Avatar

    I love it! I want to start making pillows for my bed 😉 maybe I will try this one 😉

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  10. jeny Avatar

    Nice pop of color and I appreciate the zipper tip. Zippers are my arch nemesis.

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  11. sarah Avatar

    nice! the zipper is a great idea. if you’re looking for other pillow ideas to avoid hand stitching, i usually use this tutorial for an “envelope back pillow”: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29794705@N06/sets/72157619823563662/
    your pillow will look lovely on a grey couch.
    xo

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  12. Joy Avatar

    Love it! I really want to make a heart shaped sweater. I might use this technique, Thanks. Great idea.

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  13. elise blaha Avatar

    yes! I know I have heard that before. Thank you for reminding me. 🙂

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  14. elise blaha Avatar

    a Singer Esteem II

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  15. Laney Avatar
    Laney

    Love your 26 projects! I’d love to do something similar. Except I’m 37 and my birthday is in April! 😀 Maybe something on a smaller scale?

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  16. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Elise! It’s Sarah Goodwin! I periodically look at your blog and it always brings me back to the wonderful picture frames you made at Rio…I definitely still have (and love) mine. I had to comment on this heart pillow because I’ve been admiring a very similar one at Room&Board, but it’s so expensive. Anyway, love the pillow. Hope all is well!
    xo

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  17. Carrie Avatar

    So simple and so adorable. And so YOU.

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  18. elise blaha Avatar

    hey Sarah! so good to hear from you!!

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  19. Nina Avatar
    Nina

    Hi Elise,
    Hope you are having a wonderfull day today,
    I have a general question, I have a two year old girl and a billion pictures that I need to process. Do you have any idea’s how to? I don’t want to scrap them all, maybe just a digital book? Or still print them out and put them in a normal book? But with or without text? Pfff I want to do this right.. Do you have any ideas?
    Kind regards,
    Nina

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  20. elise blaha Avatar

    If I had tons of photos I think I would do a digital book and call it done. You could leave pages blank in the album and hand write text or you could add some digital text before it was printed. Good luck! elise

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  21. Amanda S. Avatar

    This is so cool! Love it and you did an excellent job using the sewing machine on the heart — so tricky and you make it look so easy!! Can’t wait to see the rest of your projects and your knit blanket!

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  22. Wendy Hammer (Reed) Avatar

    What a perfect little pillow! I think you’ve inspired me to make some for my own couches. ❤ Thank you!

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  23. Koko @ Koko Likes Avatar

    ADORABLE! Love this so much Elise.

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  24. libbi m. Avatar
    libbi m.

    Love it! By the way, I saw your tweet on your new business cards. Could you do a video tutorial on how you created the “i make stuff” graphic? I have seen other graphics on your blog where you create a circle with some text inside. I think you may have readers out there who would love to learn.

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  25. Tracy Avatar

    I got sucked into your blog after the runners world pinterest board posted your mile a day photos! Honestly, I read tons of blogs and NEVER comment but after spending an embarrassing amount of time reading your posts I discovered that we both turn 27 on the same day (2/22 is coming quickly!!) I felt like I had to break my “no comment” rule to tell you how great your blog is! keep on keeping on!!

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  26. elise blaha Avatar

    Thank you. And that is awesome! We share it with George Washington too.

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  27. Cheri Johnson Avatar

    Very resourceful! I like the idea, instead of buying heart pillow in the department store why not try to make your own. You can save money and you can whatever design you want to add in you customize heart pillows.

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  28. Miranda Hybarth Avatar

    I can feel how fluffy and how fantastic the feel of the pillow must have been. I hope I have come to stumble this a little bit earlier.

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  29. Plain Stegall Avatar

    Totally simple yet in chic. Love your ideas. Gonna apply this in my throw pillows.

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  30. Luciani Durand Avatar

    I have also one of this. I now know where my admirer got the idea of that heart pillow. He surely got it from you guys. But I love it! It’s very cute!

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