This post may contain affiliate links for you to easily find products mentioned. If you click a link and make a purchase, I get a small commission which helps keep the Fox Den up and running. My complete disclosure policy, is here.
Hi friends,
Ooh, it feels good to be back! Somehow a month has passed since I posted last. How did that happen? When Merry Monday ended I unintentionally took some time off from blogging to pursue other passion projects. In the past few months my Etsy shop has been surprisingly overwhelming so before I got back into the blogging swing of things I had to figure out how I would balance my new work life and my blog life. I think I have a plan that I can stick to so let’s get into this!
If you’re new around here, you should know that the Fall season is my favorite time of year. The colors, the decor, the PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES, I love it ALL. I pulled out all my fall decorations but I felt that I was missing something. I needed to add a splash of autumn colors to my bed spread so I thought a decorative throw pillow would be a good addition. Because I have a plain pillow insert that I may want to use again, I decided to make an envelope pillow case so it could be removed. I thought it would be much harder but it was so simple and I have a tutorial to show you how!
Supplies
Autumn Themed Fabric (I got mine from Hobby Lobby but this one here is similar)
Coordinating Thread
Coordinating Yarn
Cutting Machine (Cricut or Silhouette Cameo)
HTV for Border (I used Cream)
HTV for Design (I used Teal)
Iron, Cricut EasyPress, or Heat Press
The first thing you’re going to do is measure and cut your fabric to size. It needs to fit over your pillow insert but still be snug so the design isn’t baggy. Because your pillow inserts may be different in size than mine, you can follow this simple equation to make sure you have enough fabric.
pillow insert width + 2 inches = fabric width
pillow insert height x 2 + 5 inches = fabric length
For example, here is the equation using my pillow insert.
15 + 2 = 17 (fabric width)
15 x 2 + 5 = 35 (fabric length)
Once you have your fabric measured and cut, take your straight pins and create a 3/4″ – 1″ hem on the length ends. Because I had a plaid fabric I used the lines to ensure that my edges were straight.
After they’ve been pinned, sew up both length ends.
Once both end lengths are hemmed, you need to sew up the sides. Fold the bottom end up a little more than a third of the way up (mine was 7″) and then fold the top down to overlap the bottom edge. Pin the sides together and run them through the sewing machine.
If you have any uneven edges, take this opportunity to cut them. After they’re trimmed, turn right side out.
Now you could be done and call it a day but I wanted to add something extra to it. And what better to add than pom poms? Plus they’re super easy to make! Take some yarn and wrap it around your hand. I wanted my pom poms to be big and fluffy so I wrapped it around 50 times.
Slip it off your hand and cut a piece of yarn 8 – 10 inches long.
Tie it around the middle of the wrapped yarn nice and tight. This will leave loops on each side.
Cut the loops to make your pom pom. DO NOT cut the long strings that are tied in the middle.
Once your pom pom is made it may need a hair cut. Give it a little trim and shake out the excess “hairs”. Once again, DO NOT cut the long strings that are tied in the middle. Repeat 3 more times to have 4 pom poms in total.
Using your tapestry needle, take one of the long strings and thread it through the eye.
Sew one of the strings through the corner of the pillow case. Sew the other about a 1/4-inch down on the seam. Pull both strings through on the inside.
Once both strings are pulled through the inside, tie tightly together. You can add a dab of hot glue as well for extra protection. Cut the strings. Repeat on all corners.
Again, you can call it a day here but I wanted to add a cute design to the pillow and I LOVE a play on words so I decided to create this “Hello, GOURD-geous!” cut file that can be downloaded here. Upload the SVG to your cutting machine’s software and cut it out in the colors you want.
Cut out your border first. I did mine in a cream color so the main design would pop against the plaid. Apply it to your fabric with heat.
Cut out the main design in the color you want next. I went with a teal that matched the yarn of the pom poms. Match up the main design inside of the border and apply with heat.
Stuff your pillow insert inside and style it how you wish!
After I added this to my bed I knew I had to bring some of the warm colors through on my nightstand decor as well. I styled it with some of my favorite books, a Bath & Body Works candle, a white and copper trinket tray from Target, a hand sculpture to hold my glasses, and a wooden fox box my best friend gave me when I was her maid of honor.
How do you guys decorate for fall? Are you a minimal designer or do you go all out? Let me know in the comments below!