Scrappy Book Pillow Tutorial

Hi all! 
Today I'm sharing with you a scrappy book pillow tutorial. 
To begin sew scraps in an order that looks good to you (this will become the pocket for your pillow).
Trim the top (the scrappy pocket portion) to 1 inch wider than the pillow you are covering by 4 inches shorter than the pillow you are covering. 

Layer the scrap piece with a backing piece of fabric. I used muslin fabric for this part. 

Sew these 2 pieces of fabric together at the top using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  

Press with an iron and fold down together like pictured. This creates your pocket for your pillow. 
Trim and square up if needed. 

The next step is to cut the front fabric for your pillow (this will be called the pillow front).  Cut this piece 1 inch wider and 1 inch taller than the pillow you are covering. 
For example my pillow is 12x20 inches, so my front, the brown fabric is cut to 13x21 inches. 
Layer these 2 pieces. 
This will create your front pocket.

Next is to make the back, envelope opening (the green with white dot fabric).  
Cut 2 pieces that are 1 inch taller than the pillow you are covering and to get your width take the width of your pillow and divide by 2, then add  4 inches to that number. 
For example my pillow is 12x20 inches.
My 2 envelope pieces are 13x14 inches each. 
13 inches tall (1 inch taller than my pillow), 14 inches wide ( 20 inches divided by 2= 10 inches+4 inches to allow the envelope back to overlap=14 inches). 

Hem the 2 envelope pieces (the green with white dot fabric) by pressing with an iron (the edge that will become the center of your pillow, don't hem the wrong edge!)
and turning under 2 times to create a clean edge. Once you've ironed both pieces sew using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. 

Next is to layer the pillow front (brown piece) right side up, then the scrappy pocket right side up with the raw edge of the fabric at the bottom of the pillow, last layer the envelope pieces (green with white dot fabric) wrong side up with the hemed seams in the middle. 
Pin and sew all the way around with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  
Turn right side out and put on the pillow and you're DONE! 

Now you have a book pillow!

Here is a view of the back showing the envelope opening. 

Fill with your favorite book!


Here are two different book pillows I made for gifts. 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! 

Happy sewing! 


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