Decorative Pillows

A knife-edge pillow is simply two pieces of fabric sewn around the edges and stuffed to make a great looking accent pillow. A tailored sham is a cover with a central pocket that holds the form and has an extended, unstuffed border. This type of pillow works well for just about any type of accent pillows, decorative throw pillows, tapestry pillows or silk pillows to name a few.

To make a knife-edge accent pillow, begin by deciding the size and shape of your pillow. Generally, this pillow looks best with a pillow form.

Below are two examples of pillows: one pillow and one pillow sham.

1. Finish the edges of each piece of fabric.
   
   
2. If you are making the decorative pillow with the topper (B), place the topper right side up. If you are not , place the cover front (A) right side up.
   
   Using chalk, and a square, draw a rectangle the size of your pillow form centered on the topper or cover front.
   
   
   
3. Place the cover front on the cover back, wrong sides together and edges aligned. If using the tipper, center it on them, right side up. Pin the pieces together along the chalk line.
   
   
4. Sew the decorative pillow pieces together on the marked line, leaving one end open.
   
   
   
5. Insert the pillow form between the cover front and back. Pin and sew the remaining end closed, using a zipper foot.
   
   
6. Center a tieback over the stitches on each edge of the pillow form. Whipstitch the cord to the pillow cover; at each corner secure the stitches and leave the extending cord loose.
   
   
   
7. Knot the extending cord at each corner and tack each knot to the cover.

1. Fold the button band (A) in half lengthwise, right side out, and press. Finish one long edge.
   
   
   
2. Sew the unfinished edge of the band to the end of the sham front (B). Fold the band away from the front and press the seam toward the band.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Fold the band in half again along the crease made in Step 1, covering the seam allowance and lapping the finished edge over the seamline. Pin or baste. Stitch the band through all layers right next to the seamline. Referring to the photographs, mark and stitch buttonholes evenly spaced on the band.
   
   
   
4. Mark the fold-over button underlap on the sham back (C) as follows. Place the back right side up. With the cut edges aligned, place the sham front right side up on top of it. Using chalk, draw a line on the back along the folded edge of the band. Draw another line parallel to the first and the depth of the band away from it. Draw a third line this same distance from the second line.
   
   
   
5. Remove the sham front. Turn the back wrong side up. Hem the marked end, folding the fabric to the wrong side along the middle line, and turning under (trim any excess fabric) or serging the end along the outer line; the inside edge of the hem should align with the inner marked line.
   
   
6. Place the back right side up. With the cut edges aligned, place the front right side down on top of it. Fold the extending hem over the button band. Pin along the cut edges.
   
   
   
7. Sew the back to the front along the cut edges. Trim the seam allowance at the corners. Turn the sham right side out; the button underlap will fold against the wrong side of the back. Sew a button opposite each buttonhole. Insert the pillow form, tucking it into the pocket formed by the button underlap; fasten the buttons to your decorative pillow.