Bolsters, Round Pillows & Pillow Shams

Bolsters are traditionally used to soften the space between the seat and arms of a formal sofa, to provide support along the ends or back of a daybed, or as neckroll pillows on a bed.

A cylindrical bolster pillow or pillow shams can be as simple as an open tube of fabric with the ends tied or drawn closed, or more structured with the ends of the tub enclosed with sewn-on rounds.

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

1. From the silk fabric, cut two circular panels 1" larger in diameter than the pillow form to be covered.
   
   
2. Sew the panels together, leaving an opening for turning. Turn right side out and press. Insert the pillow form and slipstitch the opening closed.
   
   
3. To create the petals, thread the upholstery needle with the ribbon and knot one ribbon end. Stitch through the center of the pillow, wrap the ribbon over the edge and stitch back through the center, pulling the ribbon taut. Repeat to stitch five more evenly spaced ribbon wraps around the pillow, then knot the ribbon securely in the center.
   
   
4. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to cover the buttons. Tuft the pillow center with a button on each side.
   
   
   

   Excerpted from Pillows, Cushions & Tuffets

1. Make a pattern for the flange on scrap paper. using a square, draw a rectangle the length of the bolster by the desired depth of the flange. Divide and mark one edge in eight equal sections At each mark, draw a line perpendicular to the edge. Use a 90-degree triangle or an L-square to draw a zigzag line as shown.
   
   
   
2. Check the proportions of the pattern, making the portion above the zigzag deeper or shallower as you wish. Ass 1/" seam allowance all around and cut out the pillow sham pattern. Cut out the flange as directed .
   
   
   
3. If you have not already done so, fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of one piece of the flange. Aligning their cut edges, place the two flange pieces right sides together and sew along the zigzag edge, pivoting at each corner. Trim the seam allowance at the points and clip at the inside corners.
   
   
   
4. Turn the flange right side out and press. Topstitch the zigzag edge. Parallel to and 2" below the long cut edge mark four buttonholes; center each above a zigzag point. Make the buttonholes.
   
   
5. With the right sides together and cut edges aligned, sew the flange to the appropriate edge of the bolster body. Press the seam allowance toward the flange; topstitch. Make a 2"-deep hem at the opposite edge of the body.
   
   
   
6. Make the welting. Sew welting around the right side of each bolster end; clip the flange if necessary and join the ends neatly.
   
   
   
7. With the pillow sham right sides together, pin one end of the bolster body to one of the bolster ends beginning at the edge of the zigzag flange. When you've pinned all around the circle, lap the hemmed end over the flange. Repeat to pin the other end. Check that the hem overlap is even at both ends; adjust the pins if necessary. Sew the ends to the body.
   
   
   
8. Turn the bolster pillow sham cover right side out. Sew a button opposite each buttonhole. Insert the bolster forms into the pillow shams.
   
   

   Excerpted from Sunset's Simply Pillows