Photo Fabric Pillow
| January 25, 2012 | Posted by Jessie under Gifts, Sewing Projects |
Have you ever heard of photo fabric before?
I may be way behind the times, but I think I first read about it in a Country Living magazine a few months ago and starting searching around for it a few weeks ago when I had a specific project in mind. I found it at my local Joann’s for about $12 for a package of 6 sheets. Of course, you can use a 50% off coupon {which I did} and get it for $6. I thought that was a pretty good deal. I’ve also seen it on Amazon if you aren’t near a Joann’s. Anyway, they carried three different fabrics, but I went for a simple cotton poplin and sewed it to some leftover gray fabric I had from our slipcovers.
This project was a gift to a family that I adore in New Zealand. I actually was blessed to live with them for a couple months while I student taught in New Zealand in college {a great story for another day}. I wanted to make something meaningful for them and came up with a cute and heartfelt idea. Remy, the youngest child in the family, and I were fast buds. She was 8 when I was there so our friendship revolved around playing outside with their pets {including a possum!} and taking long walks in the country, along with the occasional Shrek viewing on my laptop in bed. One of our other favorite hobbies was looking at maps. I think we were both fascinated by how far apart we lived and how large the world is, yet we somehow found each other. I thought creating a map pillow with a small symbol of where we both are today would be something that Rem would love.
I started by finding a map of the world that I liked. Then I opened Picnik {which we all sadly know isn’t going to be around much longer} and added a couple small red hearts on New Zealand and Indiana.
Then it was time to print. I will admit I was a little nervous about messing this up so I started by testing a plain piece of copy paper first. I made a small dot in the corner and ran it through so I would know which way to insert my fabric.
Then I printed it on the copy paper to test it, and finally printed on my fabric paper.
Then I referred back to the package directions.
Once the ink was dry, the directions said to peel the backing away.
Aren’t I a good little direction-follower? The next step was to wash it under running water until the water ran clear.
I grabbed my iron and a towel and ran a dry iron over top to dry it. It took about 10 seconds to be completely dry.
Then it was time to attach it to my pillow. To be honest, I would probably do it differently next time. I think it would have been cool to inset the map into the gray fabric instead of sewing it on top. You live and learn. Anyway, I ironed a hem onto the map fabric.
I cut my gray fabric to size and then pinned the map in the center.
And then finished sewing my envelope pillow {can you tell I’m on a pillow kick lately?} and inserted the pillow.
That’s it. A happy world filled with love:) Well, at least on my pillow.
And hopefully Rem will love it as much as I do. I might make one for myself, just so we can match.
Have you ever used photo fabric? Think you will now? The possibilities are endless. You don’t even have to have a fancy fabric printing machine to make your own, unique pillows now!
Love ideia!
Thanks!
Very neat, didn’t know there was anything out there like that! You continue to amaze me! Love ya, Sharon
Thanks, Sharon:)
I noticed you are from Bloomington also, so I thought you might like a onesie I made a few months ago that reminds me of this pillow project: http://twinfamous.blogspot.com/2011/10/hoosier-onesie.html
You can use any fabric, but I liked the vegetable garden since Indiana is an agricultural state. And of course the design would work easily on a pillow too.