Chubby*Hobby

In order to celebrate the month of True Love, I’ve been thinking about the perfect Valentine’s gift to make – as far as I know the male species would prefer something more subtle and practical rather then big red hearts on a phone pouch – which I don’t think they’d like to take with them everyday!! We all know that they like to act COOL :p

So I was thinking something pampering – an eye pillow would make a nice Valentine’s gift, I’ve also chosen more earthy colours and patterns – to show LOVE but not overwhelming!!

Materials for the (washable) Eye Pillow Slipcover:

• Fabrics:
  • Piece A – 4 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ – linen
  • Piece B – *** – any fabric of your choice
  • Piece C – *** – linen
  • Piece D – *** – any fabric of your choice (I chose one with hearts on it!)
  • Piece E – *** – linen
  • Piece F – 20 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ – lining fabric of your choice
  • Piece G – 10″ x 4 1/4″ – any fabric of your choice (this is the panel that will be in contact with the eyes, choose a fabric that feels soft to the touch! I used 100% Cotton.)
• A piece of string 4″ long
• 1 cute button (I used one made out of coconut shell – gotta choose one that can go into the microwave!)

*** For pieces B, C, D and E – please cut fabrics according to this template here.

Materials for the Eye Pillow:

• Fabrics:
  • 2 pieces – 9 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ – any fabric of your choice (I used homespun.)
  • flaxseed (linseed) approx. 150g

Seam allowance: 1/4″

Step 1: Let’s start with the eye pillow slipcover!

First of all, I would like to personalise the front panel a little bit using hand carved stamps. I carved 2 different size rubber heart stamps (you can find the stamp carving tutorial here).

Take piece C, use a fabric marker to mark the 1/4″ seam allowance. Use fabric ink of you choice stamp randomly within the marked lines. This brand of fabric ink that I use require me to iron afterwards to set the colour.

Full of HEARTS and LOVE! ^_^

Step 2: Patchwork

Now sew pieces B, C, D and E together and press seam open. This is what you should get, a patchwork panel measuring 6 1/2″ x 4 1/4″.

Step 3: Getting there…

Sew pieces A, G and the patchwork panel together according to the order shown in the picture below. Now you should have a long fabric panel same size as the lining. Press seams open.

Step 4: Make things more interesting!

Now let’s decorate the fabrics a bit with some stitches!! Use a fabric marker to mark the 1/4″ seam allowance.

Use different colour threads to decorate the fabrics with some stitching. This is what I’ve come up with, you can stitch more or less according to what you fancy, possibilities are endless!

Step 5: Putting the eye pillow slipcover together!

Pin the fabric panel and lining (Piece F) RIGHT side together – don’t forget to pin the string in place. Stitch along the 2 SHORT sides.

Turn RIGHT side out and iron.

Using the folding line (shown by the 2 arrows in the picture above) – first fold the RIGHT flap in and then the LEFT. This is how it should look like now.

Pin in place and stitch along the 2 LONG sides. Trim the seam allowances with a pair of pinking shears (optional), or apply fray-check glue if you have any (also optional). If you used fray-check glue, remember to let dry completely before turning out.

Yes, you can turn RIGHT side out now!! Don’t forget to sew the button in place and here’s your slipcover DONE!!

Step 6: Sew the eye pillow

There’s no point of a slipcover without the actual eye pillow, so here we go. Pin the two pieces of homespun together (If you use a different kind of fabric – RIGHT side together please!) and stitch around leaving an opening on one of the short sides, backstitching at each end. I double stitched – just in case the seeds find their way out!!

Trim corners, turn RIGHT side out and fill the pillow with approximate 150g of flaxseed (a funnel would make things easier here!), you can add more or less seeds according to your liking, I personally don’t want it too bulky, otherwise it wouldn’t be comfortable on the eyes!

Shook all the flaxseed to one end and then stitch (double-stitch!!) the opening closed.

Now to the exciting part, place the eye pillow into the slipcover!!!^^
TADA!! There’s your Valentines gift ready!!

Eye Pillow – Front View.

Eye Pillow – Back View

Oh! In case you want to do some “safety testing” before giving it away – Put it in the microwave for 45 secs or chill it in the freezer – place over eyes and relax!! You deserve some reward after all the hard work!!

I enjoyed making this eye pillow very much! This project is also great for using up scraps!
I hope the instructions are easy enough to follow for you!^^ There will be another Valentines tutorial coming – a matching gift to go with the eye pillow, so hang in there, I won’t be long!!^_^

Thank you very much for reading!!!