Pandemic Pillow

 We all have our way of dealing with the pandemic -- mine has been this project.  It began when I came across this awesome shop on Etsy,  https://www.etsy.com/shop/WitchyWomansshop. They convert an image into a cross stitch pattern. I sent them a picture of the Big Red Lighthouse I had taken one winter and they sent back a pattern I knew would be a challenge!

I started this project in October 2020. The first image below was taken in November and the second was from December. I was making great progress -- and then I crashed. I normally find stitching therapeutically relaxing, but I just couldn't look at it anymore. I had to put it down.

I finally picked it back up in May 2021.

18 months and 60,000 stitches later -- I completed the pillow!

I think it'll be awhile before I tackle another this size....

New Nautical Lighthouse Collection

Hello! And a very happy Memorial Day to all! Here in Michigan, it is a great day to -- be inside sewing. I had purchased some wonderful lighthouse embroidered jacquard upholstery fabric a while back and have finally created some pillows. There is an 18", 16", 12x16", and I also made a matching garland. I just couldn't resist using up the remaining lighthouses on this garland.

How I made the garland --
I cut out the lighthouse in a square and fused heat and bond to the backside to stabilize the fabric and keep it from unraveling. I then cut out the lighthouse and fused it to the burlap flag. Then sewed it on because even the super strength heat and bond doesn't really adhere well to burlap. The burlap flags are cut 5-1/2" wide by 8" long. Then I serge around all edges, fold down a top pocket and zigzag it shut. I measured out 8' plus a few inches of dock line and strung the flags on placing knots in between to hold them in place.

I can just image these pillows tossed on a bed with the garland looping above the headboard. Or the pillows tossed on a couch with the garland strung over a window covering to add a great nautical feel to the décor.

Lighthouse Pillow Collection

I have had some great luck lately finding some very unique fabric. This particular project uses an embroidered jacquard with striped and diamond patterned lighthouses. 

This is a nice chunky upholstery fabric that I'm mixing with twill, black denim and wide wale corduroy, to give this pillow collection a lot of dimension and texture.
I've included a nautical rope piping accent on some for an added pop. These are all now on Etsy as my first new collection for 2013! Cheers!

www.floatinteriors.com