I’m Randi from Dukes and Duchesses and I’m so glad to be here sharing this Pool Rules Pillow as part of One Crafty Summer!
Last summer, I saw the cutest wood pool sign in the Pottery Barn catalog. I fell in love with it and wanted to DIY it but I really don’t have a great spot to hang a sign by my pool. Instead, I turned it into this bright pillow!
To make one, you’ll need a pillow form and a solid colored outdoor fabric cut to the measurements of your pillow. I used a 14-inch pillow form and cut my fabric 14.5 inches by 34 inches. You want to leave a small seam allowance on the sides and allow for an overlap of the closure at the back.
When making homemade pillows, I almost always go with an envelope style. It takes five minutes to stitch it up and is simple even for a beginning sewer.
For this project, I wanted to stencil the text first but needed to make sure it was centered properly so I used pins to mark where I’d fold the fabric when I stitched it up.
I used my cutting machine to make the stencil out of vinyl, copying the text from the Pottery Barn sign.
I centered it on the fabric and painted through the stencil with outdoor paint that can withstand the elements {I used Patio Paint by DecoArt}. A word of caution: be sure to use a dabbing/pouncing technique with just a bit of paint so paint won’t seep under the stencil. I kept adding more and more paint until the letters were filled in but just did a light coat on my brush every time.
I used white paint so it would show well against the fabric but added a fun colored ampersand at the bottom.
Once the paint was dry, I was ready to stitch up the pillow. You’ll want to finish the short edges of the fabric. I serged one end, folded it under, and stitched it but left the other selvage edge plain. I love shabby and I decided to use the selvage edge rather than cover it up.
Fold the top down, then fold the bottom up and stitch both sides. Remember that whatever edge is on the inside is the edge that will show on the outside when you flip it right side out. Turn the pillow right side out, push out the corners, and insert the pillow form.
This colorful pillow fits perfectly with the bright sitting area I have next to the pool and I love that it adds a bit of warmth and comfort to that space.
This is where you’ll be able to find me for much of the summer, reading a book, sipping on some iced tea, and watching my kids swim in the pool.
For more creative ideas {like the DIY umbrella table shown in this photo}, be sure to visit me at Dukes and Duchesses and follow me on facebook, twitter, pinterest, and instagram!
Enjoy your crafty summer!
Trish Flake
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Such a fun idea! Found you on the link party at Tatert0ts :& Jell-O!
Super cute idea, Trish!
So cute and cheery! Love the rules! We would love for you to come and link up with us at Your Designs This Time!
I love this pillow! So cute!