Maybe you can’t find that perfect ring pillow, or maybe you did find it, but it doesn’t fit in your budget. Or, perhaps, you just enjoy personalizing your wedding through crafts. Whatever the reason, making a ring pillow is a wonderful alternative to buying one.
Pillows are simple to make. They basically consist of four straight seams. Anyone can sew a straight line with a sewing machine or even by hand with a little practice. The first step in making your pillow should be gathering inspiration. Browse the many ring pillows available online and in wedding catalogs. Many bridal stores and some craft stores carry ring pillows. Seeing the pillows in person can allow for close inspection of construction. Decide what you like and what you don’t like in a ring pillow. Then decide if you want to copy a certain pillow, combine certain aspects of different pillows into one, or if you want to create a new, original design. Once you decide what you want your pillow to look like, the most difficult task is over.
Most expensive and extravagant pillows can be made for very little money. Velvets and satins are especially beautiful for ring pillows. These fabrics tend to be pricey. Since they are so small, however, ring pillows can often be sewn using fabric from a remnants bin. You may very well have other items on hand to complete the pillow – silk flowers, scraps of lace, bits of ribbon, and tassels make lovely finishing touches. Be creative and don’t be afraid to be different. Small touches like these are what make your wedding unique.
A nice alternative to the traditional white lacey pillow is a rich, colorful velvet pillow. Velvet is especially lovely for fall or winter weddings, but can certainly be used in spring and summer as well. Velvet is surprisingly easy to work with and has the unique quality of being embossable. You may choose to emboss your new last initial on the bottom of the pillow or a fancy flower on the top. The possibilities are endless. To emboss the pillow, simply lay the velvet nap side down on the rubber stamp of your choice. Turn the stamp and the velvet over, so the wrong side (the side that will be inside the pillow) of the fabric is facing up. Spritz it with water and place a warm iron on the velvet and the stamp. Hold the iron in place until the image of the stamp is engraved in the fabric. You may want to do a practice run on a scrap piece of fabric before embossing your pillow. Another nice idea is to create a checkerboard effect by alternating squares of velvet with satin of the same color. Four squares is the ideal size checkerboard. This creates an elegant, subtle pattern without too much contrast. If velvet is not your style, why not try using a sheer fabric like organza? An organza pillow with silk rose petals as stuffing is beautiful and romantic. Colorful, silk, autumn leaves could be substituted for fall weddings.
No matter what style of pillow you decide to make, they are all constructed in basically the same way. Decide what size you want your pillow to be and cut two squares in those measurements. Most embellishments should be added before sewing the two sides together. Don’t forget to sew two thin ribbons to the top of the pillow for the rings. Once you are ready to sew, place the two fabric squares together with the wrong sides facing each other. Pin the sides together using straight pins. Now sew the sides together by hand or machine in a matching thread. Leave a small opening on one side to stuff your pillow, then turn the pillow right side out. Fill your pillow with stuffing, using a pencil or a knitting needle to fill in the corners. Now stitch the opening closed and you’re done! You have made a wonderful accessory for your wedding that is personal and unique. It may even become a family heirloom. Don’t hesitate to use your creative talents in other areas of the wedding and in life. Good luck!
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