When we make custom quilts, we usually have a little fabric left over that we sometimes make into custom handmade throw pillows.One of our spring 2011 projects was to make a custom picture quilt as a graduation gift.
The custom quilt was for a young woman with a collection of cheerleading ribbons, which her Mom wanted somehow incorporated into the personalized graduation gift.
Since we didn't find a way to add them to the custom quilt, I decided to include the ribbons in a handmade throw pillow made out of matching, left over fabric.
There wasn't much fabric left - only a handfull of fabric remnants - but luckily the whimsical brown and white design mixing animal prints made it easier to stitch left over fabric pieces together.The back side of the pillow was made out of left over solid pink fabric, which was also used to frame the custom quilt photo blocks.
I used pink fabric on the back of the custom quilt, too, which made the custom quilt reversible.
Because the cheerleading ribbons were a special memento, I sewed them into the pillow edge seam without cutting them.
Later, if they want to use the cheerleading ribbons in something else, they can just rip open the handmade throw pillow seam and easily remove the cheerleading ribbons.To add a little whimsy and keep the ribbons in one place, I made a fabric ribbon from the pink fabric.
The ribbon tied around the pillow secures ribbons to the pillow back.
I think the handmade throw pillow will look cute either on the bed or in a side chair, and the ribbons will be a reminder of her wonderful high school years as a cheerleader.
Handmade throw pillows are not only easy home decor but they can be great personalize gifts, too!
Charlotte
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