My daughter turned 7 yesterday. I can hardly believe it! Since this was the year of the
HUGE pillow at our house, I just
had to make one for her, too. These things take longer to make than you would think (about a week!) but they are totally worth it.
My girl just LOVES purple. (Figures, doesn't it? It sure isn't my favorite.) Thankfully, I had this stack of Kona sitting around waiting for the perfect project. It wasn't too hard to cut into it because I knew it was
just right for her pillow. I must confess, I felt like such a good mama picking her favorites rather than skewing things to my taste. Although working with solids isn't much of a stretch for me. :)
I cut the fat quarters into 4 1/2" squares and basically made 2 36" quilts (without binding). Then I added a zipper to the bottom of the panels and I turned it into a pillow. I made a huge 36" pillow form to stuff inside, so the stuffing wouldn't get caught in the zipper.
It was SO GREAT to see her blankey next to it this morning. I LOVE it that she loves it so much. (I do, too!) Yes, it takes up half her bed! Good thing she's still little. :)
For the quilting I stippled it, just to make each pillow a little more unique. That's more important to the kiddos than to me. Trust me, we've had many conversations about it!
And for scale...a photo of all three of the pillows on the couch. My kids just love them! And I sure love that they do!
Those are just awesome!! Mine would love them too! :)
ReplyDeleteToo fun! Gave Lexi hers on Sunday. I think she liked it? Hard to tell sometimes with a 12 year old.
ReplyDeleteLucky little girl - yes how did she turn seven already??? Love the purples!
ReplyDeleteI love them! What a great idea, my boys birthdays are in October and December....if I start planning now I may be able to make them each one!
ReplyDeleteHI!!! Those are wonderful pillows!!! Love that they are huge!!!
ReplyDeleteThey really are so cool...especially all together...happy happy!
ReplyDeleteCute pillows!! My daughter turned 7 yesterday too!! :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to her!!!
Great pillows! Awesome Mom!
ReplyDeleteAnother great pillow. They look so pretty all together. I bet she was thriled with her purples!
ReplyDeleteIs it just my eyes, or is each successive pillow larger?
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday to your not-so-little girl.
It's awesome. I think you did a great job with all the purples!
ReplyDeleteI bet she loved it. I was just thinking about these today and thinking I should make my E one. I know she'd love it.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful, really, who would have thought purple!? but of course AmandaJean can make anything! wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThis is CRAZY GOOD, crazymom !
ReplyDeleteMAN, I love them so much too! Especially the purple one! Of course!
ReplyDeleteMy youngest daughter, age 7, loves purple too! I am making her a purple quilt right now. Strange thing is, I don't like purple fabric, but I LOVE purple yarn. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteYou are a great mommy!
ReplyDeletexo Linda
I think my soon to be 21 year old son would like one of those!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely loving the pillows! I'm tempted to make those for my kids this year. :)
ReplyDeleteThey all look great. Love the stippling on the purple one. I have high hopes of learning to do that, and have it turn out as good as your. Good going mom!!
ReplyDeleteI love them all! I think the purple one is nicest cos I quite like purple but your stippling is amazing. Definitely makes me want to get good at stippling.
ReplyDeleteSo awesome. I'd love to make some for my kids....and me!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great gift! They look fantastic. So nice to make something you know they will love so much.
ReplyDeleteVery cute pillows and all color coded to your kiddos "likes." And, you took time to get done even with all the craziness of getting ready to move!
ReplyDeleteYou inspired me to make one for my grandson's 14 BD using Texas A&M fabric - he loved it! Maybe you will include giant pillows in a (hopefully) upcoming book? ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Little Miss Seven Year Old! I love how the pillow turned out. The stippling is amazing--so very consistent and the thread color pops. Thanks for mentioning that they take longer than they look like to make because mine is definitely in that category. I have learned that I have to take however long you say a project will take and multiply that by at least four to get a realistic time frame for mine. I do declare, I need some of whatever fuels your coffee. xo
ReplyDeleteThey are just great! They will probably be the first things they grab when they move out of home! My girl too loves purple, and yep, I cave every time I make her something, after trying to talk her around to a different colour, I make what she likes. we aim to please, us mums!
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda. Your purple pillow is beautiful. You are so talented! And you seem to be a very good mom! I am always in awe if your completed projects! After your post on your second son's pillow, I made one for my 15 year old daughter's birthday with a spa layer cake (cut in 1/4ths) and for her 11 yr old cousin's bday (they are one day apart). I used a froggy theme for cuz. They both loved their pillow! Thanks so much for the inspiration. The spa pillow was my first ever attempt at quilting. After I got the squares laid out I realized I had tricked myself into my first quilt because it was like making two small quilts. That was a big confidence builder! I love the way the quilt begins to feel when the quilting lines are being sewn. The whole process is enjoyable and gratifying. I have finished the quilting on a raggedy squares blanket and am trying to find time to attempt my first binding. I've checked your tutorial several times and I think I can do it (wish me luck)! I found your blog by accident when I did a google search for a blueberry pie pattern and have been following you since. I've even gone back through your old postings. You have a great blog and are so very talented! I have to tell you that one of the first posts I saw was your raggedy squares tutorial and I just fell in love when I read where you said - you see how that small square is a little off center - no worries. I love you for that. It told me it doesn't have to be perfect. Imperfect I can do! :) thanks so much for sharing your life and your love of quilting with us. You are such an inspiration! And happy belated birthday to your sweet daughter. Blessings, Ronda
ReplyDeleteYay! Your daughter now has a pillow too! They all look so fabulous together. Do they each get their own box in the move LOL???
ReplyDeleteLove these! I'm going to try them for my lil snugglers as we are huge pillow snugly fans! One question, did you use batting on each panel before stippling?
ReplyDeleteDon't they look fabulous on your couch! I love the feeling I get when I step back to admire my projects. How hilarious is it that your daughter likes purple!!
ReplyDeleteI love your pillows. I need to make some of those large scale cushions for my family. Great idea.
ReplyDeleteWow. This just brings back so many memories. My mother made my brother and me huge pillows when we were young. Mine was zebra and his was leopard. We used them to watch tv. I bet those pillows stayed in her den closet at least 20 years (way past their prime) but we just couldn't seem to say good-bye to them. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Your pillows are fabulous.
ReplyDeletelove the purple!! it's so amazing. I bet she loves loves it. Natalie would go crazy for it. :) I need more pillows in my life.
ReplyDeletequestion about how you make your pillow forms. Is it just the basic warm and natural folded up? or actual stuffing? I really like these ideas for kids--but unsure of how to make the pillow forms. I;m assuming you just made a muslin casing for it? Thanks, in advance, for the answer!!
ReplyDeleteBeth
So beautiful, what a fun gift for her! And for the three of them to have matching, unique things. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteAmanda Jean, THOSE ARE GORGEOUS! And PURPLES! Glorious Magentas, and Purples, and that color in between that we couldn't figure out what to call it when you were at Mama Said Sew! I am so with your daughter! GORGEOUS!!
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats to you and Happy Birthday to her!
Y'all have a blast!
Happy Birthday Abby!
ReplyDeleteThe photo on the couch is hysterical! And I like how the size of the squares gets smaller...
Kona Cerise! You were right on! Finally looked up the color and that's what you had called it. How'd you see in my head like that!
ReplyDeleteY'all have a beautiful day! Celebrating with you!
Every time you post one of these giant pillows I remember I have to make one for my son! Yet. One of these days I AM!
ReplyDeletep.s. I think your daughters is the biggest;)
these pillows are fantastic and they all look great on your couch. Your kids are so lucky to have one for each of them
ReplyDeletePh that is lovely and the colours are gorgeous, I do love a bit of purple myself.
ReplyDeleteWhat a special gift for your daughter! I love the purple solids and the way the pillow turned out. I bet she had a big smile on her face when she saw it :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you put them on the couch for scale - they look great together and are just so much fun.
ReplyDeleteThese look great! You are such a good mama :)
ReplyDeleteLovely super sized pillows! They could easily be for sale in a children's furniture/interior shop. All children would love one I think.
ReplyDeleteGroetjes
Annemieke
They are fantastic but it looks like you need a bigger couch. LOL
ReplyDeleteWow another fabulous pillow! I love the fabrics that you have used! Purple is cool! ;-)
ReplyDeleteEsther
That last picture makes the couch look miniature! Adorable. And I'm with your daughter on her love of purples and I am quite envious of that Kona stack!!
ReplyDeleteHow fun - I love the pillows!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!! All lined up, they look wonderful. I didn't used to love purple but after learning to quilt I have softened on the color and try to always include it in something.
ReplyDeleteThat pillow looks wonderful. It would be something for my daughter, too. She also has a big pillow on her bed. Whether she likes purple or not I don't know. I chose purple instead of pink for her clothes, it seems she likes green, blue or yellow. :) I could make a new cover for this pillow... hmmm... what a perfect excuse to sew. :)
ReplyDeleteSo great! I've been eyeballing that purple stack, myself :-D
ReplyDelete