Tuesday, April 30, 2013

and then there were three

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!

53 comments:

~Carla~ said...

Those are just awesome!! Mine would love them too! :)

Linda said...

Too fun! Gave Lexi hers on Sunday. I think she liked it? Hard to tell sometimes with a 12 year old.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Lucky little girl - yes how did she turn seven already??? Love the purples!

Anonymous said...

I 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!

carla said...

HI!!! Those are wonderful pillows!!! Love that they are huge!!!

SarahZ said...

They really are so cool...especially all together...happy happy!

karen said...

Cute pillows!! My daughter turned 7 yesterday too!! :-)
Happy Birthday to her!!!

Samantha said...

Great pillows! Awesome Mom!

Beth said...

Another great pillow. They look so pretty all together. I bet she was thriled with her purples!

Anonymous said...

Is it just my eyes, or is each successive pillow larger?

Happy belated birthday to your not-so-little girl.

Tiffany said...

It's awesome. I think you did a great job with all the purples!

Mama Pea said...

I 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.

Di~ said...

It's beautiful, really, who would have thought purple!? but of course AmandaJean can make anything! wonderful!

Dolly said...

This is CRAZY GOOD, crazymom !

Carolyn said...

MAN, I love them so much too! Especially the purple one! Of course!

Peggy said...

My 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.

Anonymous said...

You are a great mommy!

xo Linda

CJ said...

I think my soon to be 21 year old son would like one of those!

jennifer said...

Definitely loving the pillows! I'm tempted to make those for my kids this year. :)

Vicki said...

They 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!!

Anonymous said...

I 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.

Kelly said...

So awesome. I'd love to make some for my kids....and me!

wish2stitch said...

What a great gift! They look fantastic. So nice to make something you know they will love so much.

Unknown said...

Very 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!

Linda said...

You 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? ;)

Suzanne said...

Happy 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

bec said...

They 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!

Trepmom said...

Hi 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

Thimbleanna said...

Yay! Your daughter now has a pillow too! They all look so fabulous together. Do they each get their own box in the move LOL???

scribble neetly said...

Love 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?

Jeneta said...

Don'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!!

Carla said...

I love your pillows. I need to make some of those large scale cushions for my family. Great idea.

Lisa C said...

Wow. 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.

Anna said...

love 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.

Kevin Potter said...

question 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!!

Beth

mailergoat said...

So beautiful, what a fun gift for her! And for the three of them to have matching, unique things. Way to go!

Glynis said...

Amanda 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!!
And congrats to you and Happy Birthday to her!
Y'all have a blast!

Cheryl Arkison said...

Happy Birthday Abby!
The photo on the couch is hysterical! And I like how the size of the squares gets smaller...

Glynis said...

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!
Y'all have a beautiful day! Celebrating with you!

Sara said...

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!

p.s. I think your daughters is the biggest;)

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

these pillows are fantastic and they all look great on your couch. Your kids are so lucky to have one for each of them

junacreationsuk.blogspot.co.uk said...

Ph that is lovely and the colours are gorgeous, I do love a bit of purple myself.

Judy said...

What 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 :-)

CapitolaQuilter said...

I'm so glad you put them on the couch for scale - they look great together and are just so much fun.

Kathleen said...

These look great! You are such a good mama :)

Annemieke said...

Lovely super sized pillows! They could easily be for sale in a children's furniture/interior shop. All children would love one I think.
Groetjes
Annemieke

Michele said...

They are fantastic but it looks like you need a bigger couch. LOL

Anonymous said...

Wow another fabulous pillow! I love the fabrics that you have used! Purple is cool! ;-)
Esther

sarah elizabeth :: {no} hats said...

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!!

ChristaQuilts said...

How fun - I love the pillows!

Anonymous said...

Awesome!! 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.

Franziska said...

That 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. :)

Claire Jain said...

So great! I've been eyeballing that purple stack, myself :-D