Crafts: Make a Tea Towel Pillow Cover

I am thrilled to join the Yankee blogging team as the creative force behind The Crafty Yankee. I love crafts that are useful, serve to beautify my home, and are made using easy-to-find items. Even better. . . crafts that reuse, or recycle items that we all have lying around the house. Most of my crafty pursuits are pretty quick and easy to make. With a five-month old baby, my craft time is both precious and limited, so I try to make the most of every minute!

First up, a quick and easy idea for pillows. With winter slowing receding, it is time to do some spring-cleaning, and decorating. I love to change up the pillows around my house when the seasons change. During the winter months, I favor cozy textures, and rich, warm colors. Once spring comes around, I am itching to brighten things up!

Using two tea towels that I had lying around, I whipped up these pillows, and I love the way they brighten up my entire living room.

Materials for tea towel pillows:

• Tea Towel
• Pillow insert
• Fabric for the backing
• Sewing machine
• Needle and thread

Instructions for tea towel pillows:

1. For each pillow, I chose a coordinating fabric for the backing, and cut it to match the size of the tea towel.
2. With the right sides facing each other, pin the backing and the towel together.
3. With your sewing machine, using a ¼inch seam allowance, sew along three sides, leaving the fourth side open (you need this opening to slip in the pillow insert).
4. Turn your pillow right side out, and slip in the pillow insert. Pin the opening shut, making sure to turn the raw edges in, and using a needle and thread, sew it closed.

*Note: If any of these sewing instructions are confusing for you, try using Google or YouTube as a helpful tool. Type in phrases such as “How to Sew a Pillow Closed,”" and you will find a wealth of instructional videos and photos.

Here are a few of my favorite sources for colorful, fun tea towels:

1. Crate and Barrel
2. Lotta Helleberg
3. Skinny Laminx
4. Simrin—which is where I purchased my elephant towels
5. Try searching Ebay and Etsy for vintage tea towels

Readers Comments — Colleen Getchell on April 7, 2011

A new crafter’s guild has opened locally in Peterbrough NH The Monadnock Crafters Guild located at 127 Concord ST, Peterbrough NH We welcome the public to visit our gift shop . Where you can find a large assortment of quality hand made items available for purchase. The guile is owned and operated by its members and is a NH non profit organization.We are currently accepting applications for new members. You may contact the guild at monadnockcraftersguild@gmail.com or visit us on the web at www.MonadnockCraftersGuild.org