From snuggling under handmade quilts to newly sewn dresses made by Ma, a needle and thread were often woven into the storyline throughout the “Little House” books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Here is how to Make Your Own Little House Inspired Pillows.
Make Your Own Little House Inspired Pillows
The pillows shown above were inspired by “Little House in the Big Woods” and are great projects for using up small scraps of fabric.
The Big Woods pillow is perfect for the beginning sewist.
I used the following fabrics from the Little House on the Prairie line from Andover Fabrics to create this pillow. A huge “Thank you!” to Andover for providing the fabric that made this post possible.
The front and background fabric used for the pillow and some of the tree appliques:
Fabric style A-7924-B and A-7923-G
Another set of trees ~ A-7951-G
Tree Trunks ~ A-7948-Y
Tree Pattern
The tree trunks are just rectangles and the trees are simple triangles. You can enlarge or reduce the following graphics to create sizes to suit.
All of the various pieces were laid out in a pleasing manner and then pinned in place. They were then attached to the background fabric using a zig-zag stitch. Other stitches, such as the straight or satin stitch, can also be used.
Both of the pillows were finished with a simple envelope closure on the back.
Just like the log cabin tablecloth the Big Woods pillow also features a special tag.
Log Cabin Pillow
For the log cabin pillow, I used the same fabrics as listed above for the trees. This project is good for the medium to advanced sewist.
The fabric used as follows from top to bottom:
Background fabric ~ A-7923-L
Back of the pillow and log cabin ~ A-7948-R
Log cabin ~ A-7925-R
Roof of log cabin ~A-7951-B
Door and tree trunks ~ A-7948-Y
Sidewalk fabric ~ A-7982-B
Log Cabin Pattern
I used this image for the basic shape of the cabin and its roofline.
The base of the cabin was simply 2 1/2” wide strips sewn together with a 4” wide strip of the red floral fabric on top. (The length of the strips were 8” before cutting the shape.)
The shape was cut out after the strips had been sewn together. (You can adjust the sizing if you want a bigger or smaller sized cabin.)
The door and tree trunks were basic rectangles and the sidewalk was cut out in a free hand fashion.
The fabric strips of the roof were first sewn together at an angle in the center so that they would lie nicely flat.
Once all the pieces were cut out and the roof was sewn they were then laid out, pinned in place and sewn on using a zig-zag stitch. But again, you can use other stitches if preferred.
I hope you have enjoyed this post. Tomorrow’s post will feature how to make a disappearing nine patch napkin.
“The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
Enjoy life!
Laura
Please enjoy all of the other posts in the “Little House” series.
Little House Holiday Breakfast
Becoming Laura Costume Challenge
The Homes of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Oh my goodness, these are so perfect. I use to quilt, so I know how difficult it is to get all the pieces just right to convey your picture. The pillows are amazing. I have loved this series. I am enjoying the book, I haven't had a chance to finish it, but such a treasure. I wish you and the family the most Blessed Christmas ever.
Bonjour chère amie,
Tellement adorable !
Gros bisous à vous et joyeuses fêtes…
I love that storybook fabric. And your instructions for doing this are so clear, I almost think I could do it! And the finished products are adorable!
You are an amazing fabric artist. This is wonderful.
Laura, I forgot to mention in my earlier comment that Garth Williams, who did the Little House illustrations is a favorite of mine for his many books. I found this interesting New Yorker article about him and wanted to share it with you.
http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/garth-williams-illustrator-of-american-childhood
I love the fabrics and pillow covers. My elderly friend has a quilt that her mother made using fabric scraps from her dresses as a little girl (in the Sunbonnet Sue pattern)