MAKE · PARTY ·Mar 23, 2013

Bunny Basket Pillows

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“R IS FOR RANUNCULUS RABBIT”

A BUNNY BASKET PILLOW, ANYONE?

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Top left: felt bunny Top right: velour bunny Bottom left: corduroy bunny Bottom Right:flannel bunny with embroidered details, all on linen fronts. We’ve made many more combinations and I can’t choose a favorite. I love them all.

Don’t these chocolates look snuggly in our test run before the arrival of the real Easter Bunny!

This project is so much fun to share. While these Bunny Pocket Pillows could easily grace a room, year around, I’m resisting the urge to do so and plan to keep these exclusively for Easter. They feel like they are an item that will continue to grow with us. I’m already looking forward to bring them out next year. (Don’t you think they’d be great in a bed room or in a children’s play area, as well?) Hop down below for the tutorial.

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Partly green and partly for keeping; I’ve backed all of the pillows with fabrics re-purposed from the children’s clothing — faux fur from an old jacket, cotton from a summer dress; more from toddler blankets, etc. Combining these fabrics in a holiday decoration felt like the perfect place to do so. Are you good at re-purposing?

BUNNY BASKET PILLOW TUTORIAL:
Supplies:– Fabric for pillow (I used linen for the front and cotton and/or faux fur for the back)
– Soft Fabric from the Bunny Applique (I used craft felt, cotton flannel, corduroy and velour)
– Bunny Stencil (Printable Bunny PDF — click here)
– Iron-on interfacing paper
– Iron
– Pins
– Scissors
– Embroidery needle and embroidery thread, if desired
– Needles
– Sewing machine, but these can be sewn by hand, if desired.
– Pom Poms for tails.
– Pillow stuffing

Let’s get started:After choosing the fabric for the pillow and for the bunny applique. Print the PDF of the bunny applique pattern. Using this PDF pattern, cut 2 bunnies from the soft fabric (felt, velour, flannel or corduroy) and 2 bunnies from the interfacing paper. Now, cut 3 squares or rectangle for your pillow — 2 matching front fabric and the 3rd can be the same or a complimentary fabric. When estimating the pillow size, leave enough room around the edges of the applique to finish all side seams. Lay the 2 matching pillow squares out on your ironing board. Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of the bunny applique and then, iron the bunny applique to the center of each square. At this point, you will have two matching squares that should look identical — both the fabrics and the applique. Top stitch the edges for maximal hold.

At this point, embroider any desired details on one of the bunnies or leave as a solid silhouette. I like both. Once complete, fold one of the two pillow squares with the bunny applique over and inward to create a pocket. Match the fold to complete the bunny form (as above) and pin into place.

Now, you will match the 3rd (back side) square to the front of the pillow by placing the right sides together. The wrong sides will be on the outside. Pin these sides, carefully matching the pocket to maintain the applique pattern and sew along the edge, leaving a small section for the filling. Once the seams are complete, clip each corner and turn the pillow, right side out. Carefully press all corners out and press the pillow, if necessary.

Attach pompom with needle and thread. Fill the pillow to desired fullness and finish off the open seam by hand and your done! It’s time to enjoy. From our house to your own: wishing you bunny or Easter happiness!