Create the perfect pillow using velvet ribbon on the Baby Lock Radiance. Then embellish the pillow with an applique initial using a combination of embroidery designs and IQ Designer. This pillow will be a fun addition to any room!
Click HERE to download printable instructions with additional photos.
Supplies:
- Baby Lock Radiance Sewing and Embroidery Machine
- W Embroidery Foot
- Digital Dual Feed Foot with Standard Sole
- Baby Lock Adjustable Zipper Foot – BL-AZF (optional) if including piping
- Pillow front: 16” x 16” cotton fabric
- Pillow back: two 8 ½” x 16” cotton fabric
- 16x16” Baby Lock Ultra Soft Fusible forr pillow front
- Two 8 ½” x 16” Baby Lock Ultra Soft Fusible for pillow back – if Ultra soft is not available use a one sided fusible fleece
- Satin or solid fabric piece for applique. If using satin or thin fabric, back with a fusible stabilizer like Baby Lock Fabric Fuse or Pellon SF101.
- Baby Lock Tear Away Firm Stabilizer for Embroidery
- Velvet Ribbon– For this project, velvet ribbon in a variety of colors was purchased a local craft store. These can also be found online. Use different widths and colors that matches your home décor.
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3/8” cording - 100” long (optional)
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1 ¾” cotton fabric cut on the bias – 100” long (optional)
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Monofilament thread
- 20" zipper
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Chalk or Erasable fabric marker
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Other basic sewing supplies
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Cutting mat, rotary cutter, ruler
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Iron and ironing mat
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Wonder Clips or Pins
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Acorn Glue for Quilting – to help secure the ribbon to the pillow front
Getting Creative:
Preparing the Pillow Front:
1. Iron 16” x 16” Ultra Soft Fusible stabilizer to pillow front placing the fusible side of the stabilizer to the wrong side of the pillow front.
2. On the front of the pillow find the center front and using either a chalk marker or marking pen that erases, mark your pattern for whatever pattern you would like to create using the rick rack. For this project, straight lines were drawn to create a striped look for the pillow.
3. Layout your ribbons and use the temporary glue to hold one piece in place.
- You can start at the top or the center and add ribbons to fill the entire pillow front.
- If desired, you could add other ribbon types or even space out the ribbons to incorporate the background fabric into the pillow front.
4. Attach the Digital Dual Feed Foot to the machine and thread with the monofilament thread.
5. For this project a decorative stitch (3-18) was used to help secure the ribbons to the pillow front.
6. Continue stitching until the entire front is covered with ribbon.
7. See downloadable insturctions to see how it stitched out.
8. Hoop the pillow front into the hoop of choice. If using velvet ribbon, you may want to use a magnetic hoop or float your pillow top on top of the stabilizer. This will keep you from getting hoop burn on the pillow front.
Creating the Embroidery Design:
For the Applique Design, the Exclusive Large font was used in combination with IQ Designer. For this portion of the project, there is a Radiance Spotlight Video HERE that walks you through the steps of how this was created.
Stitching out the Embroidery:
1. After you have created the applique and saved the layers together, you are ready to go to Embroidery.
2. Place the hooped fabric panel onto the Radiance.
3. For the steps of the applique, you will have a placement, tack down and then the large letter that creates the final applique stitch.
4. Be sure to trim after the tack down stitch and remove any excess fabric.
5. For this applique, a satin fabric was used and backed with some fusible stabilizer to add body to that fabric.
6. An additional chain stitch was added around the entire applique to add some more dimension to the project.
Creating the Piping (Optional):
1. Attach adjustable zipper foot to the Radiance.
2. Wrap the fabric strip (wrong sides together) around the cording, making sure to position the cording along the fold and the fabric edges together.
3. Take a few stitches to catch the cording and the stitch the entire length of the fabric strip.
4. Set the strip aside for pillow construction.
Attaching Piping to Pillow Front (Optional):
1. To attach the zipper, use a straight stitch and the adjustable zipper foot.
2. Baste the two pieces for the pillow back together stitching a 2mm stitch about 1” from the edges and a 5mm basting stitch in the center.
3. Press the seam open.
4. Pin or use tape to secure the zipper to pressed seam, with the right side to wrong side of the pillow fabric. Flip the fabric to the right side.
5. Be sure to open the zipper towards the basted area to access the pull once stitched.
6. Using the zipper foot, stitch around the edges of the zipper attaching it to the pillow back.
7. Once stitched around, use a seam ripper to remove the basting stitches.\
Stitching Pillow Front & Back Together:
1. Open the zipper about halfway.
2. Place the pillow front and back right sides together.
3. Use Wonder Clips to assist with securing the pillow front and back in place.
4. Stitch the pillow front and back together.
5. Press both sides of the seam to set and turn the pillow right side out.
6. Insert 16” pillow form.
