Molly's Sketchbook: Felt Flower Pillows

I love figuring out how things are put together. Recently I was at the movies and, in the background of a scene I spied some very beautiful throw pillows. They had a big flower in the middle, but they weren't just sewn on top of the pillow, they looked three dimensional, almost like origami. Of course, instead of paying attention to the rest of the film I spent the time thinking about how I could make those pillows!

By the end of the movie I thought had figured it out and as soon as the lights came up I sketched a diagram in my little notebook. I knew they needed to be made out of felt, otherwise there would be too many little hems to tuck under (and curved ones at that!). Luckily for me, our selection of wool felt comes in beautiful rich colors and is soft and such fun to work with.

I chose a modern mix of yellows, ecru, and greys for my pillows. I love the way the bright colors and 3-D construction of the flower petals make them seem to jump off the neutral backgrounds.

The way these pillows are constructed is both simple and surprising. I loved stuffing them and watching them "bloom" in the last steps. They are also pretty quick to make, and kind of addictive. I want to make a set in every color!

If you'd like to make your own set, please visit my Felt Flower Pillows Project Journal.

Happy Sewing!-- Molly

Comments

[stephanie]

These are beautiful!

[Dawn]

Those pillows are absolutely gorgeous! I must make some. I wonder what the movie was that you saw them in...

[Mrs. Money]

Beautiful! How unique!

[Shorty]

You did an amazing job on the pillows! And it is so sweet of you to share your tutorial. I am so tempted to try one out!

[rickie]

WOW! i absolutely love the pillows!

[CreativeG]

These are really really good! I'm going to make one this weekend. Thanks for the tutorial.

[Christiane]

I am so in love with your pillows! Wonderful colours!!!!! Thank you very much for the tutorial.
I defenite will try it!!!
(sorry for my bad english!)

Christiane

[kirsten]

Brilliant - so gorgeous!

[molly:: apple cyder]

these are beautiful. you are so clever and your taste is impeccable. i am also curious about the movie!

[Live a Colorful Life]

These pillows are amazing. I'm ordering some felt. Now I just have to figure out which color to choose!

[purl bee]

Thank you all for the nice comments! For those of you who are wondering, the movie was "Broken Embraces" the new Pedro Almodovar movie, which I liked a lot. The pillows are in the "movie within a movie" that Penelope Cruz stars in.

- Molly

[Wishful Nals]

i'd love these pillows!

[Brooke]

So beautiful Molly! LOVE them!

[Diana]

wow, these are really gorgeous! totally different (in a good way) than what I expected when I clicked on a post titled "felt flower pillows". nice job figuring them out!

[cindi]

Such gorgeous colors....I can't wait to try this out!

[Stephanie]

Your pillows pop beautifully. The use of felt for the flowers was simple and smart. Wonderful job!!!

[juliet]

Fun idea for pillows! Also, I love the yellow bed! Do you mind telling who makes it and/or where to find one?

[Cheryl]

Wow, I love those pillows!

[kate]

look at Anne Quinn's book - FELT FURNIISHINGS, if you haven't- lots of ideas like this!

[melinda]

love these, what a great way to add texture and color to any room.

[Melissa]

they are beautiful! We have the same bed frame, but mine is dark brown :) - I *heart* it.

[the inadvertent farmer]

Those rock! i am glad I'm not the only one that does that during movies, or tv commercials, lol! Kim

[Meredith from Penelope Loves Lists]

These are so beautiful. I especially love that they will look great is so many color schemes. I can even seen my 14 yo wanting one for her bed.

[Earth Girl Knits (Emily]

The pillows are lovely. What a true crafter... I do the same thing when I watch movies! There's a beautiful knit quilt on Ron Weasley's school bed in the Harry Potter movies. Last summer a Harry Potter movie exhibit came to a nearby museum. What was the real reason I went to the exhibit? To see the quilt. It was better in person.

[Amanda]

The bed is from Ikea...I have the same one. :)

Beautiful pillows!

[juliet]

thanks amanda!

[susie]

So beautiful! It is so weird how many origami inspired things I have run across in the last 2 weeks. Something is definitely in the air that is drawing me towards this folded wonders! Thank so much for the beautiful project.

[Susannah]

Is that the IKEA bed? I've been wanting one forever but now (with the lovely pillows) I'm sold! Just beautiful!

[Elena]

Beautiful pillows--even more impressive is Molly's ability to look at something on a movie and go back to do it! Amazing! Elena

[Lisa]

That pillowcase is perfect for my daughter and her new apartment that she's moving to in the summer. Everytime I go to wake her up, that's what I hear!

[Emilie]

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Definitely re-bloggable. The 3-D effect is totally unique and you have inspired me to combat my phobia of sewing machines.

http://blog.vignetteinteriordesign.com/2010/06/02/pick-a-peck-of-pretty-pillows/

[Bed Sheet Sets]

WOW! Love these, what a great way to add texture and color to any room. I like it..
Thanks for sharing..