sunshine pillow tutorial

This tutorial is for a 15" square pillow. I used 100% cotton for the pillow and a jersey knit for the circles.
{Click the pictures to see them bigger}

1- Cut one 15"x15" piece of fabric and two 11"x15" pieces of fabric.
2- On the shorter (11") side of one of the 11"x15" pieces fold and press the edge under 1/4".
3-Then turn and press and additional 1".
4- Ready to sew.
5- Sew close to the folded edge.
6- Repeat for the other 11"x15" piece. Set aside.

7- Trace your circles directly on to the fabric. I used a can of spray adhesive.
8- Cut all your circles out. Mine are 3". I have approximately 45 circles on my pillow which took about a 1/2 yard of jersey.
9- Using masking tape, secure your 15"x15" piece to a cutting mat (or an un-carpeted floor if you don't have a cutting mat). The tape should cover about a 1/2" of the edge of your fabric, this is your seam allowance.

10- Pin the circles to the fabric. Place the pin where the seam will be, in the center of the circle. Make the circles random and tucked under each other, just make sure you will be able to sew the circles down without sewing on top of another circle. Don't pin or sew the circles past the tape line (the edges of the circles are okay to overlap the taped edge).
11- Sew the circles. This is the most time consuming part. Take your time and fold the circles out of the way as you go.
12- All the circles are sewn.

13- Fold and pin the outer circles so they won't accidentally get sewn over, remove tape.
14- Pin one 11"x15" piece over the circles (right sides facing).
15- Pin the other 11"x15" piece (again, right side down).
16- Sew all the way around with a 1/2" inseam. I used my serger but a regular straight stitch will work too.

Turn your pillow right side out and put in pillow insert. Admire your handiwork!
If you make one I'd love to see it! Send me pics!