DIY Network

Monogram Pillow Nothing else is quite as elegant as a hand-monogrammed pillow. From "Uncommon Threads" episode DUCT-218

Clara Lopez joins Allison Whitlock to work on a personalized monogram pillow using simple embroidery stitches. Here she cuts fabric and traces the monogram pattern onto the material, embroidering the lettering and outline in stem stitch to make them stand out.

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Monogram Pillow

Materials:

1/2 yd. linen fabric
1/2 yd. cotton backing fabric
Paternayan wool tapestry yarn in turquoise and dark green
embroidery needle
scissors
clear straight ruler
transfer paper
blue water- soluble marker
ballpoint pen

1. Use a computer to create a monogram of your choice. Print it out and then draw a line across the horizontal center of the image. Find and mark the vertical center of the image in the same way (figure A).

2. It's important to mark the fabric to make sure that the monogram transfer will be centered and straight. For a 14" pillow, first draw a 15"x15" square (the additional 1" is there for seam allowance) on each piece of fabric. Make a dot at the 7-1/2" mark on each of the four sides of linen fabric to indicate horizontal and vertical center points (figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

3. Use the ruler to line up the center point of the image with the center point dots made on the fabric. Now the monogram image is centered on the fabric.

4. Still holding the monogram in its centered position over the fabric, slide the transfer paper underneath the monogram paper.

5. Transfer the letters' outline onto fabric by tracing over the letters with a ballpoint pen. Press firmly and check before removing the transfer paper and pattern to make sure that the design has transferred clearly.

6. Remove the monogram and the transfer paper. Now retrace the letters directly on the fabric with a water- soluble marker.

7. Using the water-soluble marker, draw three diamond shapes around letters to create a border. Space the diamonds 1⁄4" apart from one another. To do this, make marks 3", 3-1/4" and 3-1/2" from the center point marks on all four sides of the fabric. Then use a ruler to draw a line connecting corresponding dots at each corner.

8. Thread the embroidery needle with tapestry yarn and outline letters using a stem stitch (one stitch forward, a half-stitch back, always making sure to lay the stitch on the same side of the thread; going back and forth will give the embroidery an uneven look) (figure C).

Tip: Beginning embroiderers may find it easier to place the fabric in an embroidery hoop, which helps the fabric remain flat during stitching. When not using a hoop, however, be sure to use your thumb as an anchor to help keep the fabric flat as you stitch.

9. Fill in the outline of the letters using stem stitch (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D

10. Thread the embroidery needle with dark green thread and work a running stitch over each diamond-shaped borderlines (figure E). Be sure to keep the length of the stitches and the space between them uniform.

Tip: Try adding more thread colors and motifs in the design to give it personal flair.

11. Turn the embroidery wrong side up and press with a hot iron (using steam to even out any uneven stitches).

12. Sew the back of the pillow on to create a casing. Place the 15"x15" square of cotton backing fabric right sides together with the right side of the linen and pin in place (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

13. On the sewing machine, stitch the pillow pieces together along all four sides. Leave a small opening to fit your hand through at the bottom of the pillow (be sure to back-tack on both sides of the opening to prevent ripping or tearing the stitches as you're turning the pillow casing right sides out).

14. Use scissors to clip the fabric diagonally at each corner.

15. Turn the pillow right side out and stuff it with polyfill stuffing.

8. Whipstitch the opening closed using the same thread you used to machine-stitch the pillow casing together. Tie off the thread ends.