Sailboat pillow - tutorial & pattern

Last week I had a few days off work and I took the opportunity to finish a series of projects that I had planned for quite some time. One of them was the sailboat pillow. Because it's almost summer and sailboats rock! 

I ended up making two of them, one for each of my kids (of course) and then I decided to make a pattern and share it here in case anyone wants to try it too (this pattern is no longer free - an improved version of the pattern is now available on Etsy)

The sailboats are fairly easy to make and come together pretty quickly. I made these two on Saturday afternoon with plenty of time to spare. 

The pattern will get you a pillow about 30 centimeters high by 33 centimeters wide. If you want your pillow larger or smaller, adjust the pattern accordingly.

What you need: 

• the pattern - available here
• brown fabric for the boat and mast
• colorful fabric for the sails
• a piece of ribbon or bias tape in a contrasting color (for the flag)
• polyester filling

I'm posting the instructions here, but they are also detailed in the pattern when you download it from Etsy.

Step 1: 

cut the fabric as indicated below: 

• boat: cut two pieces
• sails: cut four pieces
• mast: cut two pieces
• ribbon: about 8 centimeters long

Step 2:

sew the sails to the mast.

pin the sails to the mast, one at a time, right sides together, and sew.

 In the end, you will have something that looks like this (before ironing):

Do this with both sets of sails + mast. 

Step 3: 

attach the sails to the boat.

Pin the sails + mast pieces to each of the boat pieces (right sides together) and sew. The sails + mast pieces are slightly larger than the boat, so make sure they are centered before sewing.

Step 4: 

sew the pillow.

First, fold the piece of ribbon in half and pin it to the top of one of the masts, as shown:

Then, place the two sides of the pillow one on top of the other, right sides together and pin all around. Make sure the ribbon flag is tucked inside the fabric pieces. Start sewing slightly off the center of the boat (see where my finger is pointing):

Sew all around leaving and opening at the bottom (again, look at my fingers):

Step 5: 

Turn inside out, fill with polyester filling and close the opening.

Now, make a whole fleet of little sailboats!

The pattern in available via Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/661316158/sailboat-pillow-sewing-pattern-and?ref=shop_home_active_1

Enjoy,