im having some fabric trouble -___- so last christmas i made my friend a personalized pillow from fleece. i was at her house recently and i noticed how beat up and worn out the fabric has gotten...another friend is moving to another state in a couple days and i want to make him a pillow too...because of the little time i have i can only go to my local joann for fabric...any suggestion on a type of fabric i should buy or any tips to stop the fabric from losing its softness?

oh okay thanks everyone! i will go fabric shopping tomorrow teehee x)

I would take it as a compliment that the pillow was beat up; it means that it is being well loved. Last pillows I made were out of drapery or upholstery fabric. They've been used to used and used, washed countless times and don't show age at all. I guess it is all in what kind of gift you want to give. If you want something cuddly and fuzzy, then fleece might be the best bet. Have you ever tried microfleece or that real shaggy fleece (I cannot remember what it is called) that is so silky and soft and I just want to make a whole bedroom ensemble out of it, but my daughter's cat would have it shredded in nothing flat. She "plucks" fur and fuzzies. :) Sorry, didn't mean to ramble.

Ok - I just came back from a Viking event where we actually made a pillow Wrap. I will post in Projects in a bit, but it is like a wrap the goes around a pillow - Really neat, and really fun to do. We were using several differnt feet and techniques - and of course they wanted us to buy their machine - We used a bottom weith for the sleeve and quilters cottong for the backing and ruffling. Go int projects and take a look.

There is a "no wale" cordroy that I like. Joann's does carry drapery fabric that is suitable for pillows that you might like too.

Denim is also great. Holds up very nice. There a different grades of "Thickness".So I look for the designer feel(softer)

Well, it must be gratifying that your friend is actually USING that pillow so much, to get it so beat up! Sometimes we wonder if people really like what we make them, you certainly have your answer there, hee hee hee. I think pillow covers should be made with either a zipper, or one of those fold-over back constructions like a pillow sham, so it can be taken off and washed. I've had to wash my purchased throw pillows, some work ok, some get all bunchy and nasty. We have an uhpolstry fabric rem store here, she gets whole new bolts of the latest stuff, but also partials and end cuts that are really inexpensive. The heavier materials are just great for pillow covers. I wash them first, because a lot of them say 'dry clean only' (hah! like that would work in my house). They need to be dry cleaned because they will shrink, sometimes a lot. But they can be washed. After they're as shrunk as they're going to get, then I cut the covers out of them, and they can go in the wash forever after. I've made cat beds out of the fleece, and it does get kind of nasty looking after a while, pilling, bunched pile, etc. Kitties don't care, and it was super cheap fabric; probably why it doesn't work well. Good luck with your project, please put it up in Projects. Hugs, Marji

A soft suede or cordroy makes long lasting cusions with textur. Especially if you use piped seams.
I always use zip closures on cushions, for easy laudering.
I never use fabric softner as it dulls and adds a stickyness to fabrics and yarns.
A cycle in the tumble dryer can fluff up the fleece.
Happy Stitching!

Why not a nice cotton - somewhat like a pillow case or upholstery fabric?

you friend must love her pillow to get it looking like that after just six months. so be happy offer tomake her another one and carry on with doing the same for your other friend.

1 comment

by debswebster 25 Jul 2012

I agree. Nothing beats fleece for warmth and comfort!!

Fabric softener removes the static from fleece which is one reason I use it on fleece. However, it also removes the soft feeling at the same time. I know it doesn't sound right. Fabric softener should make things softer...just not so with fleece. Minky fabric softness lasts longer but it is harder to work with and needs edge stitching to prevent fraying.
Good luck!

1 comment

by lbrow 25 Jul 2012

Upholstery fabric remnants make great durable lasting pillows and you usually can get fairly large remnants cheap./Lillian