A few of my blog friends decided to get together to share something patriotic in honor of 4th of July just around the corner. I was excited to join in the fun, but didn’t want to spend very much. I immediately thought of my crazy stash of drop cloth. My out-of-pocket for this project was $1.99 for one American flag. Those are my kind of projects!
Here’s my contribution to this tour:
Here’s what I used to get started:
This drop cloth was left over from my armless chair slip covers. Your measurements may vary, I made my own pillow form. (As seen here.) If you prefer to stuff with polyfil, you’ll need one back piece the same size as the front.
I decided to tea-dye my flag to age it a bit by adding a cup or so of boiling of boiling water to a glass dish, steeping a tea bag for a few minutes, then soaking my flag for about 15 minutes.
Then I tossed it in the dryer.
When dry, pin it face down to the front pillow piece:
Sew in place:
Turn over and cut out the drop cloth to create a “window” over the flag:
To make the back of the pillow, sew a nice edge on each of the long pieces:
Attach with pins to the front like so:
Sew in place then run a zigzag stitch around the outer edge to seal the drop cloth, so it won’t fray like crazy when washed.
Turn right-side-out and fray the edges of the “window” by pulling the fibers:
Here’s the form I made from a spare bed pillow; really easy to do (and free):
I added the pillow form and voila:
Pretty cute for $1.99 🙂
Remember my desk that I made over in the back ground? It used to be black and was like a big dark hole on that side of the room.
I need to make another for the other chair to this set!
How a bout you, do you decorate for Patriotic holidays? Do you have a crazy stash of drop cloth in your garage??
I hope you’ll visit my friends and see their projects too! Four new projects will be added Monday-Thursday!
XO,
P.S. I finished my last project in my kitchen. I shared a peek of that on my Facebook page today. Just have a bit of trim left to go up and I’m done done done!!! Can’t wait to share!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Ashey @ 3 Little Greenwoods says
That pillow is VERY cute for $1.99! Great tutorial!
~ Ashley
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Ashley! XO
Paula@SweetPea says
I love patriotic decor! I think I’d use this pillow all summer for decorating.
Sewing the flag face down and then cutting out around it is such a good idea. I like how the frayed edges make a window for the flag.
Great project!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Paula! I think I will be keeping it out all summer 🙂
Dria says
Love this Christy! Awesome job and price!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Dria! I love the price too ha ha! XO
Wendi @ H2OBungalow says
Love this pillow! You put together the coolest tutorials 🙂 I think I’ll have to pull out some drop cloth nd get to work on a new project!
Christy K. James says
You are so sweet, Wendi! Thank you 🙂
Sonya ~At Home with The Barkers says
This is super cute and creative! Love it!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Sonya! 🙂
Meegan says
Beautiful job, Christy! Your pillow is so detailed and a piece of perfection. SO happy to have you on the tour this week! PInned and Stumbled.
Make it a great week!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Meegan! XO XO
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
Such a great idea! I never would have thought to sew the flag on the back side and then cut a window for it. The frayed edges are perfect! This pillow looks like something from Pottery Barn. 🙂 So classy. Thanks for joining the tour Christy!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Jen! And thanks for putting this tour together! 🙂
Kathy, Petticoat Junktion says
Christy, Thanks for the tutorial. Do you think I could do this the no sew way? I’m not much on sewing these days, lol. Your pillow looks very expensive. I love it!!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Kathy! I’m sure you could do this no sew with all the clever tools out there. The window around the flag would be perfect hand stitched with crochet thread too!
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
That’s perfect Christy!! I love it…so creative. The fringed edges are great!
(and looks way more than $1.99!!)
xo
Nancy
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Nancy! XO
laurie says
What a great idea,Christy. Love it! laurie
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Laurie! 🙂
Sarah says
Very clever,Christy. Thanks for sharing the idea.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Sarah!
Shanna Gilbert says
This is such a cute idea Christy! I would make one for myself if I only had a sewing machine… or knew how to use one 🙁 Until then I will just admire yours!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Shanna! A sewing machine opens up a whole other world of DIY possibilities! 🙂
Sondra @ Sondra Lyn at Home says
LOVE your patriotic pillow! And the cost can’ be beat!! Don’t you love it when you can re-purpose something and have it turn out so well??
Also loved how you aged the flag with tea… that’s what today’s post was about on Sondra Lyn at Home! http://bit.ly/1oFCrt1
Have a great week!
-Sondra
Christy K. James says
What a coincidence about the tea, ha! And yes, I love to be able to create something for practically nothing. So glad you stopped by! 🙂
Amy @ StowandTellU says
You’ve created such a crisp and clean look pairing the flag with the drop cloth, and for $1.99 at that!! What a gorgeous way to bring out the patriot in all of us. This pillow would look great in a coastal, country or city home. Love!!
Christy K. James says
Thanks for the lovely comment, Amy!
Cindy Eikenberg says
Hi Christy! This is such a great July 4th project and the pillow looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing and pinning – hope you have a wonderful week!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Cindy! Hope you have a terrific week as well! XO
Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says
I love your pillow. What a great way to use one of those little flags. 🙂
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Megan! XO
Christy @ Our Southern Home says
Talk about creative!!! I absolutely love this idea! Can’t wait to make one for the beach house!!! Shared, stumbled and pinned! XXOO Christy
Christy K. James says
You are awesome, Christy! Thanks so much for sharing my pillow! XO
Jeanie @Create&Babble says
Christy, what a great idea! It’s beautiful and I especially like the price to make it – my kind of project!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Jeanie! That’s my kind of price tag too 🙂
Cindy@Diybeautify says
SEW so cute Christy!! The cut out window and tea dyed flag add the perfect touch to this project!!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Cindy! XO
Wendy Quinn says
Love this!! What material is the flag made out of? Where did you buy it? I am having trouble locating one !!! May have missed this info in your post. HOpe its not a dumb question…. Thanks
Christy K. James says
It’s one of those cheapie flags you can probably find just about anywhere. This one came form Michaels. You can see the before of the flag in the post, third picture down, I believe. 🙂
June G. says
Amazing for $1.99!! It’s been so hot here an indoor project would be perfect…I’m thinking this would be so cute on my bench on the front porch. Thanks, Christy!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, June! This would be a great afternoon project! 🙂
natural maker mom at Satsuma Designs says
Christy, this is the best!! Our friends at Awesome Things Tuesday need to see your amazing pillow. If you have time, would you post at http://www.sowderingabout.com/2014/06/awesome-things-tuesday_10.html. Thanks and welcome!! jen
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Jennifer! I’d love to share. 🙂
laura says
Hi Christy! This is a Friday Favorites feature this week! Thanks for linking up! And, please link up this week! laura
Cindy says
This is super cute! Pinning. 🙂
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Cindy! XO
Alissa says
I love how you used a regular flag within the pillow case. Brilliant! I was trying to figure out what fabrics I have in my stash to piece together to make this adorable pillow, but your way is so much faster! Great job & TFS.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Alissa! Yup, this was made with a cheapo flag! No need to do all that work to make one! XO
Terrie says
I was ready to make the pillow, but I was confused about the measurements. Your picture on the measurement page shows 18″ x 18″ for the front, but your pillow looks to be rectangular in shape in all the pictures. The back is reading 9″ x 18″, but this will not give an overlap for the envelope opening. Am I misreading this? Please help!! Thanks, as I am ready to cut out the fabric….
Terrie
Christy K. James says
SO sorry for the confusion, Terrie! You are right, it is rectangular. I updated the measurements and gave you a little thank you in my post. The height of the front should measure 13″. Hope you were able to make it work!
Terrie says
Thanks, Christy!! Ready to make two pillows for gifts today!! Love, love, love your blog!!
Terrie
Christy K. James says
Thanks for keeping me straight, Terrie! XO XO
Brandi says
Hi Christy! I love your pillow. I made one recently too. I really like your method with the opening. Thanks so much for sharing.
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Brandi! XO
Rhonda says
I love your pillow! Another great idea using a drop cloth!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Rhonda! Drop cloth is so versatile, isn’t it? It seems the only thing I haven’t used it for is clothing and I don’t think I’ll go there. 🙂
Nichi - The Mandatory Mooch says
Christy, This is so fun and festive. Thanks for linking up to Best of the Weekend. I’m featuring this post at our party this weekend. Have a great weekend!!
Bon says
I love your pillows!! I have everything I need to make them, but you didn’t say whether you washed and bleached the drop cloth!! I can’t wait to put these out on my front porch!!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Bon! I used left over drop cloth from a slip cover tutorial I recently shared. It had already been washed and bleached. I think just washing them without bleaching would still work fantastically! SO glad to hear you are inspired to make some too! 🙂
Yvonne @ StoneGable says
LOVE this creative and fun patriotic pillow! LOVE the way you made a window for the flag! Thanks for sharing at THE SCOOP. Pinning and featuring it on fb!
Christy K. James says
Thanks SO much, Yvonne! XO
malia says
I love everything about this project! Thanks for sharing at Project Inspire{d}, it;’s featured this week!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Malia!! 🙂
Kelley says
I really like how you let the edges of the drop cloth fray around the flag. I think it adds character. Thanks for sharing.
Christy K. James says
Thanks again! This was a really simple and quick project, my favorite!
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
This is such a fun project! Love it, Christy! Thank you bunches for linking up and partying with us!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much for taking a minute to visit, Kristi! XO
Wendi @ H2OBungalow says
You KNOW I love this project! So, or should I say “sew” smart to insert a flag. You rock my friend 🙂
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Wendi! So glad you like it, my friend!! XO
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