Shopping for my sister is no easy task. As a single woman with a stable job, she is in the position to treat herself to most of her “wants.” For the holidays this year, I wanted to give her something special. And since her sidekick is a beloved, spunky chihuahua named Bentley, I was looking for something that showcased his prominent position in her life.
I have been teaching myself to sew over the last few months and wanted to make her a pillow to use as an accent in her living room. She had been complaining for months that her room was too neutral, even though she had a few deep purple accents. Since she is a young, single woman, I wanted to combine function with a bit of youthful quirkiness.
I first sewed a quick envelope pillow from purple fabric to fit one of the 20″ by 20″ pillow inserts I had picked up at IKEA (These inserts are so soft, and at approximately $5.99 a piece, they are affordable, too!).
I then downloaded a chihuahua shape (#3322) from the Silhouette Online Store and cut it with my Cameo on white t-shirt vinyl I bought from Pick Your Plum, keeping in mind that iron-on vinyl will cut in reverse. This vinyl was super easy to use. With a towel as a barrier, I ironed on the shape, applying the heat for 20 seconds at a time. I peeled away the plastic and voila, the pillow was done! (Note: I followed a great tutorial for iron-on vinyl at Sew Easy Being Green. If you are new to this type of vinyl, I certainly suggest visiting her post!). The particular vinyl from Pick Your Plum is soft and flexes well with regular pillow use, making for a functional and fashionable lounging experience.
My sister (and Bentley) loved the pillow, and I loved giving her something handmade.
That is so stinkin’ cute! <3 it!