Linen Pillow with Added Flat Flange

A few months back one of my designers found a really cute wood sofa that just needed a little re-styling.  She painted the wood frame black and bought some linen fabric to redo the seat and back cushions.  She also wanted two rectangle end pillows for the arms.  We decided to do an added flange instead of welt around her cushions.  They came out so stinking cute!  Unfortunately this was before I started this blog, so I don't have pictures of the finished sofa with the seat and back cushions.  But  recently she called to say she needed me to make the arm pillows a little bigger.  I was happy to oblige her and thought this would be a perfect time for an added flat flange tutorial.  So follow along as I re-make these arm pillows for her adorable wood sofa.

As I said, she used 100% linen!  After much discussion and factoring in that she has several dogs that she has rescued over the years and they LOVE to take full advantage of her comfy furniture, we decided it was best to pre-shrink the linen.  This way she can take the cushion covers off and throw them through the wash.  We also discussed the fact that all the wrinkles from washing might not press out.  She was OK with this possibility.  Turns out we both loved the look with the wrinkles.  It gave the cushions a more relaxed and natural feel.  Here's a picture of the finished pillow.  I took pictures of it with some of my pillows since I wouldn't have an opportunity to snap pictures of it on her sofa.

So the new arm pillows I made were to finish at 23 1/2"x17 1/2" with an added 1/2" flat flange.
I cut my fronts 24 1/2"x18 1/2" to allow for a 1/2" seam allowance.
I cut my backs 25 1/2"x19 1/2" ( I always cut my backs 1" larger than my fronts.
For the 1/2" flat flanges I cut my fabric on the bias.  I cut my bias strips 2" wide.  You can find instructions for bias strips here:  http://sew-passionate.blogspot.com/2012/01/easy-bias-strips-and-covered-welt-cord.html
Just make sure you cut these bias strips 2" instead of the 1 5/8" for covered welt.
Step1.  Flat Flange
Once your bias strips are cut and sewn together, fold them in half along the long edge and press.  Pin every 6-8".

Starting at the center bottom of the pillow front, pin the flange to the pillow.  When you get the the corner fold under 1/2" just short of the corner by 1/2".  Clip into the seam allowance of the flange and pivot around the corner and form another 1/2" fold under.  This forms what is called a butterfly corner.

Continue pinning the flange in this manner all the way around your pillow front.
Cut the ending flange edge 1/2" past the center of the pillow allowing for a 1/2" seam to join the 2 edges.  Unfold and open up the flange and stitch this small seam.

Finger press the seam open and fold the flange in half again, pin to pillow front.  Stitch all around the 4 sides of the pillow, pivoting at the corners.

Step 2.  Zipper
You can find the instructions for attaching the zipper in this tutorial: http://sew-passionate.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-sew-basic-pillow.html

Step 3.  Clip, Turn and Stuff
Clip the corners diagonally 1/8" away from the stitching.

Turn your pillow right side out and press.
Stuff with your pillow fill, pushing the seam allowances towards the back of the pillow.  This makes the flange stand up more.

Aren't the butterfly corners cute!  They're even cuter on the boxed cushions that were made for the sofa because the boxing makes them stick out more.  Next time I swing by this designers house, I'll have to snap a few pictures so you can really get the look of this sofa and pillows.  The wrinkles of the linen turned out to work with the look.  She actually preferred the look of the linen with the wrinkles and  I have to agree with her, the wrinkled linen did have a really neat look to it. Pin It