George Boyle
Wedding dresses are often packed away and stored after the big day, but there are ways to repurpose them into decorative pillows that can be cherished for years to come. Whether you do it yourself or enlist the help of a professional, transforming a wedding dress into a pillow is a great way to prolong the memories of that special day. You can even add embellishments, embroidery, and other decorative elements to make your pillow stand out. Giving these pillows to family members is a thoughtful way to share a piece of your wedding with them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Companies offering the service | Unbox the Dress, Make Me a Cushion, Magpies Laundry Quilts, The Beautiful Frame Company |
| DIY | Yes |
| Steps | 1. Dry clean or wash the wedding dress. 2. Iron the fabric. 3. Cut out the fabric. 4. Sew the fabric. 5. Add embellishments. |
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What You'll Learn
Disassemble the dress
To disassemble the wedding dress, start by dry cleaning or washing the dress to ensure you're working with clean, stain-free fabric. Iron the dress to remove any wrinkles and ensure the fabric lays flat.
Next, use a seam ripper or small sewing scissors to carefully cut out the stitching along the seams of the dress. Depending on the style of the dress, you may cut from the armhole to the hem, or simply down the sides of the skirt. This will release all the large sections of fabric. Cut up the back seam of the dress and remove any zippers.
Carefully cut out any embellishments, sashes, bows, or other decorative elements, and set them aside to use as decorations on your pillows. You can also set aside any lace, satin, or beadwork to add an elegant touch to your pillows.
Once you have disassembled the dress, you should have several large pieces of fabric to work with. At this point, you can cut out the fabric sections you plan to use for your pillows. Pin the fabric together to keep it from slipping, and mark your measurements using a sewing pen. Cut out two identical rectangles for the back of each pillow, and one piece for the front, adding 2 inches to your measurements to allow for seams.
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Cut out two identical rectangles of pillow back fabric
To cut out two identical rectangles of pillow back fabric, you will first need to deconstruct your wedding dress to create the largest piece of fabric possible. Cut up the back seam of the dress and remove the zipper, if it has one. Use a seam ripper or small sewing scissors to carefully cut out the stitching along the seams of your dress, releasing all the large sections of fabric. Depending on the dress style, you will either cut from the armhole to the hem or down the sides of the skirt.
Once you have a large piece of fabric, you can cut out the rectangles for the pillow back. You will need to cut two identical rectangles of the same size. The size of the rectangles will depend on the size of your pillow form. For example, if your pillow form is 10 inches long and wide, and you want to add a 2-inch seam allowance, your final rectangle size should be 12 inches by 12 inches.
It is important to ensure that your fabric is free of wrinkles and lays flat before cutting. Iron the fabric if necessary. You may also want to consider using a coordinating pillow back fabric in a similar weight to your dress fabric. For example, if your dress fabric is silk, you could use cotton fabric for the back of the pillow.
After cutting out your rectangles, you will need to fold and iron the edges to create a neat finish. On the long edge of each backing fabric piece, fold and iron the edge inward, then fold and iron it again, and pin it in place. This will create a clean edge for your pillow back and provide a seamless finish when you sew the pieces together.
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Fold and iron the edges
When making a pillow from a wedding dress, it is important to neatly fold and iron the edges to create a polished finish. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving crisp and precise folds:
- Begin by measuring the desired size of your pillow panels. Add 2 inches to both the width and length measurements to allow for seams. For example, if you want a 10-inch pillow, your final measurement after adding the seam allowance will be 12 inches.
- Cut out two identical rectangles of fabric according to your measurements. These will form the backing pieces of your pillow.
- On the 12-inch long edge of each backing fabric piece, create a crisp fold by folding the edge inward by 0.5 inches. Use an iron to press and set the fold in place.
- Repeat the folding and ironing process a second time. This double fold will create a neat edge and provide a sturdy seam allowance.
- Pin the folded edge in place to secure it. This step will ensure that your fold remains precise and does not shift while you sew.
- Thread your sewing machine with a coordinating thread color. Sew along the folded edge, back tacking at the beginning and end of the seam for added strength.
By following these steps, you will achieve a professionally finished edge on your pillow backing pieces. The folded and ironed edges will create a clean and polished look, enhancing the overall appearance of your handmade pillow.
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Sew the fabric pieces together
Before sewing the fabric pieces together, it is important to prepare the fabric. Start by dry cleaning or washing the wedding dress to ensure you are working with clean, stain-free fabric. Next, iron the fabric to remove any wrinkles and ensure it lies flat. This is particularly important for lace, which should be ironed so that it lies flat and is wrinkle-free.
Now, you are ready to begin the process of sewing the fabric pieces together. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Cut out the fabric: Use scissors or a small seam ripper to carefully cut out the fabric sections you will be using for the pillow. Remove any zippers or stitching along the seams to create the largest piece of fabric possible. Depending on the dress style, you may cut from the armhole to the hem or down the sides of the skirt.
- Prepare the fabric panels: Double the fabric and pin it together. Place the fabric on a flat surface and pin the two layers together to prevent slipping. Mark your measurements using a sewing pen, adding 2 inches to the width and length of your pillow for seams. Cut out two identical fabric panels for the front and back of the pillow.
- Position any lace or embellishments: If you are using lace or embellishments from the wedding dress, position them on the right side of one fabric panel. Allow the extra fabric to hang off each side and consider different placements, such as horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
- Sew the lace and embellishments: Carefully sew the lace and any embellishments in place. You can use a sewing machine or hand stitch, depending on your preference and the complexity of the design.
- Pin the fabric panels together: Place the front and back fabric panels right sides together. Pin along the perimeter to prepare for sewing.
- Sew the panels together: Using a sewing machine or hand stitching, sew the two fabric panels together along the perimeter. Remember to back tack at the beginning and end of each seam for added strength. Leave an opening along one side to insert the pillow form.
- Turn the pillowcase right side out: After sewing, turn the pillowcase right side out through the opening you left. Stuff the pillow form into the case and hand stitch the opening closed, or sew a seam close to the edge.
Remember, these are general guidelines, and you can adjust the process as needed depending on the specific design and style of your pillow. Feel free to add your own creative touches and embellishments to make your pillow unique and special.
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Add decorative elements
Once you have your pillow sewn and stuffed, you can add decorative elements to it. If your wedding dress has embellishments such as lace, beading, or other ornamental features, you can sew them onto the pillow by hand. You can also add fabric flowers or embroidery to enhance the pillow.
When cutting out the fabric for your pillow, you can centre the pattern on the dress so that the existing side seams are symmetrical on the pillow. You can also cut out any embellishments, sashes, or bows from the dress and save them to add as decorations to your pillow.
If you have extra fabric from your dress, you can use it to create a matching pillow or pillows. You can also use plain materials for the base of your cushion and then decorate it with the trim and embellishments from your dress.
If you want to display your wedding dress as a piece of art, you can frame a section of it and add embroidery with your initials and wedding date. Alternatively, you can create a collage of highlighted elements and embellishments from your dress or frame the entire dress and put it on display.
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Frequently asked questions
First, decide whether you want to make the pillow yourself or have it custom-made by a professional. If you opt for the latter, several companies can create decorative pillows from your wedding dress, such as Unbox the Dress and Make Me a Cushion. If you choose to make the pillow yourself, start by dry cleaning or washing your wedding dress, and then carefully disassemble it by cutting out the stitching along the seams using a seam ripper or small sewing scissors.
You will need the wedding dress, a pillow insert, and basic sewing supplies such as a sewing machine, thread, scissors, pins, and a sewing pen. If you want to add embellishments to your pillow, you may also need lace, beads, fabric flowers, or other decorative elements.
Before cutting, iron the wedding dress fabric to remove any wrinkles and lay it flat on a surface. Then, double the fabric and pin it together. Mark your measurements on the fabric, adding 2 inches to the width and length of your pillow measurements to allow for seams. Cut out two identical rectangles for the pillow back fabric and one piece for the front pillow fabric.
First, fold and iron the edges of the backing fabric pieces, and then sew along the folded edge. Place the front pillow piece face-up, and lay the two backing pieces face-down, with their seams overlapping slightly in the middle. Pin the front and back pieces together along the perimeter and sew them together. Turn the pillowcase right side out, stuff it with the pillow insert, and hand stitch the opening closed. Finally, you can add any decorative elements or embellishments from your wedding dress to the pillow by hand sewing them on.
