Knitch Magazine

Title: 1-2-3 Pillows

Author: Better Homes and Gardens

Date Published: 2008

Review Date: March 23, 2010

Who is this book for?

You don’t need ladders and paint to change the tone of a room. Instead of painting the walls or changing your furniture, throw a splash of color into the room by adding some brightly colored pillows. Freshen up a tired or out of date color palette with carefully chosen accent pillows. In 1-2-3 Pillows, you’ll learn simple sewing techniques and sophisticated design principles that you can use to instantly change the look of your room. There’s even a section on how to choose and arrange pillow shapes for an artfully arranged bed.

Whether you’re a novice or experienced seamstress, 1-2-3 Pillows is a mini-course in home decorating. The samples are simple, fresh, and sophisticated. There’s a sample projects to suit every personality and taste. Models feature bold sophisticated silk pillows, young-at-heart embroidery, bold applique, and traditional quilted pillows.

What’s Inside?

Four basic pillow shapes are used to create custom decorating effects. You’ll learn how to plan, sew, and embellish these simple pillows. Learn the basics of sewing a knife-edge pillow, pillow with a gusset, tied bolster and flange pillow, including how to measure, cut and assemble each pillow shape. It’s as simple as that. Follow the patterns for these basic shapes, or delve further by choosing your own fabric or use your new skills to embellish pillows. Ten projects for using ribbon work, applique, patchwork and embroidery illustrate how easily you can change a basic pillow into a signature decorating element.

Using It

1-2-3 Pillows is well organized, taking you in small but logical learning steps from learning to making the pillow to creating a mini-masterpiece. As long as you know how to operate a sewing machine and sew a straight seam, you’ll be able to make a simple knife-edge pillow. Build your skills by trying projects using applique, embroidery and quilting. You’ll end up with new found expertise as you refresh your decorating scheme.

Each project is accompanied by clear pictures that illustrate the final design. Step-by-step instructions are supplemented by helpful diagrams. When specialized instructions are needed, as in how to cover a button, you’ll find an inserted capsule with succinct information and clearly marked tips to prevent problems and frustration.

Best Pattern

Most learners benefit from a well-organized lesson plan; one that breaks the learning down into logical and understandable bits of information that build in complexity. The introductory chapters in 1-2-3 Pillows do just that. You’ll find a basic template for constructing each of four pillow shapes, followed by a brief tutorial on attaching fringe. Building on this foundation, you can let your imagination go to personalize your pillow design. If you’re still a little intimidated, there are suggested projects with real designer touches. I particularly like the delicious trimmings projects that make use of small bits of ribbon and other findings to create unique silk pillows. The authors created luxurious room accessories from just a yard of fabric and left-over ribbon or with found objects. The clever ribbon fringe is attractive and simple enough that a beginner could complete it with great success.

Recommendation

This basic book should be on the shelf for anyone interested in DIY home décor. Pillows really do make an immediate and noticeable impact on a room. You don’t have to strain your budget to freshen the décor (and your outlook). The skills you master in making a decorator pillow can be applied to other home decorating or home sewing projects. If you already enjoy needlepoint, cross stitch, crochet or knitting, sooner or later you’ll want to make a pillow to show off your skills. This book will help you succeed in creating a pillow worthy of your handwork.

Overall Recommendation

I rate this book a 7.