Several years ago, when my husband and I used to do craft shows, our style was a soft country primitive, and I find myself leaning toward that warm and comforting style again. It's the soothing, restful look popularized in Country Sampler magazine rather than the coarser look of folk art.
My stitcheries have always been country primitive, and late last week I started an Americana themed batch - stitcheries were a great way to create quietly as my husband slept while recovering from surgery.
Today I'm going to sew a flag pillow and thought perhaps you'd like to see how it's done and maybe create one for yourself. This is really a simple and fun little project, and the pillow is perfect for any country primitive decor. Let me show you.
The finished project will measure about 7" high and 17" long.
All you will need to complete this pillow are dark red and navy blue checked homespun fabric, unbleached muslin, a rotary cutter and mat or scissors, a quilter's ruler or long straightedge, a water soluble pencil, gold embroidery thread, a bag of polyester fiberfill to stuff your pillow. and a sewing machine.
First, you will want to cut 2" wide strips of the red checked homespun and the muslin into 14" lengths. To make yours like mine, you'll need 3 - 14" pieces of the red homespun and 2 - 14" pieces of the muslin.
Press the strips well to remove any wrinkles or creases. Sew a red strip to each side of the muslin strips, right sides together, with a 1/4" seam. In this photo, I've already sewn one red strip to one side of the first muslin strip, and am sewing a red strip to the top side of the same red strip:
After sewing all the strips together, you will have something that looks like this:
Now, I'll cut the navy blue homespun for the star field - mine is 6" wide by the exact length of the sewn strips:
Pin right sides together and sew with a 1/4" seam. Press the seam open and you'll have a pillow front that looks like this:
Using your quilter's ruler or straight edge and water soluble marking pencil, draw a primitive star on the blue homespun like this:
I'm using all six strands of DMC color 781 - Very Dark Topaz - to backstitch the star:
At this point, you could also add something on one of the muslin strips, such as God Bless America, I Pledge Allegiance, Sweet Land of Liberty, or some other short phrase of your choice. Just use simple, primitive lettering and go for it! Don't worry if your stitches or letters aren't perfect or even - in Country Primitive or Primitive styles they're not supposed to be.
Stitching is done - now just rinse off the water soluble pencil marks, wait for your pillow top to dry and then press well.
Using your flag pillow front as a guide, cut a pillow back the same size from the muslin and press well.
Sew the front to the back, right sides together, with a 1/4" seam. Leave about a 6" opening on the bottom side so you can turn right side out and stuff. Turn right side out and press again.
Almost done - just stuff with fiberfill and hand stitch the opening closed. Place your Americana Flag Pillow on a chair, couch, deacon's bench, or any other favorite location and enjoy your masterpiece!
If you would like to make a taller pillow, when cutting strips just continue to add red homespun and muslin strips till your pillow is as tall as you want it to be. to make it longer, just cut your strips longer. Remember to cut your navy blue homespun accordingly. You can also stuff your pillow more firmly than I did to give it a "rounder" look. It really is that easy!
Of course, if you want me to create one for you, just let me know. Message me here, on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GypsyWindDesigns or at TalktotheGypsy@gmail.com and I will be glad to make one for you.
Happy Stitching!
Supply List
Dark Red and Navy Blue Homespun - I used the 1/8" check on tan background
Unbleached Muslin
Rotary Cutter and Mat or Scissors
Quilter's Ruler or long straight edge
Water Soluble Marking Pencil
Gold Embroidery Thread - I used DMC color 781
Polyester Fiberfill - I used Poly-Fil
Sewing Machine and Thread
