A Tutorial: Pottery Barn Inspired Frenchy Pillow

Somebody stop me! I can’t stop making pillows! Sooo…here’s my latest creation…a Pottery Barn inspired frenchy pillow accented with a bouquet of fabric flowers!

As soon as I saw this photo on Pottery Barn’s web site, I knew I had to have this one! Only one problem…they don’t seem to sell it! I couldn’t find it anywhere, so I decided to make my own version of it.
(Update: I did find it in the catalog for $39 plus $7 to monogram.)

We are working outside this morning since it is a little cooler. However, my co-hostess Miss Kitty seems more interested in the view from the swing set, so I guess I will be going it alone!

I think theirs is linen, but I used Osnaburg, a cheaper alternative at about $2.50 a yard at Hobby Lobby with a coupon. I cut two 15 x 21 inch pieces for the pillow itself. Then I found a font that I liked for the monogram. I chose this one because it's so...well...vintage French! It's called Paris and only seems to exist on embroidery web sites. I printed it in the size I wanted, colored the back with artist’s charcoal and then traced over it on the fabric. Next, I filled in the outline with fabric paint in a matte white.

While the paint was drying, I made the flowers. I actually used linen scraps for these because they seemed to have more body. There were two kinds...roses and daisies. The roses were easy. I just cut a 2 inch wide strip of fabric, folded it in half and tied a knot at one end. The size of the flower is determined by the length of the strip, so you can judge accordingly. Next, I twisted the strip, winding it around the knot as I went. Then I secured it in several places with hot glue. The look is a little shabbier and more vintage-looking than the original, but that’s what I wanted. Sorry there are no photos of the flower in progress, but you have to have both hands working!

The daisies were a little more difficult. They also have a shabbier look than the Pottery Barn flowers…but I think I like it better!

1.)  For each flower, I cut six 1 1/2 inch wide by 3 inch long strips. Next, I rounded the edges and folded them in half.
2.) Then I hand-stitched along the fold, gathering and connecting the petals as I went and then sewed them together at the ends.
3.) Next, I traced around a small cup to create a circle, hand-stitched around the edges and gathered to form a puffy ball.
4.) Finally, I flattened the ball and stitched in a few creases, then attached it to the petals.

I stitched the pillow, right sides together, leaving a gap at the bottom to insert the pillow form and then turned it right-side out and pressed it. I hot-glued the flowers, following the pattern of the PB pillow as closely as possible. Finally, I inserted the pillow form and hand-stitched it closed. And...taa daa! And best of all...it was free! I already had everything I needed. The scraps of Osnaburg and linen were from previous projects and I had a previously-purchased $2.50 14 x 20 pillow form from Goodwill.

And here it is in its new home…my Parisian-style bedroom! I think I like it! It adds a really feminine touch and vintage Art Nouveau look to my chair and goes great with my drop cloth reupholstered seat! What do you think? Did I come close to matching the Pottery Barn pillow?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my project!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Sizzle into Summer
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Jill at French Cupboard for Voilà! French Inspiration on Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!