Any man is sure to enjoy this handsome pillow, suitable for the office or den. The techniques used to create this project include machine embroidery, “stitch stacking”, using decorative stitches from the machine, zipper insertion, and fringing. The finished size of the pillow is 17” square, including the fringe.

Materials needed:

• 14” pillow form
• ¾ yard burlap
• 14” zipper
• “Tall Ships” embroidery design
• Blank Smart Media design card
• 10” x 15” rectangle of lightweight tear-away stabilizer
• Chalk wheel or pencil for marking
• All-purpose sewing thread (to match burlap)
• Robison-Anton® rayon embroidery threads (to be used in this order):
  1. Eggshell #2343
  2. Best Brown #2566
  3. Ultra Blue #2433
  4. Wicker #2489
  5. Light Cocoa #2478
  6. Russet #2252
  7. Dark Brown #2372
  8. Teal #2309
  9. Pro Teal #2621
  10. Brown #2251
  11. Evergreen #2315
  12. Charcoal #2265
  13. Ash #2341
  14. Old Gold #2201
• Robison-Anton® 25-weight cotton threads:
  1. Eggshell #32343
  2. Brown #32251
• 3 yards 1/8” wide satin ribbon (extra is allowed for practice)
• Singer chromium needles size 14

Compatible with: QUANTUM® XL-5000,

Equipment needed:

Instructions:

1. Cut one piece of cream silk fabric (for pillow front) and one piece of heavy cut-away stabilizer 15”x15”. Adhere stabilizer using temporary spray adhesive.
   TIP: Spray adhesive helps prevent air between fabric and stabilizer and improves embroidery results.
2. Cut two pieces of cream silk fabric 12” x 8” for pillow back.
3. Hoop pillow front in the center of the large hoop.
4. Set machine for embroidery. Use a Singer 90/14 style 2000-2001 needle. Thread continuous bobbin with bobbin fill.
5. Bring Iris design into layout and editing screen. Increase design to 110%.
6. Start embroidery and stage the Thread Exchanger for second thread color. Sew out the design.
   TIP: When sewing with metallic threads in embroidery mode, reduce speed to 50%.
7. Hoop organza and clear wash-away stabilizer in large hoop. Place stabilizer on top of organza.
8. Advance through thread sequence to Step 5 of the Iris design. Stitch out petals, which will be used later to create the dimensional effect in project.
9. After petals are stitched out, remove fabric from hoop and carefully trim petals close to stitching. Apply thin layer of seam sealant to bottom edges of petals to prevent fraying.
10. Set machine for regular sewing. Select Multi-zigzag stitch. Adjust length to 0.5 and width to 7.0. Tack lower edge of petals in center flower matching each dimensional petal to sewn out petal.
11. Draw a 10” square box centered around the design. Draw a second square 1” in from 10” square line, creating a 9” square. (There should now be two stitching lines marked on the pillow front.)
12. Using wide ribbon, start on the upper left corner of the pillow front. Place top edge of ribbon on 9” line and pin, moving in a clock-wise direction around the frame. When reaching a corner, fold ribbon at right angle (similar to that in photo). Continue all the way around pillow front. Do not cut ribbon, but outline again around previous ribbon laid down, with the ribbon now lined up approximately ½” above lower edge of previous pinned down ribbon. When reaching the far left corner, fold ribbon edge as before. Cut ribbon and fold ribbon edge back on itself. Hand stitch this edge to the ribbon underneath.
13. Set machine to stitch ribbon to fabric. Select Pin-stitch (Blanket stitch). Adjust settings to smallest size and the 2x’s button. Treating the metallic and a contrasting rayon thread as one, thread the machine. Stitch around ribbon. Line up needle so that the forward motion (straight stitch) rides along the edge of the ribbon.
    TIP: Use open toe appliqué foot to improve visibility when stitching.
14. The smaller ribbon is placed along the two sides of the wide ribbon frame. Position the smaller ribbon against the outer edge of the larger ribbon and attach with the pin-stitch.
15. Select Leaf stitch or other decorative stitch, then sew down the center of the smaller ribbon.
16. Attach beaded fringe to outside edge of ribbon frame. Lay edge of bead tape (right side down) on ribbon outside edge, with beads to the inside of the pillow. Stitch in place. Position stitching line close to bead edge.
    Tip: Use zipper foot and adjust needle position to stitch closely.
17. Hem one side of each of the two pillow backs. Turn up ½” and turn again to the wrong side and stitch. If desired, finish with a decorative stitch.
18. Matching cut edges, pin right sides of pillow back to right side of pillow front. The back pieces will overlap, forming an opening in which to insert the pillow form.
19. Stitch on previous bead stitching line as seen on the wrong side of pillow front. Stitch again around pillow for reinforcement.
20. Trim excess fabric around the stitching lines.
21. Turn right side out, insert pillow form and enjoy!