A few months ago Mallory came to visit Elsie and I and work on a few projects. We had a lot of fun, and one of the things Mallory and Elsie created were these awesome leather pillows! I love the design and materials they used. I'm so excited to move them to my couch later this week (I'm having some painting done in my living room at the moment, so I'm trying to keep pretty items out of harms way). Mallory agreed to share their process of making the pillows:
These pillows look really impressive, but they aren’t very hard to make. We used real leather that was left over from other projects, but faux leather will work just as well as long as the backing doesn’t unravel. Since these are for Emma’s living room Elsie was thinking we should make them southwestern themed. I searched online for southwestern patterns and kilim rugs, which have similar patterns, for inspiration. I then drew out four geometric designs based on my findings. Elsie and I decided one of my sketches would be too hard so I redid that one.
1. To start these, I used brown kraft paper and a clear ruler to draw the patterns I wanted to sew onto the pillow fronts to scale. Then I carefully cut out the pieces from the paper to use as templates. Keep in mind, you need seam allowance on the big front pieces to sew them to the back eventually.
2. I cut two 12” square pieces of leather and two 16” square pieces of leather to make the pillow fronts. For the backs I cut the same size squares out of thick cotton. I cut the front pieces out of contrasting leather to topstitch on. You can cut leather with a rotary cutter, nice scissors, or an X-acto knife.3. Once all of the pieces were cut out, I used leather glue to glue the pieces down to the pillow fronts. Rubber cement also works great if you don’t have leather glue.
Here are the finished designs:Thanks so much, Mallory!
OMG Leather *dies* I’m not sure if it would be that comfy, but who cares. Its leather.
Those turned out great. I’m hoping to get a sewing machine in the next few months, and these will definitely be on my list of things to try! Thanks!
the design is beautiful!!
sabi
herencianomade.blogspot.com
I love the result!
I love these! they look so original and different yet as though they could easily have been bought from a high end home decorating store. can’t wait to have my own house so I can do some fun projects like this one! xx. gigi. food and beauty blogger @ www.gigikkitchen.blogspot.com
I just love them! This looks so cool!
The designs are incredible!!
I love the browny ones, such a warmth to them, lovely idea.
xxx
http://hunterapted.blogspot.co.uk/
absolutely love the designs – they work really well with the colours of the leather!
I always love ABM DIYs! I’m moving soon and so redecorating – I have a feeling that it’s going to be full of things inspired from you guys!
Alex @ Forrest Mush
xo
Great work!!! Never seen anything like this before!!
This is such a pretty DIY!
Have a great day,
-Kati
These colors look great on your blue sofa!
Kim
http://loopsoflavender.blogspot.com/
AO beautiful and original!
🙂
Kisses
http://thedailymiacis.blogspot.pt/
Another incredible DIY. Thanks for sharing!!
Super cute idea!
> beautiful savage xx
oh wow I love these!
http://erstwhilefelicity.blogspot.co.uk/
These are fantastic!
I ADORE using leather. I recommend buying it 2nd hand if you can. It’s far cheaper and can come in places you wouldn’t normally expect. Once, I bought a full length leather maxi skirt (3 bucks, comeon!) and used it to make a small handbag, a makeup brush roll, and the cover flap of my laptop case. These pillows are genius. Will definitely try something like this in the near future!
Love them !!
New post: http://www.thestilettoholic.com/
The results look very nice! Great idea 🙂