I finally did it! I made my first rug hooking snowy owl kit into a pillow!! And let me tell you, he has become a member of our family… well at least through Ivy’s eyes! Mr. Snowy Owly is cuddly and soft-ish and fits perfectly in Ivy’s baby stroller! Ivy insists that he is her baby, although she refuses to have him sleep in her room. LOL… Is he a little creepy? Creepy or not, I’ll show you how to quickly turn your completed rug hooking pattern into a pillow. Now that I finally have this little project done, I’m excited to create my own rug hooking patterns, and then rug hook other creatures to add to our little animal pillow loving family!

How to Make Your Rug Hooking Patterns into a Pillow

MATERIALS NEEDED

• Completed Rug Hooking Project
• Backing Fabric (I used blue Baby Terry Cloth)
• Pillow Stuffing (I used Fiber Fill)
• Coordinating Thread
• Sewing Needle
• Scissors
• Sewing Machine

METHOD

Step 1: Gather your supplies to turn your Rug Hooking Patterns into a Pillow. Decide what you want to back your rug hooked pillow with. I suggest a soft material (fleece, minky, terry cloth, flannel) if the pillow is for the kiddos, but otherwise if it’s destined to become a decorative pillow you can back it in any material (quilting fabric, linen, wool) that you can put through a sewing machine.

Step 2: Prep your burlap!! Something I didn’t do but highly suggest to do before you cut the burlap (burlap frays quickly!!!). This will help to stabilize the fabric and reduce the fabric from fraying. To prep the burlap do a straight stitch and 2 layers of zigzag stitches with your sewing machine, around your whole pattern. Make these stitches about an inch and a half away from your rug hooking pattern (where you would trim the excess burlap).*** Thanks friends mom!!

Then Cut around your rug hooking pattern, about an inch and a half away from the pattern. Like this…

Step 3: Cut your backing fabric the same size as the front. Like this…

Step 4: Place your front and back pieces with their face sides together under your sewing machine needle, and sew around your pattern. Like this…

Remember to leave about 5 inches open to be able to flip your pillow the right way out.

Suggestion: The hole is best left at the bottom of your project just encase your hand stitching is not as perfect as the sewing machine stitches are (hint, hint). I didn’t think of this till I already did my machine stitching. Next time!  Like this…

Step 5: Stuff your rug hooking pillow form with pillow stuffing. Like this…

Step 6: Hand stitch the opening closed using an invisible stitch. I first used this invisible stitch to close the opening of my How to Make Cloth Baby Blocks with Taggies – Tutorial. Check it out there!

Once you have stitched up the opening you are done turning your Rug Hooking Patterns into a Pillow! YAY!

So… The kiddos LOVE Mr. Snowy Owly! The following are photos that prove their love for him.

They are pretending to sleep with him… LOL! They are so funny… I love them!

Ivy had just woken up from her nap, so even her hair is realistically sleepy looking… What an actress!

And a lover…

Mr. Snowy Owly in his natural habitat! (wink)

So there you have it! My first rug hooking pattern project is finally done! And I don’t know who in the family is more happy about it. LOL!

I just want to thank my friends mom who introduced me to the world of rug hooking, and took the time to show me how to create such fun rugs. She lent me her rug hooking frame to learn on, and also pointed me in the direction of where I could get my supplies. From her recommendations I found this awesome snowy owl rug hooking kit, from Deanne Fitzpatrick Studio. Deanne has some awesome things that you should check out. I noticed that the Snowy Owl Kit is no longer available, but there are lots of other fun patterned kits to choose from. And all her kits come with everything you need to create your own masterpiece! So fun!

I hope this tutorial inspires you to turn your Rug Hooking Patterns into a Pillow for your own family to love, or to just start rug hooking! There are endless pattern ideas to hook. I can’t wait to make Mr. Snowy Owly a friend! Until next time, enjoy finishing your projects, and creating beautiful things every day!

X JCL

P.S. Here is a the link to more of the rag rug and rug hooking projects that I have made, and my tutorial on how to make your own rug hooking frame.

P.P.S. Here is a little round up of the cute rug hooking supplies and projects available on Amazon.com. Enjoy!