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Napping Pillows

garden swing cushions side view

Napping pillows

It’s been a whole week since I slip-covered my swing. Emboldened by my success (no shredding squirrels) I went ahead and made a couple of pillows to go with it. If you’re going to nap on a swing, pillows are a must.

Using the same criteria for the cover, i.e. cheap and easy, here is what I did:

I bought a pillow sham from our local Goodwill for $1.59. On the plus side, the tiny aqua polka dots coordinated well with my new slip cover and you can’t beat the price. The downside: all those fussy ruffles.  On careful inspection, I knew I could remove them without damaging the rest of the sham.

Pillow sham with ruffles

Thrift store pillow sham with ruffles

After cutting away the larger sections of the ruffle, I used my seam ripper to remove the remaining thread. This sort of ‘lap work’ is therapeutic.

Pillow sham with ruffles removed-001

Pillow sham after removing ruffles

With the ruffles and stitches gone, I cut the sham in half. I did the same with an old pillow.

old pillow

Tired pillow gets a new life

I inserted each half of the pillow with the open end first so that the finished pillow seam pointed up. This made it easier to sew the opening of the sham closed. Voila, napping pillows at the ready.

garden swing with cushions

Nap-ready

What were you up to this weekend?

41 thoughts on “Napping Pillows”

  1. Such sweet little pillows. I love re purposing shams because they contain so much fabric to play with. I cleaned my garage out and then took a nap. I find I prefer smaller pillows when I nap. Is that why they’re called that?

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    • I think so! Napping around here feels like pure decadence, yet they say naps are really good for you. A nap on the swing with the fresh air (and often a cat to join me) is bliss.

      You’re right about shams. Lot’s of fabric to play with. I should couldn’t get over the fact that I found a sham and a shower curtain and the same thrift store in coordinating colors.

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  3. Now that was a really economic solution and looks really pretty! I actually did something with my sewing machine at the weekend too – I made an old dress into a skirt by just cutting off the top and making a waistband with elastic threaded through. 🙂

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  4. That is excellent repurposing of otherwise sigh inducing pillow slips! I hope those squirrels continue to ignore your lovely swing outfit! I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time tending to house and pets these days – having another human and kitty around changes the life style significantly! I am dreaming of a bigger house 🙂

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    • Thank you, Pauline. I’m pleased with the way they turned out, and the fact that I found coordinating colors at a thrift store in one-stop shopping.

      I know your place is small, so in addition to having an extra person and another cat, it must be quite a challenge keeping it all sorted out. Best of luck.

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      • We are managing remarkably well really – it is quite fun and a bit like an extended pyjama party on some days. 🙂 But my on-line time is being severely curtailed! Except on the plus side, she came with Netflix so my movie time has escalated and I am watching the Lily Tomlin/Jane Fonda series which is both hilarious and sadly realistic at the same time……..
        🙂

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        • Hurray for Netflix! Isn’t it amazing that we can stream movies into our homes? Honestly the technology is something else.

          I’m in the process of uploading 50 years of family photos for a client to DropBox. From there, he can share with his entire family. So much easier these days.

          I’ve not started the Lily Tomlin/Jane Fonda series. Glad to know you’re enjoying it.

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          • I live in NZ’s first ‘Gig-a-Town’ which is a government initiative to improve our woeful internet speeds and exorbitant charges. I am being up-graded to ‘ultra fast btoadband’ and, keeping the same package I have now, paying $5 less per month. I expect to be able to surf the web waves at lightening speed soon!

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  7. It looked like you shirred the ends at first glance. I’m with you on lap work. Meditative. Squirrels may not bother with it until time to build their winter nests. I even tried sprinkling a can of cayenne pepper on mine. They must have come up from Texas because it didn’t bother them a bit. 😦 Ok, nap time.

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    • Marlene, the sham was shirred in the center with all the ruffles around it. Once removed, the shirring looked wonderful.

      Wow…pepper, eh? They must be a hardy breed of squirrels. I’m sure you’re right about the timing of the nesting, but since it’s still spring, I’m playing it safe. Last year the squirrel started to shred the cording on the 4th of July. Go figure?

      I hope you enjoyed your nap.

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    • Thank you. I love reusing old pillows and cushions in this way. They’re passed their use on the beds, but have a bit of life for occasional use on a swing. The cats inherit some of the old pillows too.

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  14. Hi, I think your blog is great. I’m all for napping, in the garden on a warm sunny day with just the birdsong for company, bliss. Your swing looks lovely now, you are very clever, I hope the squirrels don’t return.

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