diy cable-knit lumbar pillow

hi everyone!

i wanted to share a post with you on how to make some fun and oh-so-cozy cable-knit sweater pillows inspired by pottery barn.  yeah i karate chop pillows - it's fun!

the 2 pillows making their debut here on the daybed in an office/guestroom/bedroom!

what better time for a post like this than in this 40 degree weather?  i know, some of you may laugh but i live in sunny northern california and this would be considered pretty chilly here.  i've been in nyc and philly in much colder weather, as well as oregon in some freezing temperatures so i'm not complaining.  anyway, i actually really love cold weather :] but i also love the sun.  anyway, here's a step-by-step with photos.  if you missed something or need some clarification, let me know!

materials needed:

1. old sweater or go find a sweater somewhere (thrift it, ask grandma or grandpa, craigslist it for free?, the possibilities are endless!)
2. fabric for back of pillow (this is so you can use more sweater fabric!!)
3. thread
4. sewing machine
5. scissors
6. pillow insert
7. costs:  $3 total for the pillow and insert - i had the insert from an old pillow and i found the sweater for $3!  you can use an insert or buy one and find a sweater somewhere to achieve this look for somewhere around $10 or less too!!  just be patient and find those deals!

some inspiration photos with credits to pottery barn's website:

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/three-cable-knit-pillow-cover/?pkey=call-decorative-throws-pillows @  $49-$59 for each pillow case not including the inserts.  the link for those of you who would rather buy it than make it.

cable-knit coziness

how pretty!

1.  start with a cable-knit sweater.  cut the sides or use a seam ripper (seam ripper takes a while but i wanted to conserve as much fabric possible - but i don't really think it made a difference)

2.  then take a lumbar pillow or any pillow and measure and cut leaving about an inch for the long parts and about 3 for the shorter ones (specifically referring to this picture).  you can watch this quick video for clearer understanding of what i did.  it's kinda funny so be patient http://www.clickdrawshare.com/?p=169475947041881198483051

3.  then cut another piece of fabric for the back of the pillow case.   i just placed the cable-knit fabric that was cut right over the other fabric to use as a pattern (saves a little time on measuring).

this is the fabric i used for the back (just some random green dots on white fabric)

more photos of the cable-knit sweater and the backing fabric

4.  so i cut the fabric into two pieces making one side bigger than the other (it's really up to you if you want it split in the middle or to the side.  i'm a sider!)  make sure when you cut it, you cut it evenly along a cable line so you can sew it evenly later.

5.  then take one side and fold it twice into the opposite side of the fabric so that the seam doesn't show on the correct side of the fabric and sew to close up that end like in the picture below.  i used green thread to show you.  the green thread is where the inside fabric should show.  try to fold it straight down a cable line so that the finished cover is even (esp since it's a vertical pattern).  

5.  then take the other half and do the same thing.  you only have to do this one on side of both of these halves.

6.  then take both halves and place the right/correct side on top of backing fabric piece (both correct sides facing one another) and sew the sides that are still open leaving the previously sewn parts in the middle like in the picture below.  

7.  then take the shorter side and lay it down first and then pull the longer side over it, making sure it overlaps the shorter piece a little (about 3 inches).  use some pins to pin it and hold and sew!

8.  then do the same to the other side and sew!  i sewed right along the bottom of the ribbed portion because i wanted to have a cable-knit only pillow case :]

here's how the other side looks

i cut off the ribbed part after sewing like so:

don't worry if the backing is a little puffy because the cable-knit side does something funny where it's stretchy :] well at least it does it to me all the time

the finished inside out.  i just used a zig-zag stitch to clean up the hems because i don't have a serger

and then i cut the corners so i can get more pointy tips :]  yeah!

9.  and then a tres chic pillow for the comfy sofa!

i had some leftover fabric from the other back part of the sweater so i made another small pillow. 

thanks for visiting!