Sewing Neck Pillows

December 5, 2008 2:09 am Belinda sewing

Yesterday turned out to be quite an unusual–and stressful–day, so I didn’t get to post anything.  I took my mom to the doctor, but as she was walking to the car, she kind of passed out and fell.  She has a tendency to do this, and it is a lifelong thing, but things just looked different yesterday.  Apparently, she knew that she was going to pass out and knew she needed to sit down, but she thought she could make it to the car.  She got close, but didn’t quite get there.  As it turned out, we discovered that she has an infection and needed an antibiotic and we also discovered that when she stood up yesterday, her blood pressure went down.  This is a new clue in this mysterious ailment and when I talk to the doc about the results of her blood work, I’ll ask about this new clue.

Thank goodness I hadn’t planned to sew yesterday!  Of course, real life must have thought that I had plans to sew. ;)

 

Sew far, we’ve talked about how easy it is to sew flannel blankets (www.sewseamless.com/Page46.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page47.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page48.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page49.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page50.html and www.sewseamless.com/Page51.html ) and pillows (www.sewseamless.com/Page22.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page23.html , and www.sewseamless.com/Page24.html ) for gifts.  You might even consider sewing them and giving them as a set.

If you are sewing blankets for an older person, and would like to give them something else as well, one item that is very easy to sew is a neck pillow.  My mom just loves hers and several of her friends seem to like them as well.

Although there are commercial patterns available, it’s quite easy to make your own neck pillow pattern.  I think a finished neck pillow looks kind of like the letter “C”. 

Neck pillows can be sewn out of any type of fabric, but I always like to use 100% cotton fabric.  Right sides of fabric are pinned together, and again, you have to remember to leave a space for turning right side out. (When I sew neck pillows, I usually use a 1/2 inch seam allowance.)  Also, the outward curved seams of the neck pillow should be notched and clipped to the stitching line.  I trim these outward curved seams with pinking shears before clipping them.  The inward curved seams are simply clipped to the stitching line.

                          

                           

                          

                         

                         

                         

Sewing neck pillows is another great way to use up some fabric scraps or your fabric stash.  I think it only takes about 1/2 yard of fabric so even if you had to purchase new fabric, it wouldn’t cost you very much to sew this gift.  Blankets, pillows, and neck pillows could be given as a gift set, or they could be given to as separate gifts to several people.  Just think you much fun you’ll be having sewing your own gifts!

Detailed instructions (tutorial and pictures) for sewing neck pillows: www.sewseamless.com/Page52.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page53.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page54.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page55.html  and www.sewseamless.com/Page56.html

Happy Sewing!

www.sewseamless.com
2 Responses

  1. Joni :

    Date: December 5, 2008 @ 6:49 am

    thanks for this. I was hoping for a pattern to download..just 1/2 yard folded in half and cut like a C?
    I hope your Mom is feeling better. I am tall and have had postural Hypertension or Hypotension I forget. But if I get up fast my blood pressure drops fast. Thanks for being kind to her. I will make one for my mother in law If I can figure it out. Maybe next week. thanks for the idea. Joni in CA

  2. Belinda :

    Date: December 5, 2008 @ 1:26 pm

    Joni, if you click on the links provided in this post, it will take you to my main website, where there are several pages of detailed instructions and pictures about how to make a neck pillow. I believe the beginning page is http://www.sewseamless.com/Page52.html and goes on for several pages. You can put the pattern on the fold or you can place the whole pattern on 1/2 yard of fabric. I do think that going to http://www.sewseamless.com and clicking on the neck pillow link on that main page will clarify things for you, or click the links provided in this post–lots of pictures and many more details.

    My mom is not tall, but she has had this problem all her life, but I think there may be a subconscious psychological component to this as well (in my mom’s case).