DIY Anchor Pillow + Free Printable

Please tell me that I'm not the only person who absolutely loves the sight of an anchor?!

I've already professed my love of anchors to you in other posts, so you probably won't be surprised to know that I made my new favorite pillow this week, featuring a big white anchor stenciled onto navy blue duck cloth.

This anchor pillow is a great way to bring the summer into your living room, or any other room in your house (or even outdoors!).  Because I used duck canvas, it is very sturdy and durable.  I made an easy freezer paper stencil to use as my template to paint the anchor directly onto the fabric.  This is also a slipcover, so you can remove and wash as needed.

And this pillow only cost me $2.50 to make!  Duck cloth was on sale for $5 a yard at JoAnn, and I only had to get 1/2 a yard to make a pillow.  The rest of the supplies I already had.

Want to make your own lovely anchor pillow?  Here's how!

DIY Anchor Pillow:

• Fabric the same width as your pillow (I used navy duck cloth- my pillow was 18x18," so I bought 1/2 yard, 18," of fabric)
• Fabric paint, or  paint that is safe to use on fabric (I used Martha Stewart Craft Paint)
• Paintbrush (I used a Martha Stewart stencil brush)
• Freezer paper (I bought mine at Walmart)
• Cutting knife
• Iron
• Cutting mat
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Anchor Printable

1.  Cut out a piece of fabric the same size as your pillow insert.  My insert was 18" x 18", so my navy duck cloth piece was also 18"x18".   Now cut out two pieces of navy fabric that are the same height as your pillow, but about 2/3 the width- in my case each piece was about 12."  These two pieces should overlap each other by a few inches, and will be the back of the pillow cover.  Fold over the edge of one of the 12" pieces, and sew along the edge, so that there is a nice hem on it.

 2.  Download and print the free anchor printable onto freezer paper.  You can print directly onto freezer paper with an ink jet printer- just cut the freezer paper to 8 1/2 x 11," and print on the paper side (not the shiny side).

3.  Cut out the anchor design with a craft cutting knife on a cutting mat.  Iron the freezer paper onto the 18" (or whatever size your pillow insert is) piece where you would like it.  Make sure that you iron on medium heat without steam, with the SHINY side down.  Iron until the freezer paper stencil is stuck to the fabric.  Don't forget to add the little circle at the top of the anchor!  And don't worry, the freezer paper will peel right off once the paint is dry, I promise!

4.  Using your paintbrush and fabric paint, paint inside the stencil so that there is a nice, even coverage. Let the paint dry, and then carefully peel up the freezer paper.  It comes up very easily.  Voila! You should now have a beautiful anchor staring back at you!!

5.  Time to sew!  Place your anchor fabric anchor-side up, and place the hemmed piece of 12 x 18" fabric along the left edge of the pillow, on top of the anchor.  Next place the other 12 x 18" piece of fabric on the right edge of the pillow on top of the anchor.  Pin all of the layers together, and sew around all four sides using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Now make a small diagonal cut on each edge of the pillow, making sure that you don't cut any of the stitching.  Turn the pillow right side out, and use your scissors or pencil to push out the corners.  Place your pillow insert into your cover.

Done!  Isn't it pretty?! I think I'm in love ;)  Now I'm off to make another matching one!

xo, Laura

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Linking Up Here:  Tatertots and Jello, Ginger Snap Crafts, The 36th Avenue, House of Hepworths, Tidy Mom, 30 Handmade Days, See Vanessa Craft, Whipperberry, Sugar Bee Crafts, Lil' Luna, Somewhat Simple, House of Hepworths, Craft-O-Maniac, Skip to My Lou