DIY Designer Pillows & Trying Out The My Own Fringemaker

Today I'm excited to not only show a new tutorial for making DIY Designer Pillows, but also a tool I've tried out that helps give home sewing a professional edge.  This, my friends, is the tool that's given me loads more sewing project options and gotten me excited about making home decor & embellished items.  It's called the My Own Fringemaker® and, in a word, it's AWESOME.

I always wanted to do more detailed or home decor projects, but kinda held back in the past.  I didn't want my efforts to look home-madey.  What might look good in a photo-edited blog pic does not always look that great in person.  Plus, things like trims or fringe (aka what makes a project look high end), can be really pricey per yard.  I couldn't see spending precious time on a project that costs more than just buying that item readymade.  I don't worry about those things now because I've got My Own Fringemaker to take my sewing to the next level.   

I've used it to make this fluffy bolster pillow:

this fringed throw pillow:

and even this little wearable number:



About a month ago, Debi, the inventor of My Own Fringemaker, contacted me about trying out this tool as a review.  I'm pretty picky about reviewing products these days, but liked that this isn't sold in retail stores and was designed by a real sewing enthusiast, not a giant corporate team with a slick gimmick & little else.  I was intrigued by all the things you could make with this tabletop tool: custom fringe, tassels, pom poms, boas, wigs...you can even weave & knit on it!

By choosing your own ribbons, yarns or strings, this tool will make whatever custom look you want for trim in minutes.  You can mix textures & colors, do a looped or cut finish and make just about any length - all the way up to 13 inches long!

My multi-textured looped fringe

The tool itself is pretty easy to set up and use.  It comes with helpful accessories like tulle and elastic, some sample yarn to practice with, and lots of instructional info, so it didn't take me long to get the hang of things.

There's also a handy measure built into the base so it's simple to make exactly what you need.  And it folds up flat, which is a big plus with my craft room's limited space.

Ready for a test-drive tutorial?  

Here's how I made my DIY Designer Bolster Pillow with it:

Materials:
- 1/2 yd Home Dec fabric
- Pillow form - bolster/neckroll size (14in x 6in)
- My Own Fringemaker tool 
- Plush yarn (mine was bulky 5)
- 14 inch zipper
- Sewing notions (marking pen, rotary cutter, pins, zipper foot)

I picked this fuzzy yarn that was a perfect color match to my fabric:

I set the rods to the length I wanted and tied one end and began turning the handle:

You cinch the yarn together to get an even fullness and tie it off at the desired width - mine was 19 inches. Then I placed a piece of tulle (included with the My Own Fringemaker) over the top rod and used the elastic band to hold it in place.  The tulle makes it easier to sew the header & not get any yarn caught on the presser foot.  

Then the rod unit gets removed off the tool and, using a zipper foot, you stitch close to one of the rods on the inside and repeated several more overlapping rows to make a sturdy seam. This takes a little practice and plenty of clearance behind the machine as you sew. Excuse the inconsistent color here - I didn't have a clear enough pic of this part with the fuzzy yarn:



Since I wanted my fringe cut, not looped, I cut the lower edge while it was still on the rods to get it perfectly even:

Then I cut the sides and body pieces from some fancy home dec fabric I'd won from Waverly when I designed my fabric clock project a while back.  I cut circles that were 6 1/2 inches in diameter and a 15 1/2 inches by 20 inches main piece.



I pinned the enclosed edge of the fringe to each of the longer sides of the main fabric so that there was 1/2 inch extra fabric space on either end (for my seam allowance later) and basted them together:

Then I attached the zipper to one side, face down:

I stitched nice & close to the teeth (I like to start after the zipper tab and then come back and do there with the zipper open because it's easier):

I pulled up the remaining fabric side and pinned that to the other side of the zipper tape and stitched those together:

Now I had a pillow "tube" and pulled the zipper open a few inches.

I pushed all the fringe inward and pinned the circular pieces to either side, right sides facing and stitched with a 1/2 inch seam allowance:

I pulled the pillowcase right side out, inserted my pillow form, and my stylish, fluffy-fringed pillow was ready:

To make my multi-stranded loop fringe I used thin crochet and silky metallic knitting yarns:

Blending them is super easy - just tie them on and start turning the handle.  The tool keeps them even as you wind:

I followed all the same steps as the bolster, except I kept this fringe looped and I didn't need to make side pieces for my rectangular pillow.  



The fringe looks pricey, but per yard it was way less than anything similar I could buy and it's the precise colors, textures and length I wanted. 

When I calculated out the prices of the materials used (including my coupon using skills), each pillow - including the form - came out to about $12 total and there's still tons of yarn left for other things.  And they were exactly what I wanted, so definitely better than buying "just sort of matches" readymade.  I'm proud to say I've made all my bedroom's designer-style throw pillows and feel like they look just as good (if not better) than what I could find in a store:

FYI: I've got tutorials for the other pillows I made too:

Getting Gathered Pillow

Easy Stenciled Pillow

The My Own Fringemaker is an upfront cost, like any tool, but in the long-run I think it makes a big savings because of it's versatility with so many kinds of projects.  I'm usually a big cheapskate with sewing supplies, but now that I know just how much can be done with it, I'd have bought it even if I hadn't gotten one to review.  I plan to keep experimenting to make some tassels, wigs & try my hand at a bit of weaving on it.   Chic drapes, valances, bedding, scarves, toys - sky's the limit now!

Plus, later this week I'm going to share how I made this fun fringe skirt with it (find it here).  It's super easy & inexpensive to make: 



And kids LOVE how it twirls:



What would you make with My Own Fringemaker?  What should I try to make next?



I was not financially compensated for this post.  I received the My Own Fringemaker® tool to review.  The opinions are completely my own, based on my experience.  For my complete disclosure policy, click here.