Sewing Beautiful Pillows (A Sterling/sewing information resources book)

Woven of ribbon, layered of sheers, ruffled with silks, ruched with lace–these are elegant pillows that will lend an expensive look to any room without costing much. With novice to intermediate sewing skills and some pretty scraps of fabric and interesting trims, you can create surface-designed, tailored, heirloom, or freeform pillows that are surprisingly varied and extremely handsome, as evidenced by the many lush color photos. The designs are not all traditional brocades, damasks, linens, and organzas: there s also reverse-appliquéd wool, machine-embroidered horsehair braid, patchwork composed of neckties, and a marvelous novelty pillow that s actually a soft sculpture in the form of a faux-suede grocery bag filled with velvet fruit and vegetables. –Amy Handy

Woven of ribbon, layered of sheers, ruffled with silks, ruched with lace–these are elegant pillows that will lend an expensive look to any room without costing much. With novice to intermediate sewing skills and some pretty scraps of fabric and interesting trims, you can create surface-designed, tailored, heirloom, or freeform pillows that are surprisingly varied and extremely handsome, as evidenced by the many lush color photos. The designs are not all traditional brocades, damasks, linens, and organzas: there s also reverse-appliquéd wool, machine-embroidered horsehair braid, patchwork composed of neckties, and a marvelous novelty pillow that s actually a soft sculpture in the form of a faux-suede grocery bag filled with velvet fruit and vegetables. –Amy Handy