| Leather pillows can be an excellent way to accent | | | | shape well. Batting allows you more versatility with |
| leather furniture or add old world charm to a bedroom. | | | | shapes, but do not hold their shape over time as well |
| However, with even faux leather pillows priced at | | | | as pillow forms do. |
| twenty dollars or more, you may find these decorative | | | | If doing a square or rectangular pillow, cut the leather |
| pillows more than your budget can handle. A pillow is | | | | into two pieces that are equal in size and shape. You |
| one of the easiest craft projects available so why not | | | | want the leather pieces to be two inches longer and |
| make your own? You will save money and be able to | | | | wider than you want your pillow to be. This is to allow |
| get a pillow that matches your specifications exactly, | | | | for the seams when you sew the pillow. |
| instead of being limited to the manufacturers' offerings. | | | | Beading or other accent work on the pillow sides |
| When choosing your leather, consider the type of | | | | should be done at this point. For throw pillows that will |
| texture and coloring you want. If you prefer a softer, | | | | be used in a living room, some people choose to sew |
| velvety texture, choose suede, chamois or Nubuck. If | | | | a small pocket on the pillow. This allows them to store |
| you want a more durable leather, bicast or coated | | | | their remote in a handy location. |
| leathers are a good option. If you are having difficulty | | | | Lay the pieces together with right sides facing. You |
| finding the color you want, consider dying it yourself. | | | | should be looking at the back side of the leather. Start |
| When choose dye colors, make sure you are looking | | | | at one corner and sew down the side, across the |
| at finished samples rather than the color in the bottle. | | | | bottom and back up the opposite side. If you are using |
| They are often distinctly different shades. | | | | pillow forms, leave the top side open. If you are using |
| If dying fabric, apply dye and allow to dry thoroughly. | | | | batting, sew two-thirds of the way across the top. |
| Once dry, buff with a clean cloth. Finish by applying a | | | | Open fabric edges away from seams and use an iron |
| leather conditioner or preservative. | | | | on low heat to flatten them. Turn pillow right side out. |
| Determine the size and shape you want your pillow to | | | | Insert pillow form or batting and sew top edge closed. |
| be. Square pillows are generally used to accent | | | | Remember that leather pillows require care just like |
| furniture. Large square pillows are made for use on the | | | | leather clothing, car upholstery and furniture. They |
| floor. Rectangular, bolster and round pillows are | | | | should be dusted on a weekly basis. A lightly |
| typically found in the bedroom. | | | | dampened cloth, ideally microfiber, can be used to wipe |
| Decide whether you want to use pillow forms or | | | | them down once or twice a month. Leather cleaner |
| batting. Pillow forms are pre-shaped and only need to | | | | should be used three to four times a year and |
| be covered with the fabric. They tend to hold their | | | | conditioner or preservatives every six to nine months. |