Wedding Part I: The Ring Pillow

In 2 weeks we head back to North Carolina for my little sister's wedding! I've got a lot to get done before then! Sienna and I finished the ring pillow last night. My sister sent me a ton of photos of what she wanted and a box of fabric to match her dress....


Here is how I made it:

I cut two 11" x 11" squares.


I sewed all the way around the squares using a 3/8" seam and leaving a 4 inch gap to turn it inside out (large enough for my hand to fit in as well).


Then I cut two long strips measuring 6" x 48" and 10" x 48" and folded each in half right sides together. I sewed the long end closed using a 3/8" seam.


I took the larger of the strips and turned it right sides out (I did not iron because I didn't want any creases) and tucked one end into the other.....


......and sewed the two ends together using a blind stitch.


With a needle and thread, I sewed a gathering stitch all the way around the fabric "tube".....


....until it looked like a large ruffled flower:


I took the square pillow and turned it right side out.....


...and marked the center using my disappearing ink pen.


I pinned the large ruffle flower to the center of the pillow attached it by hand-stitching it to the pillow in between the pleats.


I repeated the entire process using the smaller fabric sleeve.


I "smushed" the small ruffled flower into the pleats of the large ruffled flower and hand stitched them together.


I cut a 4" circle from the fabric....


.....and stitched around the folded edges....


....to form a small yo-yo.


I placed the yo-yo face down into the center of the ruffled flowers and used a blind stitch to attach.


I took the shadow box I made of my grandfather's military things from our photo wall......


....and used his United States Navy pin for the center. He passed away in 2003 suddenly and I always thought he would live to see all his grandchildren get married.


My sister wanted some bling, so I added some rhinestone buttons.


Here is my little helper before bed handing me buttons as I sew....we look so disheveled, oh wait, we always look disheveled!


Lastly, I sewed a small ribbon between the ruffle layers for the rings to be tied on with.


One ring pillow finished!


Next project: Sienna's Flower Girl Dress....I'm drowning in tissue paper....this is scary....I can't even figure out how to cut the fabric!