Make a Super Simple Spider Web Pillow

This spider web pillow cover is so fun and easy to make! The web effect is created using Chenille-It blooming bias. Total project time is about an hour. 

What is Chenille-it?

The product I used is called Chenille-It Blooming Bias in White. It's a bias tape that "blooms" into fluffy chenille once it's washed. You can add it to a project or quilt for added texture and dimension; it's easy to use, as you just sew it into place. In this project, we are using it to create a spider web effect.

Materials You'll Need:

Before you get started, gather up the following materials (these are specific to a 20-inch pillow cover; your fabric requirements will be different if you choose to make a different size cover):

• Chenille-it Blooming Bias
• Fabric for Pillow cover: (1) 20" x 20" square for the front, (1) 20" x 15" rectangle, and (1) 20" x 10" rectangle. If using 42" WOF, you will need 7/8 yard to cut all three pieces. 
• Fusible Fleece: (1) 20" x 20" piece.
• Glue stick (optional, can use pins instead).
• 20" pillow insert.
• Sewing machine, iron, rotary cutter, needle, and thread.

What Kind of Fabric Should I Use?

You can use whatever you'd like! You definitely don't need to stick to quilting cotton. You could use fleece, corduroy, knit, etc. I used a soft, fuzzy knit fabric that I found in the remnant bin at Joann's. I like the soft texture of it combined with the chenille tape! 

 Instructions:

1. Adhere the fusible fleece to the wrong side of your 20" square pillow front. This gives the pillow front some stability, depending on the type of fabric you're working with.
2. You can choose to quilt the pillow front at this point or leave it. I did not quilt mine. 
3. Decide how you'd like your spider web to look. You can get creative here! You can draw a design as a blueprint with a fabric-friendly marking tool or just wing it! For mine, I started in the upper left corner and made 3 diagonal lines with the Chenille-It. I first secured one piece of Chenille it from the upper left corner to the bottom right corner, then secured two more pieces in diagonal lines on each side of that one. I didn't measure and just eyeballed it. I then applied 3 more pieces of chenille-it in perpendicular lines, connecting the diagonal lines. I curved them to look web-like. While you can use pins to secure the chenille-It in place until you sew it in, I found that using small dots of glue from a glue stick was easiest when trying to make curves. If you use a glue stick, keep your dots small and heat press them to set the glue before you sew. 
4. Once you're happy with the web design, it's time to permanently secure the Chenille-It in place. This is super easy. At the sewing machine, use a straight stitch to sew right down the middle of each piece of chenille-it tape. I used a walking foot, because I was working with slippery, stretchy fabric. 
5. Once you're finished sewing your design into place, trim the excess chenille-it tape from the edges of your pillow cover and square up your cover if needed. 
6. Prepare the pillow backing. I made a 20-inch pillow cover, so I'll give specific measurements for that size. I made an envelope closure for the cover using (1) 20" x 15" rectangle and (1) 20" x 10" rectangle. 
• Along one of the 20" edges on each rectangle, enclose the raw edge by folding the edge toward the wrong side of the fabric 1/4", press, then fold it again 1/4". Pin in place and sew along the folded edge to secure.                                                                                                     
7. Finish the pillow cover:
• With right sides together, lay the two rectangles on top of the pillow front. The finished edges of the rectangles should be oriented toward the middle of the pillow. They will overlap. 
• Align all edges and pin or clip in place.
• Sew along the entire perimeter of the pillow cover. You can use a 1/4" or 1/2" seam allowance. I used 1/4", since the fabric I used is stretchy.                        
8. Turn the pillow cover right side out. Now we have to make the Chenille-It bloom! You can do this by machine washing your pillow cover in cold water, then drying it on the warm cycle of your dryer. Alternatively, you can spray your project with water, then rub the Chenille-It with a stiff brush to fray the edges, followed by drying with a hair dryer or machine dryer. 

And there you have it - your very own textured spider web pillow cover. Enjoy!