December 16th

**Welcome to my little Christmas blog! Here you'll find something Christmassy every single day until the big celebration on 25th of December! Some of the things I have created myself and some have been made by you, my dearest readers!

Thank you and the Happiest Holidays!**

DECEMBER 16th

Christmas is slowly sneaking into every room of our house, there are candles here and there, some hyacinths, red curtains in kitchen...
How about the working spaces or study? Mine is full of all sort of things and colors already with my fabrics and wools, so the decorations will not be that colorful. I have an old blue sofa there, and matching blue-white birds in the window and pretty candle holders there too but still something was needed...

You'll need:

old sweater (wool would be great)
felt fabric
scissors
needle&thread
tape measure
ribbon or string
pillow to put into your new cover
(optional: sewing machine, iron on interfacing)

You can get an old sweater from a local thrift store or maybe like me, you have one lying around already? I gave mine a little spin in washing machine so it's not completely felted, just little thicker. It says hand wash in the label so warm water and short program will do greatly.

Measure the pillow you like to use, and make sure there's enough material. The wool will stretch, so no worries for every inch here. When you know your measures, cut the jersey into right size. If yours, like mine, has a rib in bottom, that will be used as opening as it's nice and pretty and doesn't need any sewing.

When you have a right sized pieces, it's time to decorate your pillow cover! Choose the opening (either on side or down like mine) and check, that the rib is facing to right direction before you start! You can use anything you like (and so it'll fit into your decorations!) but my study has blue&white colors in it so I chose those and added a bit of red too.
I sew a washing line into my pillow using white cotton yarn and quite thick needle. And I didn't even try to go straight - this is a handmade pillow cover!
Quick and easy!

Then I cut out of my white and blue and red felt some pretty Christmas stockings and sew them hanging in my washing line. This can be done by hand easily, but as I am a hardcore sewing machine user, I used it for this too. If you use machine, it would be great to iron some interfacing on back to the felt so it doesn't stretch that easily. I also left the little socks open from up, who knows if they'll be filled later on...

When your decorations are finished, place the right sides together, use pins to hold, and sew the case together. Start from the bottom rib and go all the way round until you reach the rib again in bottom. This can easily be done by hand, but I again used my machine, and before sewing with it, I ironed some interfacing to the seams again so it's easier to sew (and again: no stretching!).

Turn your pillow case around and stuff with your pillow. Does it need some ribbon for closing? If so, take your pillow out, measure the middle of your rib, and mark it with needle. Cut two pieces of your ribbon (10" or so, long enough to tie) and sew bits in both parts of the case. This can be done by hand or machine. Stuff the pillow again and tie the ribbons.
You're done!

Happy December 16th!

Yours,
Mia