child's travel pillow: a tutorial

Everyone needs something soft and familiar to rest their weary heads upon... especially our children when they're far from home. This little travel pillow has a built in handle for easy toting or to clip onto a backpack when heading off to camp, a sleep over, or some other summer adventure. I made two different sizes for my ten year old and four year old, but I believe this small size is perfect for anyone... even an adult on a long plane flight (just like traditional airline pillows). So let's get to it. You can whip these up in no time!

Materials:

-1/2 yard of soft cotton in a print that will make the recipient smile and feel loved
-batting/ecofill (anything that stays soft with repeated washings)
-matching thread
-dried lavender if you are making a sachet

all seams are 1/4" unless otherwise stated

Cut:

-pillow: 16" x 25"
-handle: 6" x 11"
-pocket: 6" x 12"

Make:

Handle-

1. Fold rectangle in half and pressing with an iron to make a crease.
   
2. Open and fold each side just to that crease line.
   
3. Fold in half and press with an iron again.
4. Topstitch along the edge of each side (lengthwise).

Pocket-

1. Fold in half (now rectangle becomes a 6 x 6 square) right side to right side.
   
2. Stitch around all three open sides, leaving a few inches open on the bottom for turning.
   
3. Clip excess fabric on corners and turn fabric so right sides are exposed. Poke corners into shape with a chopstick or pencil eraser.
   
4. Top stitch folded side 1/2 an inch from the edge. This will be the top open side of the pocket.
5. Fold pillow rectangle in half. The top will be the open side. The fold will be the bottom of the pillow.
   
6. Pin pocket to the lower middle portion of the pillow. Tuck in the opening from where you turned the pocket and pin also. Stitch pocket in place.
   
   

Pillow-

1. Fold material right side to right side and stitch following the diagram.
   
2. 
   (note: the picture shows the right side of the fabric... do the opposite) Begin sewing each side 2 inches toward the center of the pillow top and then rotate to go down the sides.
3. Clip excess fabric at corners and turn right side out. Poke out corners. Topstitch the bottom edge... all along the fold. This will give your pillow better form.
4. Stuff you pillow, taking care to fill each corner. Don't over stuff or you will have a hard time inserting your handle.
5. Pin handle in place. Check finished project photos for placement, making sure it's even. Pin the rest of the opening closed, as well.
6. Edge stitch the entire top. I went over this stitching with a decorative stitch, but it's not necessary.
   
7. Fill the pocket with a little doll/animal or make a simple lavender sachet to ensure restful nights. My sachet was made from two 6"x4" rectangles stitched together and filled with dried lavender.

Today's pillow is made from a soft quilter's cotton in an Amy Butler print from her Belle line. I had just a enough left over from this duvet cover. The sweet face peeking out of the pocket comes from this set I made over the winter. It belongs to my daughter, but I'm working on another soft lavender friend to fit in the pocket...
and then I will be ready to offer this pillow as a give-away on Monday!