Q&A for How to Sew a Round Pillow

A mattress stitch is useful for closing the pillow with an invisible seam. Stand it on end with your needle through one side of your seam. Go back and forth making a stitch on either side, gently pulling the thread tight between stitches. Close with a knot and press needle into the interior of the pillow, pushing it out further down the material. Pull all the way out, press pillow flat and trim thread so the end disappears into the finished pillow.

Buy or make a ruffle first. Pin it to the right side of your first circle, with the ruffled part facing in. Pin the second circle on top, right-side-down, then turn the pillow right-side-out. Stuff the pillow, the sew the gap shut using a ladder stitch.

Fabric stores like Joanne Fabrics and Hancock will have decent fabrics. Big box stores like Walmart and Hobby Lobby have a wide range of cheaper printed material. Also check your town for small privately owned fabric/crafting stores.

Start with the method for making chair cushions. Make the circles narrow, and the rectangle taller. The height of the rectangle should be however long you want your log to be.

You could use ribbon, rope, thick lace, even neckties. As long as you can sew through it and tie it to a chair you have many, many possibilities. It just has to be strong enough to hold up to someone sitting on the cushion and putting that tension on it.

When it is time to pin the top and bottom pieces for for sewing (inside out), pin the ties with the long ends facing into the middle of the fabric sandwich. This way, when you turn it right-side out after sewing, your ties will be on the outside.