Snuggle up with a good book and a pillow.  Make this quick and easy pillow with a built-in pocket to hold a favorite book and maybe even a few toys and a snack.  Use it at home or on the go.  It makes the perfect personalized gift.  This is a great beginner’s project.  

Materials Needed:

• ½ yard of fabric for front and back
• Fat quarter of fabric for pocket
• Matching thread
• Iron-on letters, fabric for applique or embroidery machine for the letters
• 16” x 16″ pillow form

Cutting Instructions:

(1) 16 1/2″ x 16 1/2″ fabric for front

(2) 16 1/2″ x 11″ fabric for back

(1) 16 1/2″ x 20″ for pocket

Sewing Instructions:

1. Fold pocket fabric in half so that it measures 10″ x 16 1/2″.
2. Apply letters by method of your choice — applique, purchased iron- on letters or with an embroidery machine.   Choose a word that you want on the pillow.  It can be “READ,” a name or whatever you want.
3. The word should be approximately 3″ from the bottom edge and 3″ from the right edge.
4. Hem one 16 1/2″ edge on both back pieces.  Fold over 1/4″ and press.  Fold over 1/4″ again and press so that the raw edge is enclosed.
5. Stitch along each edge.
6. Baste pocket piece to the bottom of the front fabric piece.
7. Lay the front pocket piece right side up.
8. Place the two back pieces right sides down onto the front piece so the corners and edges match on the top and the bottom and the hemmed edges overlap in the center. Overlap the two back sections.
9. Pin in place.
10. Sew 1/4″ seam on each side.
11. Turn right sides out through the back enclosure and put pillow form inside.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to crochet? Do you have a child who needs a fun and useful hands-on project? These double thick, no-burn hot pads are a great way to learn!

Hot Pad Supplies:

Crochet hook (size G)

Four-ply cotton yarn (2-2.5 oz. skein)
*One skein makes one hot pad. Use two skeins (same dye lots) for matching set.

Finished size: approximately 8” square.

Directions:

Chain 30 stitches and turn.

Row 1, front side: In the 2nd chain from the hook, single crochet in the back of the stitch. Continue this single crochet stitch to the end of the row. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 1, back side: Single crochet in back of both the stitch on the current row and the row directly below. Continue this single crochet stitch all the way back to the beginning of the row. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 2-22: Repeat row 1 back side directions down to the end, and back to the beginning of the row. Row 23, front side: Repeat current stitch to the end of row, chain 1 and turn.

Row 23, backside: Single crochet through front and back of both the stitch on current row and row directly below, and continue back to the beginning of the row.

Chain 8—(creates loop) attach at the base, tie off, weave ending and beginning tail into hot pad.

The original author of this article is Margie P. Memmott, M.S., C.F.C.S.