Baby Keepsake Photo Pillow

This baby keepsake photo pillow is a great item to keep in the family as an heirloom. It can be made without the photo for a baby shower or as a gift for a birthday. Get creative by using a variety of trims, beading or fabrics.

This pillow was made with leftover fabric from a matching baby quilt. Make it without a baby photo by adding a vinyl pocket to insert the photo later on.

To make this baby keepsake photo pillow, you will need the following:

Materials:

Back of baby keepsake photo pillow:

1 Fabric square (9.75" long by 8" wide)




For front of baby keepsake photo pillow:

For inner border around photo:

2 strips of velour fabric (3" long by 1.5" wide)
1 strip of cotton striped fabric (3" long by 1.5" wide)
1 strip of cotton checked fabric (3" long by 1.5" wide)
2 strips of lace trim (4.5" long by 1" wide)

For outer border around photo:

2 strips of chenille fabric (9.75" long by 2" wide)
2 strips of chenille fabric (5.5" long by 2"wide)

For trim:

Beaded trim (any coordinating trim)
Other style trim
Lace trim (63" long by 1.5" wide)

For photo (need computer, inkjet printer, scanner (if no digital photo available):

Digital photo or regular photo (must be 3.5" long by 4" wide)
Inkjet Iron-on transfer paper (for photo)
Smooth white fabric (cotton or satin) (5.5" long by 4.5" wide)

Optional (for no photo option):

Clear vinyl for pocket (4.5" long by 4.5" wide)

Other supplies needed for keepsake photo pillow:

Interfacing (9.75" long by 8" wide)
Polyester Fiberfill for stuffing
Coordinating thread
Sewing needle
Measuring tape or ruler
Scissors

Instructions:

Note: You can either hand sew or machine sew this baby keepsake photo pillow project. Use a ¼ inch seam allowance. You will also need a computer with a scanner and printer for this project if you choose to do the photo within the keepsake photo pillow. A digital photo will also work but you still need the printer for the iron-on transfer paper.

Step 1: Cut all pieces for the baby keepsake photo pillow per the measurements listed above.

Step 2: Scan a photo or use a digital photo and print onto iron-on transfer paper per the instructions used for the paper. The photo should be sized to 3.5" long by 4" wide. Step 3: Cut the photo from the paper and center it on the white fabric. Use Diagram A as a guide. Iron it on using the instructions for the iron-on transfer paper.

If using the no photo option for this keepsake photo pillow, assemble and sew the vinyl pocket using Diagram A as a guide for placement leaving the top open for the pocket. The white fabric will be the back of the pocket then the vinyl placed on top.

Step 4: Place the lace border on the top and bottom of the white fabric with the photo. Use Diagram A as a guide for placement.

For vinyl pocket, line up the lace border on top of the white fabric so that it touches the pocket opening for the top piece. The bottom lace border should lie on top of the vinyl.

Step 5: Sew the lace border on the top and bottom of the fabric.

Step 6: Sew the left side panels using the Diagram B as a guide for placement.

Tip: Iron the left panel seam allowance using Diagram C as a guide so that the seams lie flat for easier sewing.

Step 7: Sew the right side panels using Diagram B as a guide for placement.

Tip: Iron the right panel seam allowance using Diagram C as a guide so that the seams lie flat for easier sewing.

Step 8: Sew the left and right side panels to the white fabric with the photo (or vinyl pocket) using Diagram B as a guide right side to right side.

Step 9: Sew the top and bottom panels using Diagram D as guide for placement.

Tip: Iron the panel seam allowance using Diagram E as a guide so that the seams lie flat for easier sewing. Take care to avoid the photo or vinyl when ironing.

Step 10: Iron the back of the assembled square taking care not to iron the photo or the vinyl (if using no photo) so that the seams are lying down flat. Use Diagram E as a guide.

Step 11: Place the interfacing on top and iron taking care not to go over the photo or the vinyl (if using no photo). See photo. Turn fabric over so that the right side is visible.

Step 12: Take one end of the beaded ribbon and pin in place on top of the bottom panel seam and hand sew. Cut ribbon. (See Diagram F.)

Step 13: Take one end of the other ribbon and pin in place on top of the top panel seam and hand sew. Cut ribbon.

Step 14: Take the same ribbon used for the top panel and pin in place on the left seam panel border and hand sew. Cut ribbon.

Step: 15: Take the same ribbon used for the top panel and pin in place on the right seam panel border and hand sew. Cut ribbon.

Step 16: Take the long piece of lace and hand sew a running stitch down the entire length using a ¼ inch allowance. Do not fasten off.(See Diagram G.)

Step 17: Pin each end of the lace to the top left corner of the assembled square. Make sure that the lace is on top of the right side of the assembled square.

Step 18: Pull on thread and gather lace gently pinning along the way so that the lace fits around the entire assembled square.

Step 19: Sew lace to assembled square taking care to make sure the gathers stay in place and fasten off.

Step 20: Place back fabric on top of the assembled square right side to right side and sew along edges beginning on top left corner leaving 3 inches open on the left side. (See Diagram H.)

Step 21: Turn pillow inside out and stuff with fiberfill to your liking.

Step 22: Hand sew side seam close. You have finished your baby pillow. Enjoy!

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