Taffeta & Muslin Ruffle Pillow with Piping

With fall upon us, I am getting excited for deeper tones and hues. I’ve been wanting to use this gold/mustard floral print for a while now, but the right project just hadn’t come up. Until now. I started pairing fabrics and colors, and when I got to the teal taffeta, I knew it would be perfect for a high-end ruffle pillow (that didn’t cost me anything).

Now teal and gold/mustard is not a color combination I’m accustomed to use a lot. But something about it struck me. Perhaps I liked that it was a little outside my color comfort zone.

Perhaps it was the juxtaposition–the contrast between the shabby muslin and party-appropriate taffeta–that I loved so much. Whatever it was, I’m so over the moon about my ruffle pillow.

So layering them into a single ruffle just felt right. And they lend a depth to the pillow that wouldn’t be the same with another cotton.

But I think what really makes these pillows look posh is the taffeta piping. I love how it defines the shape and makes the pillow stand out against the couch or chair its sitting on. It can’t be ignored, and it looks so finished and high-end.

Would you like to make your own 20″ envelope-style pillow sham? Let’s get started!

You’ll Need:

• Sewing Machine and thread
• Serger (optional)
• 1/2 Yard Taffeta
• 1/4 Yard muslin
• 1 yard floral fabric (similar)

For one pillow, cut:

• One 20″ square from main fabric (for the pillow front)
• Two 14″ x 20″ pieces from main fabric (for the envelope-style back)
• Five 2″ x 45″ strips of muslin (I tore mine for a more rustic look)
• Five 1″ x 45″ strips of taffeta (for the ruffles)
• Two 2″ x 45″ strips of taffeta (for the piping)

Tip: If you don’t want your taffeta ruffles to shed, make sure to cut them on the bias. I didn’t and I had to spend some time de-shedding mine. 🙂

1. Take your two back pieces, and finish a 1″ hem on one of the long edges. If you have a serger, serge the edges, then hem at 1″. If you are using a sewing machine, press a 1/4″ hem, turn, then press again at 1″ and sew your hem. Set the back pieces aside.
2. On the front piece (the 20″ square), mark 5 equally spaced rows on your pillow. Since my ruffles were 2″ wide and I wanted some of the floral print to show in between, I spaced mine 2-1/2″ apart starting from the center.
3. Make your 5 ruffles by layering the taffeta on the muslin then using a basting stitch down the center.
4. Gather your ruffles to the size of the pillow top (20″), then pin them on. Once all five ruffles are pinned, sew them all down.
5. Time to making piping! Wrap your 2″ wide taffeta around some cord, then sew as close to the cord as possible using your zipper foot.
6. Now it’s time to make a sandwich. No, not that kind, silly! A fabric sandwich. Lay your pillow front on your table right side up. Then start laying your piping around the edges with raw edges together. Now lay on one of your back pieces with the hemmed edge toward the middle and right side down, like this.Then you’re going to lay your second back piece so the hemmed edge is also toward the middle, right side down. The back pieces will overlap and you should have all raw edges around the outside of the pillow.
7. Now pin a lot because the taffeta is slippery. Just make sure that you’ve always got all the edges (pillow front, piping, and pillow backs) together, and you’ll be fine.
8. Now with your zipper foot still on, sew around the pillow as close to the cord is possible. At the beginning/end of the piping, the ends will cross a little, so just sew across the cord.
9. Now trim your corners, turn it right-side-out, and stuff it with a pillow!

You’ve successfully created your own ruffle pillow!

What do you think of the ruffle pillow? Do you like the color combination?

Related articles

• Muslin Ruffle Dress
• Thrifted Chair Makeover
• Hand-painted Ottoman Makeover