Boo: The Pillow Pocket Pal by Frances Peets Boo here: at your side, behind your head, in the stroller, on top of your bed. Wherever you go, I go. I am your pillow at nap time and your best friend at play time. Up and down and all around I rock and roll and jump and bounce. I want to grow up to be just like you some day. I am a rather odd and kooky toy disguised as a pillow, or maybe it’s the other way around! My shape and my funny look are what make me, me. Examine me closely and you will notice I don’t have any eyebrows, my eyes are two different colors, my mouth is crooked, my lip sticks out, and I have way too many teeth. I like my shape and you will too once you lay your head down upon my comfy, cozy, roly-poly body. The best part about me is the very top of my head: Instead of hair, I have a secret pocket where all the love I feel for you is hidden inside. Keep me close. Play with me. Hold me tight. I promise to be your constant companion and love you true!
Inspiration & Technique Boo arrived after many months of a flat and lifeless beginning as a three-quarter length raglan sweater sleeve. The intrigue, for me, was the short and wide span of the sweater arm. What could possibly be made from such a shape? It seemed appropriate to breathe life into Boo starting with his face. Once his face was planned, he seemed to come to life almost on his own. I placed the felt flowers as eyes and a nose. The strip of plush velvet scrap ribbon reminded me of a ruffled lip that I could form into a smile. I secured his face with a blanket-stitch around all facial features, and he was born. I made an endless row of teeth with French knots inside each space of the lacy velvet ribbon. Carefully, I snipped one row between each knitted rib at the wrist of the sweater sleeve to make a tiny hole, and I threaded ribbon through each rib for a simple drawstring closure. I tucked a fabric toy or other soft treasure into his secret pocket at the top. I made a circular bottom fleece piece by tracing a dinner plate. With a sewing machine and a wide zigzag stitch, I sewed around the circular bottom two or three times in a random fashion. I sewed these two pieces right sides facing out, leaving the raw edge of the sweater and fleece as is to add texture and an artsy look to Boo. Now that one end of Boo was completely secured, I stuffed him with polyfill, almost overfilling him to make him very round. I hand-sewed the second circular fleece piece to the inside top of his head for the bottom of the secret pocket. I made a tiny fleece heart-shaped toy to place inside his pocket, and tied a bow at the side of the drawstring closure. I added a ribbon hanger at the back of Boo so you will know where he is whenever you need a cuddle or a pillow. Make your own Boo! No pattern is necessary — just a sweater sleeve to upcycle, fabric scraps, embellishments, and a little love to make him come to life.
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Tips
• Knitted fabric will fray and run when snipped, making large holes. Use embroidery scissors for intricate cutting. Carefully cut one tiny row in each depressed part of ribbing (around entire wrist) for an easy no-sew drawstring closure. • Choose dark polyester or an other type of sweater sleeve that will not show stains and shrink when washed. • Make the circles for the bottom and top half 1 inch larger than the openings in the sweater. When sewing round shapes, more fabric is required than the actual size of the opening. Trim after sewing with pinking shears. s t u ff e d - m a g a z in e . c o m
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( • Basic sewing supplies • Embroidery scissors • Fabric scraps
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• Felt flowers
• Stuffing: polyfill
• Pinking shears
• Sweater sleeve
• Ribbon scraps
• Template: large dinner plate
• Sewing machine
Frances Peets chooses the slow meditative process of creative living. She unleashes the healing power of art by experimenting along her path and cultivates her imagination by creating something from nothing. To learn more about her work, visit her at somefromnone.com and somefromnonecompany.etsy.com. She welcomes email at somefromnone@icloud.com.
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