Buckwheat Pillow Tutorial
You will need:
18” x 23” muslin or scrap cotton like an old bedsheet to make the pillow insert
a ruler or tape measure
scissors
thread and a needle or sewing machine
1/2 yard of Mangyan cotton (18 x 23”)
56” macrame cord
buckwheat hulls, I use these
Make the insert: Cut your muslin to a rectangle that measures 18“ x 23“, fold it in half and sew the edge closed, leaving a 2” opening.
Turn it inside out, and pour your buckwheat husks into the opening until your insert is 2/3 to 3/4 full depending on how firm you’d like your pillow.
Firmly sew closed your opening so that the insert is now fully sealed
4. Make the cover: Measure out a “18 x 23” rectangle of the Mangyan cotton- the shorter sides of the rectangle will be the natural selvedge.
5. Folding the fabric in half (right side out) as you did with the insert, overlap the selvedges and pin them in place
6. Sew a seam down each side of the folded fabric, securing the overlap so that the underside ends right where the fold is
7. Cut two 28“ lengths of the macrame cord
8. Finding the center by folding the cord in half and matching it to where the cover folds in half, pin it down along the seams you just sewed
9. Turn the cover inside out and sew another seam along each side- enclosing the cord and the cut edges (remove pins as you go), taking care not to sew along side the cord rather than into the edge of the cord. You’ll want to sew over the areas where the cord exits on each corner, several times over to secure it in place.
10. Turn your cover right side out and put your buckwheat insert inside.
11. Using your sashiko needle and thread close the cover, selvedge over selvedge. I use a simple running stitch, but you could have fun doing something more decorative too
You are all done! Tie the ends to make a firmer, more raised pillow or leave them untied for a softer pillow.
