During the winter months, needlepoint, tapestry, and heavy fabrics work well, but spring calls for a light touch and softer textures, garden prints, light greens and pastels. For quick and easy pillows, the pre-printed pillow panels are widely available in fabric stores. They often feature seasonal motifs, including gardening and outdoor themes.
To a large extent, the decorating style of the room determines whether elegant or casual pillows work best. The shape and size can vary as you see fit. Pillow covers can be made from one entire piece of fabric. In addition, pieced or appliquéd ones work well, especially if they’re quilted. For decorative touches, there are many kinds of suitable trims. The simplest consists of roping, braid, or fringe. Buttons are another option. This really depends upon how much time and money you wish to spend.
Those with minimal sewing experience may want to start with some of the pre-printed pillow panels. These often come with step-by-step instructions printed right on the material. Simple square or round pillows are also good choices for beginners.
In addition to pillow covers or tops, pillow wraps are a wonderful option. This approach gives you a chance to dress-up the pillows you already have. It is especially effective for providing a quick, seasonal touch to a room. This method involves taking fabric and finishing the edges. Then, it is wrapped around the pillow, and attached by various means. Typically, straps or colorful buttons are used to hold the wraps in place.
This method is very suitable as a good project for those just learning to sew. Those looking for pillow wrap patterns will definitely want to check out Pillow Wraps from Four Corners Designs. This pattern book comes complete with a list of all the materials and supplies that will be needed, and illustrated, step-by-step directions for each of the projects. This title features 19 designs in 8 different sizes that can be mixed and matched to suit your pillows. Among the designs are a number that are suitable for spring, such as flowers, butterflies, and sailboats.