Dog Bone Neck Pillow Tutorial

Recently I brought my dad’s dilapidated neck bone pillow home, took it apart, made a pattern and sewed a new one for my mom.  (I thought the ragged one belonged to her.)  Not until I gifted the new one to my mom did I learn the old one was my dad’s.  Today I made a new one for him.

The last time my sister visited my parents she discovered the comfort of using one of these whimsical little pillows.    She told our mom she’d like to have a pattern so she could make one for herself, and I promised mom I’d make a copy for my sister and take care of getting it to her.  Today I finally managed to send the pattern on its way to her house.  (It only took me around a month… ~sigh~ )

While making the pillow for my dad,  I took pictures of each step so I could post a tutorial just in case my sister had any questions about the construction.  Hopefully my directions are clear and will be helpful.  (If I can figure out how to post a full-sized pattern, I’ll include a link to it.  If I don’t figure it out, I’d gladly snail mail a copy to anyone who would like to make one.)

Step 1:  Cut four of the bone pattern on the straight of grain using a good quality cotton fabric.  I used quilting weight cotton.    (The pretty pin cushion is a sweet, “just because” surprise from my bloggy friend Pat.  If you’ve never visited her blog, check it out.)

(My electric scissors made cutting through four layers a time-saving breeze. They were a much appreciated gift from my ds and dil.)

Step 2:  Mark the center of each end of all four bone pieces on the wrong side of fabric.  Mark as precisely and as visibly as possible.  The marks are an all-important factor in the construction of project.

Step 3:  With right sides together pin two pieces together, carefully matching center marks on both ends.

Step 4:  Using a half inch seam allowance stitch along one side from mark to mark.  Remember to back stitch to secure stitches.

Step 5:  Carefully matching the marks, pin the third bone piece to an open side of the joined pieces.

Step 6:  Stitch from mark to mark being careful not to sew into the previous seam. It is crucial that seams bud up without intersecting.  Repeat Step 5 with the remaining bone piece.

Step 7: You should now have all four bone pieces sewn together with one open side remaining.  Pin the remaining unfinished sides together.  Sew approximately 3 inches down the final side starting at a marked end.  Remember to backstitch to secure seam, and be careful not to intersect previous seams.  Repeat on the opposite end.  There will be an opening approximately 5 inches long in the middle of the two seams on the final side.

Press all seams flat.  (At this point some sewers clip the curves, but I do not.  Clipping weakens the seam, and I believe that’s why the original pillow ripped.)

Step 8:  Turn pillow right side out and stuff it with polyester  fiberfill or cotton fiberfill.  (I fluff the stuffing material up really well before inserting it into the pillow, because it seems to stuff more evenly.) Stuff generously, pushing the filling firmly into the rounded ends for proper shaping.

Step 9:  When you are happy with the shape of your pillow, slip stitch the opening closed with tiny stitches.  I pin the opening closed to make it easier to hand stitch evenly.

Step 10:  Admire your handiwork.  This would be a good time to kick back in a comfortable easy chair, and try your new pillow out.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.  If you use this tutorial to make a pillow I’d love to hear how the it worked for you.

Until next time…

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

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