How to Make: A Sharpie Pillow

You will need:

-Fabric

-Colored Sharpie Markers

-91% rubbing alcohol

-A protected work surface

-An eyedropper

I had two types of colored sharpie markers; thicker and thinner ones. I wasn’t sure which ones would be better for this project, so I started off with two squares of test fabric. These are my thicker and thinner Sharpies compared.

So on the left square of fabric, I drew a design with the larger sharpies, and on the right I drew a design with the smaller Sharpies.

I liked how I could get a bit more intricate with the smaller sharpies, but I wasn’t sure how much detail would show. I then did the next step, which is to smear the design with rubbing alcohol, and the design looked better with the larger Sharpies.

So then I moved onto my pillow. I cut out two squares of equal size from the fabric. I believe they were about 7.5”x7.5” You can make your squares any size you like, but just keep in mind that you will lose about 1/4th of an inch per edge because of sem allowances.

Alright, now comes the fun part! Take your makers and go crazy drawing as much on each square as you would like!

For this next step, be sure you protect your work surface! Also, instead of using newsprint, you might want to use plain paper. I had a few sheets of packing paper leftover, so I used them. I did about 3 layers of paper towels, a sheet of packing paper folded in half, and a few paper towels in between the plain paper layers. You do not want this to stain your work surface because you will most likely never get it out again.

Now, take an eyedropper filled with rubbing alcohol and drip it over your fabric, until the colors start to run together.

One thing I noticed from my test squares, you need to leave the squares alone until they finish drying! The colors set into the fabric, and they fade a bit more. If you were to move or touch them, you would get permanent marker all over your hands.

Notice how much the pink square has faded after it dries. Once your squares are dry, you can take them and iron them. This helps the color to set into the fabric, and smooth them out so you can sew them.

With the right sides together, pin your squares together. The sideways pins on mine show me where to stop sewing so that I may leave a gap to turn and stuff the pillow.

Now, sew your pillow together.

Lastly, turn and stuff your pillow. All done!

Happy sewing!