Proverb Pillow Talk

NEW Proverb Pillow Talk series... It Takes Two... Pillow Design with Lots to Say! A month-long hand stitching extravaganza started with an idea from my sketchbook.

My sketchbook is a treasure trove of ideas and inspirations, a place where my thoughts and creativity intertwine. When the time comes to bring these ideas to life, I turn to my sketchbook, where each page serves as a springboard for the next project. This new pillow series, like the proverbs it's inspired by, has been growing in my mind, taking root like a plant seeking nourishment —in this case, a pillow or two.

'It Takes Two...' and who has not heard this proverb...

•  to love 
• to argue 
• to make babies

Yin Yang (Harmony of Dualism) illustrates that we are opposites yet complementary. In the context of my pillow design, Yang, the male color white represented by the sun, and Yin, the female color black represented by the moon, both entwined within a circle of life, symbolize the harmony and balance in relationships. 'It Takes Two...' is a proverb and a part of the Yin Yang theories, which I've incorporated into my design to convey the idea of unity and balance. 

Watch the video below to gain insight into the principles and history of the Yin-Yang theory. 

Another symbol represented on my pillow is the fertility signs of male and female astronomy, as noted in the Greek Gods & their planets, Mars (male) and Venus (female). 

The fertility symbols are needle-felted with roving wool in blue and pink, with the colors mixed within each other, but one color is more predominant. North American culture has designated pink for girls and blue for boys... why? 

In 1918, the Ladies' Home Journal featured a fashionable influence that chose blue for girls, as it is considered delicate, cool, and associated with Yin, the moon, shadow, and rest. Pink was for boys, as anything with red is considered strong, warm, and related to Yang, the sun, brightness, and activity. 

Fashion in the 1940s underwent a color shift, and for some reason, there was an active push through magazines to designate Pink for girls and Blue for boys. 

As an artist who loves all colors, I also have to understand the symbolism that triggers emotions & myth.  Like it or lump it, this is a visual communication.

• The first step is to knit the pillowcase in dark blue 100% double-strand wool.
• Cut a rectangular black felt piece sized for embroidery and needle felt design.
• Chalk out basic design elements and add the needle felt outline.
• Fill in colors with roving wool using needle felting techniques.
• Embroidery stitches are hand-stitched into the needle felting.
• Attach the applique with hand stitching to the flat pillow cushion.
• Attach the pillow to three corners with hand stitching.
• Stuff and stitch the last side of the pillow.
• Finish off with rows of crochet borders.
• Crochet the green fringe and weave orange wool through the crochet borders.
• Make stuffed male & female dolls.
• Attach snaps to the pillow and dolls.

For many of my pillow designs, I like to add a touch of bling, something unexpected. For this pillow, I knit two little stuffed dolls.  I found a doll pattern that uses smaller scraps of yarn. Have fun making dolls! Check it out here...

I attached snaps to the back of the dolls and to the front of the pillow for easy removal if needed.

I love fringe trims! As a child living in Europe, I was captivated by all the luxurious fringes on the drapes & furniture in Renaissance palaces. In my pillow design, the fringe trims add a touch of luxury and elegance, enhancing the overall aesthetic. It takes a lot of fiber and time to make fringe, but it adds posh to everything it edges. 

Here is the video by Kristan that demonstrates how to create a twisted fringe, which is easy to follow. FRINGE AWAY~

Finishing a designer pillow is like reading an adventure story, a journey of discovery and creativity. Each pillow I create is a unique chapter, a chance to learn something new in embroidery, crochet, knitting, and style. It's a process that never fails to catch attention wherever the pillows are placed, and I hope it inspires you to embark on your own creative journey.

To view more of my past pillow designs, click the link here.

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