Remember When. . . I Knocked It Out of the Park!

The Parks are great neighbors. We get along really well and help each other out when we can. They are also kind enough to share their dogs and grandchildren with me. Their two grandsons come and craft with me when they are not playing baseball. The boys are excellent athletes in both physical talent and humble attitude thanks in part to their father, who is one of their coaches and mother, who is a constant support. Both are pitchers and also hit and throw well. When they play, it is a family affair with grandparents, aunts, uncles and, on occasion, me forming their cheering section.

While perusing Pinterest, I saw a white quilt with red baseball stitching and naturally thought of my favorite sluggers, but I knew they did not need quilts. After touching base with their Mom, I settled in on making them each a study pillow they could use in their "dugout" at home. Then I stepped up to the plate to make them as a "no apparent reason" gift, my personal favorite.

finished pillow in the player's room

Right off the bat, I made inner pillows out of an old sheet so the cover could be removed and washed. I covered my bases by finishing the outside edges with a zig-zag stitch so it would never fray. ​

Appliquéing stitches

I grandstanded by fusing and then appliquéing orange baseball stitches on the front of each pillow. ​

Finished pillow in Gannon the Cannon's bedroom

​The colors blue and orange made it a whole new ball game; the orange represents the Baltimore Orioles, the boys' favorite team, and the blue matched the room pleasing their manager, aka Mom! 

Pinning the lining to the outside piece

Out of left field, I lined each outer piece with baseball polar fleece to provide even more padding.​

Inside the pillow

I was thrown a curveball when the inner pillow was too stuffed to easily slide inside, but it was quickly corrected by removing some stuffing.

Players with their pillows

To make it a home run, I embroidered their baseball nicknames on a strip and buttoned them on the back.

Finally, I made it a grand slam by using the extra baseball fabric to make them each another pillow.

Ok, boys; off to the dugout to relax before your game against China next week. Then . . . Play Ball! Yes I said China!  A team was touring and looking for a local team to play.  They contacted the Lancaster Barnstormers who contacted someone on the boy's team and organized the game.  It was fun to watch as the boy's team was very gracious to this team that had traveled so far and was just learning the game.

Foot Note: I made these pillows because I wanted to "play" with this design and was excited to give them to the boys. Below is another pillow I made years ago after a young friend gave me a piece of her original artwork. It was fun to give it back to her in pillow form. 

There are many study pillows on the market you can buy off the shelf for a fraction of what I would charge to make it. That said, I would happily discuss making custom pillows like this for anyone who might be interested in quality construction and a completely custom end product. Want to step up to the plate for a pillow?  Contact me so we can talk .

Original watercolor painting.

Front of the pillow

Outside arm of the pillow.

Quote on the back of the pillow.

Pillow in her room.