Pillow Hugs
"giving comfort to children who are hurting...one pillow at a time"
The Pillow Hugs Ministry was conceived by a Companions in Christ Bible Study group at Shepherd of the Hills. The five women in the group put their sewing machines to work making pillowcases for travel sized pillows to help comfort children in local shelters. Other women from the church and local quilting groups helped sew pillowcases.
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Since their first delivery of Pillow Hugs to the Women in Crisis Domestic Violence Shelter in Feb 2008, over 14,500 comfort pillows have been delivered to children who are hurting.
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Pillow Hugs comfort pillows are now given to children in 14 shelters and agencies with programs that deal with child protection. The kid-prints are bright and fun when the children need a little sunshine in their lives. When they leave the shelter the kids take their pillow with them.
Here's How You Can Help
1
Yards and Yards of Fabric!
Check your fabric stash. We are looking for kid friendly prints (100% cotton or flannel). Pieces of fabric should measure at least 30" x 18" for the main part of the pillowcase or 30" x 10" for the band. Or you can buy a yard or two. Choose fabric with patterns and themes that interest kids. Sports, animals, cartoons, cars, bugs, toys, etc. are all good choices.
2
Sew, Sew Sew!
If you enjoy sewing we need your help! This simple, quick, fun project (1/2 hour per pillowcase) will put a little sunshine in the lives of these kids. Directions for sewing are below.
3
Donate!
You donation will help buy fabric and pillows. Make checks payable to Shepherd of the Hills Pillow Hugs. We also accept gift cards from Joann's and Hobby Lobby.
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*Pillow Hugs is a ministry endorsed but not funded by the church.
Buy a Pillow Hug
Select a theme. Email Jo Ann at joann.pillowhugs@gmail.com
She will email pictures of what she has.
You can pick up by appointment at the church
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Themes
Sports
Soccer
Basketball
Football
Baseball
Rockies
Broncos
Avalanche
Nuggets
Green Bay Packers
Characters
Disney Princesses
Frozen
Star Wars
Charlie Brown
Toy Story
Peppa Pig
Harry Potter
Paw Patrol
Daniel Tiger
Emojis
LOL Girls
Super Heroes
Animals
Butterflies
Cats
Dogs
Horses
Giraffes
Unicorns
Lady Bugs
Wolves
Interests
Dinosaurs
Stars
Guitars
Cars
Trucks
Video Games
Flowers
Hearts
Science
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Sew a Pillow Hug
How to Sew Pillow Hugs Pillowcases
How to Cut Fabric:
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Cut main piece 29 ½ x 18” (30” tends to make a pillowcase that is too large.)
Cut band piece 29 ½ x 10”
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How to Sew:
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Lay band piece on table with right side up.
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Roll main piece into a long roll with one long side free.
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Align free edge with one long edge of band piece.
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Fold the other long edge of the band piece to meet the other two edges.
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Pin all three edges together.
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Sew all three edges together with a 3/8” seam. This encases the main part of the
pillowcase in a long tube.
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Now, pull the main piece out of the tube. You now have one piece that measures
approximately 29 ½ x 22”.
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Iron
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Align the edges with wrong sides together. Pin. Now sew a ¼” L seam on the 2 free
edges.
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Trim all the loose threads with scissors.
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If you like, clip corners a little bit.
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Turn right sides in and iron the seam. (This creates a nice crisp edge so that it will
be easier to enclose the raw edges.)
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Sew a 3/8” L seam along the two seamed edges making a French Seam which
encases the edges.
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The 3/8” seam may seem to be too deep. Don’t worry. We cut the pieces big
enough to allow for this seam.
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Turn and press. That’s it. You’re done and no exposed seams!
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Address
Lakewood, CO 80215