katyelliott.com » pillows

English Botanical Pillows

Katy Elliott — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:59:42 +0000

I’m a huge fan of Abigail Borg’s textiles and was overwhelmed when I opened a newsletter from her this morning. Holy cow beautiful, I adore her English style with a modern twist. The new Laburnum and Yarrow cushion covers are available in a light and dark colorway. The teal Yarrow pillow jumps off my screen; making me dream of my den renovation being complete and decorating with beautiful textiles.

Handknit Cable Pillows: Make or Buy

Katy Elliott — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:15:44 +0000

I love cables and made my first cable knit hat last spring. Since then I’ve been hooked and dreaming of making euro size pillows for my bed. I started with a garter stitch set because I thought it would be a super easy project…I still haven’t managed to finish. Turns out garter stitch is really, really boring and euros are really BIG. So maybe I should start smaller? I could knit a front cable panel and back with wool fabric, slightly easier and faster?

Above my sister’s chair with a beautiful little gray hand knit cable pillow she received for her birthday. A much more doable size, right?

Or I could buy one which is the lame way out but I’ve been finding so many hand made options at reasonable prices. Have you seen these pillows from Ruth Cross? I’ve drooled over her work since 2008. The three pillows below are hand knit lambswool, so tempting. On etsy I found hand knit wool cable covers and patterns available for download.

The nice thing about knitting your own is that you can choose the color and the yarn. I’ve come across much lower priced cable pillows in big box stores but many of them are made of acrylic which I’m not a fan of. If I knit my own I can go crazy with a really beautiful wool yarn in any color I choose.

Since this cable obsession has been a long time in the making I’ve also gathered a few books. If you’re knitting a panel with a fabric backing you really don’t need a pillow pattern but just a guide for cables. Experienced knitters always recommend to me the old Harmony Guides; which can be found at used book stores and the library. Harmony Guides: Cables & Arans is a newer version but I hear complaints it’s just not as good as the oldie but for me it was really useful. I also picked up The Very Easy Guide to Cable Knitting which offers large samples of many different techniques with nice photos. Enjoy!

A close-up of the gray cable pillow by Emily on the chair.

Ruth Cross, hand knitted lambs wool pillow with stag horn button fastening, about $85.

Ruth Cross, hand knitted lambs wool with stag horn button fastening and feather, custom order (2 week lead) and available in a number of colors, about $229.

Ruth Cross, hand knitted lambs wool pillow with stag horn button fastening, about $85.

Hand knit using 100% wool with wool backing, $125, Precious Knits on etsy.

Chain link pillow pattern by Precious Knits, $5, available for download on etsy and raverly or purchase it already made for $69.

Sparrow & Co. Welsh Pillows

Katy Elliott — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:58:20 +0000

Pillows made from vintage Welsh tapestry designed by Samuel Sparrow caught my eye at Terrain. I wish I had a sofa because I would buy up a pair in gray in a heartbeat. Sparrow & Co. based in Glasgow is a recently launched home collection with an “emphasis on unique, handmade products inspired by traditional crafting skills from countries including Morocco, Uzbekistan, Asia, Central America and Scotland”. I can’t wait to see more!

Floral Pillows By Abigail Borg

Katy Elliott — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:42:07 +0000

I’m a big fan of Abigail Borg’s beautiful wallpaper. Now the designs are available as pillows. I would totally buy Mr. Chrysanth (upper left) in a heartbeat. But I’m trying to focus on my gardens and the hole in the side of the house first. So you should buy one or two! They are 20 % off through May 24th. Go to abigailborg.co.uk to purchase.

Ian Mankin: Stripes & Checks

Katy Elliott — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:41:15 +0000

Ian Mankin is one of my favorite resources for beautiful stripe, check, and ticking fabric. Fabric is available by the meter in organic cotton and linen. He recently branched out to offer cushions, tea towels, and draught excluders—key accessories for old homes.

I was reading Romantic Irish Homes by Robert O’Byrne last night when I came across this line, “Strong Farmer’s homes were never known for their decoration and this example has a typically unpretentious simplicity.” Unpretentious simplicity is exactly what I hope my house will someday be. Maybe with a little feminine touch? I need to sneak some girly wallpaper in there somewhere.

Ian Mankin’s textiles are perfect in their simplicity. Nobody does ticking better. Maybe that’s why I come back to his site at least once of week dreaming of sofas, wing chairs, and benches in beautiful stripes. Check out more on ianmankin.co.uk.

Muted Plaid Flannel Pillows

Katy Elliott — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:15:21 +0000

I’ve been eyeing these plaid flannel pillows from Toast all fall. Do you think they will go on sale after Christmas? I love them. They could be really cute with the gray wool blanket I ordered from MacAusland Woolen Mills? Go on sale, please.

Related Posts:
MacAusland Woolen Mills Blankets

Liane from Enhabiten

Katy Elliott — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:29:39 +0000

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Tara sent this great new handmade portrait etsy video she shot of Liane from Enhabiten. I’ve gotten to know Liane via the blogging world but seeing her in her element completely captivated me. Liane who started as a painter makes beautiful pillows using vintage fabrics and natural materials. Her studio in New Hampshire is filled with gorgeous florals and linens she has collected at local flea markets. I know she was feeling a bit shy about having a video of herself out in the world. Root her on and tell her she’s great on her blog. Below just a few of wares for sale at her etsy shop: enhabiten.etsy.com. My favorite are her cross pillows.

Thinking About Plaid Pillows & Blankets For Fall

Katy Elliott — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:43:41 +0000

I know a lot of us don’t want to accept that fall is just around the corner. Fall is my favorite time of the year. Apple cider, apple picking, the smell of burning leaves, and cool crisp nights. Sounds delightful!

I can’t stop thinking about plaid and how I’m seeing the print pop everywhere this fall. Toast has a great new line of plaid pillows. Super cute in different patterns layered on a sofa. Extend the look into the bedroom with Paulette Rollo’s pretty watercolor plaid blankets (below). I spotted Paulette’s work this summer at Smitten in Wiscasset, Maine. Paulette’s blankets are beautiful and super high quality. See more patterns and colors on her website.

Needing more plaid inspiration? Check out my list of plaid blanket resources over here. It will get you excited to drink hot cider and curl up with a book.

Ombre Merino Lambswool Pillows

Katy Elliott — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:29:41 +0000

I’m kinda obsessed with ombre. It combines my love of color with my admiration for stripes. Beautiful merino lambswool pillows and bedding designed in Scotland by Kate infuse a sense of modernism into a traditional material. Check out more over at papastour.com.

More pillow love:
Bright Happy Pillows from Donna Wilson
Melin Tregwynt: Pillows & Throws
Brahms/Mount Textiles: Cotton Blankets

Tulip Crewel Pillow

Katy Elliott — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:37:23 +0000

I’m working on a guest curator post for etsy this morning. I found this super cute tulip crewel pillow. It doesn’t fit into my list so I thought I would share it here. So cute for a bed or chair. Just $40 at TuttieLou’s etsy shop.