Make an Easy-to-Sew Child’s Pillow Book Tote

I have friends and relatives whose children are having babies this summer. I want to gift them something handmade that will be useful for many years to come. The Pillow Book Tote, which I’ve made before, seems like just such a gift. I’ll use fabrics appropriate for a boy or a girl as some of the young parents are waiting to reveal the gender. Having been an elementary school teacher, I gift a book for a baby that is fun for the parents to read to the little one.

This pillow book tote uses 2 different 1/2 yard cuts of fabric and a 14″ square pillow (I got mine from JoAnn Fabrics) and is quite easy and quick to cut and sew.

Below, I am including the tutorial for you, but I have a free PDF instruction sheet detailing how to make one that is available at MY PAYHIP SHOP.

 

INSTRUCTIONS for Child’s Pillow Book Tote

Supplies

• cutting mat,
• rotary cutter,
• pins,
• sewing machine,
• 1/2 yard main print
• 1/2 yard coordinating fabric for pocket
• 14” pillow form
• Thread

Steps

• From main print, cut one 14-1/2” x 14-1/2” square and two rectangles 10” x 14-1/2”
• From coordinating fabric, cut one 14-1/2” x 14-1/2” square and one 6” x 14-1/2” rectangle

   

• Fold and press the 6” x 14-1/2” rectangle in half, open it, fold the edges to the middle, press in half to form a strip that is about 1-1/2” x 14-1/2” then stitch along both folded edges.
• Fold the coordinating 14-1/2″ x 14-1/2″ fabric in half with the wrong sides together. Press and topstitch 1/4″ from the fold.
• Hem the two 10” x 14-1/2” rectangles along one 14-1/2” edge of each piece by folding the edge 1/4″ and again 1/4″ for the hem, pressing and pinning. (If using directional fabrics, hem the top edge of one piece and the bottom edge of the other.) 

Sew the Pillow Tote

• Place the main 14-1/2” x 14-1/2” piece, right side up on the table.
• Find the top center of this piece. Mark 3-1/2″ to the left and to the right of the center.
• Pin the 1-1/2” x 14-1/2” handle in place on the top of the main print, with the outer edge of each handle touching that 3-1/2” mark from the center.

• Align the pocket with the bottom of the main print, matching raw edges.

• Place the 14-1/2″ raw edge of one hemmed rectangle along the top edge, over the handles, aligning all raw edges. Re-pin the handle so the pins are now on the outside.

• Place the raw edge of the lower hemmed rectangle along the bottom edge, aligning raw edges. The two folded 10″ x 14-1/2″ pieces will overlap about 3″. Pin around all four edges.

• Stitch around all edges with a 1/2” seam allowance. Reinforce the handle edges by re-stitching that portion of the seam allowance.

• Clip the corners.

 

• Turn right side out through the back opening, push corners out. Insert pillow form.
• I have an easy way to turn the corners of pillows out and very seldom do I have to use something to poke them out!
• CLICK HERE for a short instruction.

As the child gets older, the pillow book tote can go to the sitter’s, grandma’s, on a trip, to bed. These would be great donations to a children’s charity with a book in the pocket. Let me know if you make one or more and how you gifted it.