Today I’m sharing free instructions for how to sew an eye pillow with a removable, washable cover for meditation, relaxation, and yoga naps.
As our school works to become trauma-informed, we have enjoyed professional development on mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. Our district even sent us to Yoga for Teachers through Challenge to Change with Molly Schreiber.
We learned so much with Molly but a highlight was definitely the yoga naps. Molly provided eye pillows for us which were so relaxing. Our school has started incorporating mindfulness practices and is planning a self-care day for the whole student body. We’d like to have eye pillows to offer students.
There are many options to purchase eye pillows online, like this lavender and satin number, but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity for my middle schoolers to use practical sewing skills.
We are trying to get 60 made (!), but 1/4 yard of muslin and 1 fat-quarter of decorative outer fabric will make four eye pillows.
I recommend using an inexpensive fabric like muslin for the pillows because no one will see it. Splurge on the decorative outer fabric. Both should be 100% cotton for easy care and washing.
Fabric is sold folded in half around cardboard holders called bolts. If a fat quarter is not available, purchase one-half hard of fabric and cut it in half along the fold. It will make a piece about 18″ x 22″.
Cut the muslin into 8 1/2″ squares. Fold the squares in half, right sides together, and sew with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Sew one short end closed as well.
Turn inside out.
Fill with 1 1/2 cups of filler material. Flax seeds and lavender are nice, but rice, popcorn, or dried beans are inexpensive options.
Turn the open end of the pillow in 1/4″ and pin shut. Sew closed with a narrow seam allowance.
Return to the decorative fabric fat quarter.
The fat quarter will have a bound selvage edge that will not unravel. It is shown here with the label of the fabric brand. Hem the opposite edge from the selvage.
To do so, turn the edge up twice 1/4″.
Sew closed with a narrow seam.
Trim the hemmed fat quarter into 4 1/2″ strips. Be sure to measure perpendicular to the hemmed edge. The pieces will be about 21″ x 4 1/2″.
Place a strip wrong side down on a flat surface. Fold the hemmed edge back about 2 inches.
Fold the selvage edge up so that the whole piece measures about 8 inches.
Pin in place and sew the two open edges closed with a 1/4″ seam.
Turn inside out using the envelope opening.
Stuff the envelope with the insert.
Relax!
If you found this post useful, please share it with someone else who might as well. Do you use meditation in your classroom?
1 Comment
Thank you. This is the best set of instructions I found on making the eye pillow with removable insert. I’m going to make quite a few for Christmas gifts. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Jane