Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Faux Leather Metallic Gold Chevron Pillow DIY

 I entered this post in the Pinterest Challenge via Young House Love. You can go to their site and view the projects they've completed  here. As well as a few others participating, here for Katie from Bower Power, here for Megan via the Remodeled Life, and here for Michelle at Decor and the Dog!

I'm not big on the chevron trend. I think I've seen it one too many times. However, sometimes it's just about mixing a tired trend up a little so that you can love it again. Which brings me to metallic chevron, I actually really like it!



Charm City Cakes
Caitlin Wilson Designs

Coach Madison Leather Chevron Audrey Bag from a couple years back.


Chevron is still big in the fashion world, and it's well known that what's in in fashion usually translates over to interior design.

When I saw the metallic gold chevron pillow from Caitlin Wilson Designs, I thought it was gorgeous. The price tag was more than I was going to pay for a pillow, so I diy'ed my own. It's not identical, truth be told, I like hers better, but this is not a bad alternative.

You'll need:

1. Faux leather (you won't get the metallic sheen with your paint pen if you use normal fabric)
2. sewing machine
3. Krylon gold leafing pen
4. Pencil
5. A good eraser
6. Straight edge with measurements 

First thing first, cut out your fabric and very lightly with your pencil, draw this grid onto the right side of your leather: 
Though not shown here, my pillow is 18"x 18". So, I drew 6 rows and columns of 3inch squares. It ended up being larger than I really wanted.


 Now just draw a line from one corner to the next in each square, like in the image below:
There are several of these chevron tutorials using grids. I'm not sure who is the originator, but I made this one so I'm using it.

Then fill in each half square with your Krylon gold leafing pen. Some areas will be streaky. Just let it dry and pass over it again.
If you make a mistake, simply take a little rubbing alcohol and q-tip, add a little pressure and blot up with something dry. It comes right off! This works with pencil marks, too. Hopefully you made your grid light enough that it only needs a little eraser.
Now you're your very own textile designer. Give yourself a pat on the back. : D

Now it's time to make the pillow.

To sew a very easy envelope style pillow that is frequently dubbed the 10 minute pillow, you can follow one of these 3 tutorials:

aprettycoollife
littlegreennotebook
raegunwear

This was my first envelope pillow and it is so very easy!

And voile! You have your own metallic chevron pillow on the cheap!
I really wish I made the print thinner, it ended up too big for my taste.


That's just one of many designs I have in my mind to put on these pillows. Here is one of the next:


Linking up here.

I'm entering this in the Pinterest Challenge via Young House Love!




63 comments:

  1. Brilliant tutorial! I don't think you understand how spacially challenged I am but even I was able to follow your diagrams.

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  2. looks so awesome. i love cw's design in gold, this is a fabulous diy option!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and the comment.:) I am a fan of several of her gold designed pillows this year.

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  3. I love the thickness of those stripes. :) Yes, I've seen chevron one too many times too, but I love that pillow.

    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. You are so sweet, Meredith. Thank you, as always.:)
      Hugs back.

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  4. Gorgeous!! LOVE the gold!!

    Jenna @ rainonatinroof.com

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    1. Thank you, Jenna! It seems the metallic sheen makes all the difference!

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  5. This is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing. And the grid is fantastic. I've tried drawing chevron before and totally failed. This will help a lot!

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    1. That is so kind! Thank you, Heather! I'm not the originator of the grid for Chevron. There are several tutorials in blog land. I'm not really sure who is, or I would have given them credit. I did make that specific one, however.:)

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  6. This is so cute! I've actually never seem a chevron tutorial that used a grid..genius! Thanks for sharing! Found you through Someday Crafts Link-Up. Newest follower! :)

    -April Hoff
    housebyhoff.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you, April for the kind comment and the follow! I can't take credit for the grid. I'm not sure who originally came up with the idea or credit would have been given. I did make the one in my tutorial, though.

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  7. Who doesnt love gold... or chevrons! Awesome!

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    1. :) Thanks, Thearica! They are a beautiful combo.

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    1. Great tutorial and the gold just makes it so fresh! Found your link at Primp and I'm now following your blog. :)

      Angela

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    2. Hi, Angela. Thanks for stopping by and for the nice comment, and follow! :) I agree, the gold does make it so fresh!

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  9. Your pillow looks great. I'm so in love with chevron I painted a whole wall but now I might need to make a pillow too to complete the room :)

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  10. Love it! I live in the north of the UK and I always struggle to find fabrics with nice modern patterns. This is a great idea for creating one myself! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  11. Thank you, Gaby, for the kind comment. I have more coming up!

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  12. I'm loving everything metallic lately and never even THOUGHT of using a pen to color the fabric. Brilliant!

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    1. I'm loving metallic as well! Using the pen on the faux leather surface is the secret to it looking metallic. I tried it on regular fabric and it just looked like regular streaky paint at that point. Thank you so much for the comments, Sarah!:)

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  13. I am obsessed with chevrons right now and this seems very doable!!! I would love it if you would come share it at my Funday Sunday link party that opens this Saturday at www.the-crafty-cowgirl.com. Hope to see you there!

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    1. I'm glad you like it. Thanks for the invite and stopping by, Lauren!:)

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  14. I love this! I feel like I need to make one of these RIGHT NOW. I've never sewed faux leather though.

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    1. LOL, I don't think it's really hard at all sewing the faux leather. I mean it is thicker, but it wasn't really a problem getting it through the sewing machine. Thank you for stopping by, Adrienne. :D

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  15. I still love chevron. I am loving metallics lately too. Maybe I will try a metallic chevron pillow in our living room. I am hosting a new link party. I'd love it if you linked up. http://www.ifitsnotbaroquedesignblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/tuesday-link-party-2.html

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Lauren. I posted your linky party to my linky party page!

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  16. It turned out great! It adds a splash o' class & spunk to any space :)

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  17. I'm kind of over chevron, too, but not now that I am looking at your pretty pillow! :) Love the metallic gold!!

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    1. Well it metallic Chevron wasn't my idea. I clearly had inspiration, but thank you for the kind comment! It's easy to like something again if it gets changed up in a new way!

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  18. I'm really enjoying the design and layout of your website. It's a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more
    pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
    Superb work!
    Review my blog : forex demo

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  19. So beautiful chevrons and looove the gold, such luxury! Thank you for the tutorial and have a great sunday :-)

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    1. Wow, I'm so glad you like it! Thank you for stopping by. :)

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  20. That is such a fun pillow! Thanx for showing us how. Nice to see you at THT!

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  21. Thanks for sharing with us at Someday Crafts! I will be featuring your project tomorrow on the blog. Be sure to stop back and get a featured at Someday Crafts button!

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  22. This looks great! The gold gives such a nice finish! I really must make some thing with chevrons on now!

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    1. Thanks, Rebecca! I agree, the metallic gold really makes all the difference with this pattern. :)

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  23. This came out awesome! Visiting from Homework's Inspiration Board!
    Jenn
    With Luck

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    1. Wow, I really appreciate the compliment and taking time to stop by and say so!:)

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  24. Thank you for linking up at Craft, Create & Inspire linky party last weekend !

    Your project is featured this week !

    Hope you will join us again ??

    Claire @ Polkadot pretties x

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    1. Claire
      I am so sorry! I really thought I replied already to your post, and then looked in my comments section and didn't see a reply! Thank you for kindly featuring my pillow! That is so awesome! And yes, I will come again.:)

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  25. This is insanely awesome!! I love your designer knockoff pillow - so glam!! I love bling too so this is right up my alley - great tute too!! Thanks so much for linking up to It's Party Time! I would really appreciate it if you added my party url to your post : http://www.settingforfour.com/2013/01/its-party-time-1-20-2013-linky-party.html
    Thanks so much! :D

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    1. Ugh! I thought I replied to your comment already, Heather! I'm so sorry! Thank you for the super sweet comment! Comments like yours really make my day.:) I'd be happy to post your Linky Party to my page!

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  26. Replies
    1. Thank you, Brenda! I loved visiting your blog and seeing your uber cute disney video!

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  27. How BEAUTIFUL!!!! Love love love the gold on white, looks so chic! Beautifully done!

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    1. Thank you! That is such an amazing compliment. You truly made my day. :)

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  28. Love your pillow! I'm totally on a gold kick right now! Would love for you to share at the party tonight! xo bridgett

    http://www.osiemoats.com/2012/07/thursday-linky-party-1.html

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    1. Thank you for the compliment and the invite, Bridgett!

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  29. Love!! This pillow!

    Stopping by from Tip Junkie!
    Nonny

    www.notionsfromnomny.blogspot.com

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  30. Love this! I'm making new pillow covers as one of my next DIY projects, so I'll have to keep this in mind. I host a DIY link party every Monday and would love for you to join! http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-diyers-link-party.html

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  31. What a wonderful website! I love LOVE this tutorial, and I'll be using it to make a pillow for my dorm room! Thanks so much :)

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