Monster Pillow
![Completed pillow.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F2Y/STZC/KMQBEDHF/F2YSTZCKMQBEDHF.jpg&filename=Completed pillow.jpg)
This is a really fun addition to your child’s bedroom. The zipper opening is an easy way for kids to store their pajamas or any other item they want to keep safe. Use your imagination for designing your own little monster. You can add ears, a tail, omit the arms and legs or just follow these directions. There are a lot of photos included and I hope they will make this easier to understand.
Gather Your Supplies
![Materials needed.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F27/QG7A/KMQBDUVB/F27QG7AKMQBDUVB.jpg&filename=Materials needed.jpg)
You will need:
½ yard of fabric for monster’s body and limbs.
Fat quarter for mouth and pillow lining or piece of fabric 13” x 16" .
Fabric scraps for soles of feet.
9” x 12” piece of white felt for teeth and eyes.
Black felt or fleece for eye irises.
12” zipper for mouth opening.
Iron adhesive like Heat ‘n’ Bond for eye appliques - you can also use school glue.
The usual sewing implements - sewing machine, pins, scissors and/or rotary cutter, etc.
Cut Out the Pieces
![Cut pattern pieces 2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FIY/GJH1/KMQBDUPL/FIYGJH1KMQBDUPL.jpg&filename=Cut pattern pieces 2.jpg)
![Eyes and teeth.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FE9/AP50/KMQBDUQ0/FE9AP50KMQBDUQ0.jpg&filename=Eyes and teeth.jpg)
![Assembled pieces-front 2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBH/91O1/KMQBDUQ1/FBH91O1KMQBDUQ1.jpg&filename=Assembled pieces-front 2.jpg)
Face - 5 ¼” x 13” (cut 1)
Belly - 7” x 13” (cut 1)
Arms - 6 ½” x 3 ½” (cut 4)
Legs - 16” x 6 ½” (cut 2)
Back - 13” x 13” (cut 1)
Lining- 13” x 13” (cut 1)
Sole of foot - 5 ½” x 3 ½” (cut 2)
Mouth opening cut from lining fabric- 1 ½” x 13” (cut 2)
Teeth, from white felt - 1 ½” x 11 ½” (cut 2) on the fold.*
Eyes- Ovals cut 2 from white felt, Irises cut 2 from black felt or fleece.*
*Note: Remember the mountain ranges you used to draw as a kid and free-hand draw the teeth, or use a ruler to draw them. I used an empty thread spool to trace the irises and drew an oval for the eyes.
Attach the Zipper
![Zipper assembly.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FMG/WDE4/KMQBDUQO/FMGWDE4KMQBDUQO.jpg&filename=Zipper assembly.jpg)
![Zipper assembly 2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FCW/3PUJ/KMQBDUQP/FCW3PUJKMQBDUQP.jpg&filename=Zipper assembly 2.jpg)
![Finished zipper assembly.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FLA/7284/KMQBDURC/FLA7284KMQBDURC.jpg&filename=Finished zipper assembly.jpg)
With the right sides facing, stitch the edge of the zipper to the edge of the fabric. Repeat for the other edge of the zipper.
When you fold the fabric away from the zipper, there should be no visible seams.
Assemble the Front of the Pillow
![Add teeth to mouth opening.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F7O/2RM3/KMQBDURE/F7O2RM3KMQBDURE.jpg&filename=Add teeth to mouth opening.jpg)
![Attach face to mouth.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FR9/JJ1V/KMQBDURF/FR9JJ1VKMQBDURF.jpg&filename=Attach face to mouth.jpg)
![Attach belly to mouth.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FD0/ASMC/KMQBE0I3/FD0ASMCKMQBE0I3.jpg&filename=Attach belly to mouth.jpg)
![Attach eyes to face.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FIH/UYAO/KMQBDURL/FIHUYAOKMQBDURL.jpg&filename=Attach eyes to face.jpg)
![Appliques in place.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1G/TA06/KMQBEOP1/F1GTA06KMQBEOP1.jpg&filename=Appliques in place.jpg)
![Finished placement, ready to zigzag in place.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1I/0IP8/KMQBDURM/F1I0IP8KMQBDURM.jpg&filename=Finished placement, ready to zigzag in place.jpg)
Position the top and bottom teeth on the edge of the zippered mouth piece, right side up. Lay the face piece right side down and line up the top edge. Pin in place and stitch. Use a ¼” seam. Do the same with the body piece.
Attach the eyes. When you are happy with your placement secure the eyes onto the face of your pillow. I used a ruler to measure an equal distance from the center of the face.
I have Heat ‘n’ Bond leftover from other projects, so I use that. You can also use school glue or any other stitchable bonding product. Or if you are feeling particularly brave, just pin them in place. It’s the applique that will hold them in place.
Applique in place.
Attach the Lining to the Pillow Front
![Lining and face.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FCW/GUQ0/KMQBE6JR/FCWGUQ0KMQBE6JR.jpg&filename=Lining and face.jpg)
![Attach lining to front of monster.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FOX/NC0L/KMQBE6H7/FOXNC0LKMQBE6H7.jpg&filename=Attach lining to front of monster.jpg)
Sew the inner lining to the front of the pillow on all four sides. Make sure you sew both pieces right side up. You won’t be separating these pieces. Use a ½” seam.
I used two different pieces of fabric for the lining and the mouth opening. I liked the floral for the inside and the solid blue for the mouth.
Create the Arms
![Right sides together, arms.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FHE/VKNV/KMQBDYYD/FHEVKNVKMQBDYYD.jpg&filename=Right sides together, arms.jpg)
![Stuffed and closed arms.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F8I/4I37/KMQBDV32/F8I4I37KMQBDV32.jpg&filename=Stuffed and closed arms.jpg)
Sew the arm pieces right sides together, leaving one short side open for stuffing. Use a ¼” seam.
Turn the arm pieces right side out and stuff with poly-fil stuffing.
Stitch the open end closed.
Front and Back Attachment
![Back piece joined to top (2).jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBY/AUW9/KMQBEBWO/FBYAUW9KMQBEBWO.jpg&filename=Back piece joined to top (2).jpg)
With right sides together, sew the top edge of the back to the front using a ½” seam.
Do this first to help add accuracy when you attach to arms to the body.
Create the Legs and Attach Them to the Front of the Pillow
![Sew short side of legs.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FML/FS0R/KMQBDUZ4/FMLFS0RKMQBDUZ4.jpg&filename=Sew short side of legs.jpg)
![Attach sole to leg.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYC/8YF8/KMQBDV42/FYC8YF8KMQBDV42.jpg&filename=Attach sole to leg.jpg)
![Stuff and close leg.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYW/IZD4/KMQBDUZ5/FYWIZD4KMQBDUZ5.jpg&filename=Stuff and close leg.jpg)
![Folded leg.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FER/4SKH/KMQBE6H9/FER4SKHKMQBE6H9.jpg&filename=Folded leg.jpg)
![Sew leg opening.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FPQ/V8U1/KMQBDUZ7/FPQV8U1KMQBDUZ7.jpg&filename=Sew leg opening.jpg)
![Pin legs to body front.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FSD/2LP0/KMQBDUZ6/FSD2LP0KMQBDUZ6.jpg&filename=Pin legs to body front.jpg)
With right sides together, stitch the side seam of the leg together. Leave the right sides together and attach the sole of the foot piece to one of the open sides of the leg piece. Use a lot of pins and be patient. It’s difficult to get these pieces to join without some puckering, I usually give up trying and add a few discrete tucks in the legs.
Stuff the legs with poly-fil, close the top opening and stitch. The closure is folded together like a paper bag that approximates the width of the foot. This way, the legs will provide a sturdy base for your pillow.
Position the stitched end of the legs to the front pillow piece, right side up. When you are happy with the placement, stitch them in place. Use a ½” seam.
Attach the Arms
![Attach arms (2).jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5R/1A36/KMQBDUZ3/F5R1A36KMQBDUZ3.jpg&filename=Attach arms (2).jpg)
![Attach back to front.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5S/OPKT/KMQBDUVE/F5SOPKTKMQBDUVE.jpg&filename=Attach back to front.jpg)
![Bottom seam.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FLK/DJAI/KMQBE2WW/FLKDJAIKMQBE2WW.jpg&filename=Bottom seam.jpg)
Pin the arms to the pillow just below the mouth.
Lay the back piece on top of the front piece, right sides together.
Pin in place and stitch one side together at a time. Use a ½” seam,
Stitch the bottom end to the edge of each leg. This will create a much easier way to close the bottom opening in the next step.
Stuff Your Pillow
![Stuff.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FHZ/S49M/KMQBDUZB/FHZS49MKMQBDUZB.jpg&filename=Stuff.jpg)
![Stitch closed.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FMK/WAW7/KMQBE6KB/FMKWAW7KMQBE6KB.jpg&filename=Stitch closed.jpg)
You will now have 3 connected layers of your pillow. Place poly-fil in between the lining and the back piece. When you are happy with the amount of stuffing, stitch the bottom edge together. You should have a natural crease from the 1/2" stitching you have done when attaching the legs and the front and back. All the stuffing makes it difficult to pin the pieces together and since you are looking forward to the finished product, this should be as easy as possible.
Finished
![Completed pillow.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FPO/SOIY/KMQBDUPK/FPOSOIYKMQBDUPK.jpg&filename=Completed pillow.jpg)
That's it, you're done.
Open up the mouth of your pillow and put something fun inside as a special surprise for a child.