As a family, we travel a lot! My husband travels for work, and my daughter and I travel back and forth to Illinois a lot to be home. We also travel as a family and especially now that we are in Europe, the traveling is getting to be much more of a routine thing for us.
Every time my husband travels for work, he has to be on a plane for at least 6 hours, sometimes 14….not fun! He has been talking about making this for what feels like forever, and now that I know how to sew, he’s been hounding me to make it. I made this first one as a child sized one to see how it worked out and then I will make him his “big boy” one this week.
The pillows we currently have are like most people have; those U-shaped pillows that you are supposed to wear around your neck to get some “sleep” on a long plane ride. I don’t know about you, but I can’t sleep in that position so I always end up trying to fold it up and mash it against something to get it more comfortable. Usually, if I’m lucky, I’ll get a window seat and stick up against the window and if that’s not an option, then my husbands shoulder will suffice. Many times though, I have just put it on the lap table that folds down and tried to get some rest……but sleeping at a 90 degree angle just isn’t that comfortable. Which is when my husband came up with this idea:) He thinks he’s sooooo smart. In this case though, he may be on to something.
Here are the materials you will need:
Soft, cozy fabric cut into the following sizes:
2 strips – 10″ X 3″
4 strips – 14″ X 3″
2 pieces – 10″ X 8″
2 buttons
coordinating thread
Fabric marker
Filling for the pillow ( I used Poly-Fil)
Top strap
The first thing you will do is take the two pieces that are 10″ X 3″ and put them together with right sides facing each other and sew them together using a 1/4″ seam leaving one of the short sides open. This way you can turn it inside out. Clip the sewn corners at an angle so that they will lay flat when you turn them inside out.
Turn inside out and press.
Side straps
Repeat this process with the 4 remaining strips that are 14″ X 3″, ending up with two more straps for the sides of the pillow.
Attaching the straps
Next, pin the top strap (the smaller one) to the 10″ side of the piece for the pillow, attaching it to the right side of the fabric centering it along the top. You will want to fold up the ends and pin them so that they do not get in the way while you are sewing.
For the side straps, repeat the same process, centering them halfway down the 8″ side of the piece.
Again, you are going to want to pin the ends of the straps in the middle so that they do not get in the way while sewing.
Lay the other 10″ X 8″ piece on top of the other piece, right sides together, and pin it in place. I took the pins out from where the straps were and repositioned them so that I was not sewing over pins. At the bottom, mark a 3″-4″ space where you will start and stop your sewing, so that you can turn the pillow inside out. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end, to ensure it is secure. *I accidentally drew my first line too close, so you can see there are three marks on the bottom. The only two that matter were the two outer ones*
Clip the corners of the pillow, turn inside out, and press. **Be careful when turning inside out as you will have pins inside in the middle where you pinned the ends out of the way.**
Next, take it and place it on the backpack you will be using. Pull the top strap through and figure out where you will put your button and buttonholes. Mark them using a fabric marker.
Do the same thing for the side straps. **I used two button holes on each so that it was adjustable depending on how full the backpack was.**
Attaching the button
My new machine has a stitch to sew on buttons, but if yours does not, hand sewing it is just fine. Just be sure it is nice and secure.
Buttonholes
Using your sewing machine’s buttonhole stitch, sew your buttonholes where you drew your marks.
Filling the pillow
Using the filling of your choice, stuff your pillow to the desired fullness. Be sure to push it in the corners so that it is consistent throughout.
Pin the opening at the bottom closed by folding the ends under and together to create a nice seam. Top stitch that closed and you are done!!
You now have a cute, comfy, little pillow to use on all of your travels. Prop your backpack on the lap tray and take a nap on the next plane ride you take:)
I am positive it will be much easier to use than a rounded neck pillow on the plane. I can’t wait to try it out!!
Please let me know if you have any questions and I’d love to hear what you think of it so feel free to leave me some comments!! Thanks!
