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Home Spa: Soothing Eye Pillow Sewing Tutorial

Filed Under: Home Crafts

I’ve recently become obsessed with sewing. I suspect it has something to do with the knowledge that I will be making Halloween costumes for the next 12 years. So, it’s only natural to see what I can make in the bath and body arena. Eye pillows are an easy project for even me, a very beginner sewer. After a long marathon-soaping weekend, treat your happy (but exhausted) self to this soothing eye pillow from our #HomeSpa collection. The natural scent of the lavender buds helps to calm the senses, and a few seconds in the microwave will give the pillow a comforting warmth perfect for soothing tired eyes. It’s the perfect finish after tub time with the scrubby Shea Salt Bars and before finishing your relaxation routine with the Gentle Gel Serum.

What you’ll need:

Fabric (100% cotton quilting weight)

One piece 3X5″ (red)

One piece 2X5″ (green)

One piece 5X5″ (tan)

One piece 8X5″ (a different green)

One piece of applique lace,  at least 5.5″ long

One piece of sew-in lace, at least 5.5″ long

Tools

Scissors or Rotary Cutter

Sewing Machine (needles, coordinating thread)

Measuring Cup

Funnel

Cutting Fabrics

Miscellaneous

1/2 cup Lavender Grade 1

1/2 cup Uncooked Rice

(optional) 5 drops Hungarian Lavender

ONE: Applique the lace to the center of the red fabric by placing the wrong side of the lace on the right side of the fabric length-wise and top-stitching. The lace should be parallel to the 5″ edge of the fabric.

TWO: Stitch the green fabric to the red along the 5″ side using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

THREE: Stitch the tan fabric to the green along the 5″ side using a 1/2″ seam allowance with the in-seam lace sandwiched between the layers of fabric. Trim any excess lace.

FOUR: Press the seam allowances of the pieced top away from the in-seam lace so that the lace lies flat against the tan fabric.

FIVE: With the right sides together, stitch the pieced top to the 8X5″ green fabric all around using a 1/2″ seam allowance. Leave an opening about 1-1.5″ long and back-tack at the beginning and end of the stitch. Trim the corners of the fabric, making sure not to clip through the seam. Press the seam allowances to the center of the pillow on both sides.

SIX: Turn the pillow right-side-out through the hole left in the seam. Use a chopstick or skewer to turn out the corners sharply.

SEVEN: Press the pillow one last time after it’s turned right-side out.

EIGHT: In a separate container, mix the rice, Lavender Grade 1 and optional Hungarian Lavender Essential oil.

NINE: Place a funnel into the hole that was left in the pillow and pour the lavender/rice/essential oil mix in. Make sure that the funnel’s spout is big enough for the rice and lavender herb to get through!

TEN: Finish the pillow by edge-stitching the hole closed, back-tacking at the beginning and end of the stitch.

That’s it! You’re done. You can use this for a hot or a cold eye pillow. Put in freezer to cool tired eyes or put in the microwave for 15 seconds and make adorable hand pocket warmers for winter.

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8 Comments

  1. Hi. This is and awesome tutorial, I can’t wait to try it! I just have one question, though. Would this work as well with dried rose petals?

  3. I’m always trying to think up clever, easy, FAST projects to add to the things we take to markets and BAM! Soap Queen strikes again with something I can do! LOVE this project! Gonna make up a few dozen of these for the next market weekend! Thank you Soap Queen for always having a bit of inspiration when I am all out lol 🙂

  4. I make herbal pillows all the time for my family, friends and customers. They are wonderful, and with the right set of ingredients can really help soothe a variety of discomforts. A couple of tips:

    Rice can burn after being heated a bunch of time and even attract bugs after awhile (YIKES!). It also doesn’t hold heat or cold for too long. Instead, use whole flax seed (you can get it at many retail markets and online). Flax seed has an oily surface that holds the cold and heat much longer. It’s also softer, and doesn’t burn in the microwave (I suppose it can if you leave it in too long!). Also, it doesn’t attract bugs like rice.

    Lavender is great for relaxing but you can also add some essential oils for different uses:

    Lavender and chamomile relaxes and is great for bed time since it can help to induce sleep.

    Lavender and rosemary also relaxes and soothes and clears your mind, helping you focus on tasks (like studying).

    Lavender and Rose is a lovely, feminine, traditional scent.

    Lavender, peppermint, cinnamon, clary sage, rosemary and tea tree is a great combination that I use for everything from strained necks, to back pains to menstrual cramps and even arthritis. I’ve even had customers purchase them for their pets that suffer from arthritis too. Remember these scents are strong so not too much! A drop or two of each should do it.

    Hope this helps!

    Elaine