Sweetly Wrapped: How to Make a Giant Candy Pillow

A playful giant candy pillow inspired by my experience sewing with Shannon Fabrics Quilting Cuddle.

When I started sewing with Shannon Fabrics Quilting Cuddle, my original plan was to make an entire version of my Yum Yum Candy Quilt Pattern.

As I shared in my previous blog post, Sewing with Shannon Fabrics Quilting Cuddle: What I Learned, that plan changed once I spent time cutting and sewing with the fabric. Rather than forcing Quilting Cuddle into a project that wasn't playing to its strengths, I decided to rethink my approach.

I still wanted to create something playful that celebrated just how soft this fabric is.

As I started sketching ideas, one question kept popping into my head...

What if I turned one of the colorful candies from my Yum Yum Candy quilt into an oversized pillow?

That little idea quickly snowballed into Sweetly Wrapped, a giant candy pillow that's just as fun to hug as it is to display.

Before We Get Started

Before diving into the tutorial, there are a couple of things worth mentioning.

This tutorial walks you through exactly how I made Sweetly Wrapped, including the measurements, materials, and construction methods I used for my pillow. While there are certainly other ways you could build a giant candy pillow, these are the techniques that worked well for me and gave me the look I was after.

If you haven't already, I also recommend reading my previous blog, Sewing with Shannon Fabrics Quilting Cuddle: What I Learned, where I share more detailed tips about cutting, sewing, and working with Quilting Cuddle. Many of those tips will help make this project even more enjoyable.

Now... let's make some candy!

Finished Size

Approximately:

• 9" diameter
• 24" long, including the wrapper ends

Materials

You'll Need:

• Shannon Fabrics Quilting Cuddle solids - 1/8 yard each
  • Blue Bonnet
  • Jewel
  • Fuchsia
  • Orange
  • Sunshine
  • Leaf
  • Teal
• Shannon Fabrics Quilting Cuddle Lots of Dots Pastel - 3/8 yard
• Soft & Stable® by Annie (or Pellon® Flex-Foam™), large enough to cut (2) 4½" × 22" pieces
• Poly-Fil (or similar polyester fiberfill)
• Polyester thread (I used Mettler 50 wt.)
• Universal needle
• Walking foot (recommended)
• Rotary cutter with a fresh blade
• Quilting ruler
• Wonder Clips® (or similar sewing clips)
• Hand sewing needle

Designer Note:
Since Quilting Cuddle is a polyester fabric, I chose polyester thread throughout the project.

Deciding on the Size

Before I cut a single piece of fabric, I spent a little time deciding what size would make the pillow feel like a giant wrapped piece of candy.

I settled on a finished pillow approximately 9" in diameter with an overall length of about 24", including the wrapper ends. It felt large enough to make a statement without being oversized on a sofa or chair.

Cutting the Fabric

Cut:

• (1) 3" × 23" strip from each Quilting Cuddle solid:
  • Blue Bonnet
  • Jewel
  • Fuchsia
  • Orange
  • Sunshine
  • Leaf
  • Teal
• (2) 12" × 23" Quilting Cuddle Lots of Dots Pastel
• (2) 4½" × 22" Soft & Stable

Designer Note:
Before sewing, double-check that the pile is running in the same direction for every piece. I found everything behaved much more consistently when I paid attention to this.

Sewing the Candy

Arrange the fabrics in your desired order, placing a wrapper piece at each end.

Sew the pieces together using a 1/2" seam allowance.

Finger press the seams open.

Optional: After pieces are sewn together, sew an 1/8" on either side of the seams to secure down the seam allowance and ease stress on seams once stuffed.

Designer Note:
Skip the iron. The heat can affect the pile on the Quilting Cuddle, so finger pressing works much better.

Preparing the Wrapper Ends

Lay the pillow wrong side up.

Center a piece of Soft & Stable on each wrapper section, leaving approximately 1/2" along both side edges.

Clip the Soft & Stable in place.

Fold the wrapper ends over so the right side is facing up and clip along the folded edge.

Topstitch approximately 1/4" from the raw edge and again 1/4" from the folded edge to help keep everything from shifting.

Sewing the Pillow

Fold the pillow in half lengthwise with right sides together.

Clip the long edge.

Using a 1/2" seam allowance, sew the long edge closed, leaving an opening in the center large enough for stuffing.

Turn the pillow right side out.

Designer Note:
Be sure to backstitch at both ends of the stuffing opening. This helps reinforce the seam and prevents it from opening farther while turning and stuffing the pillow.

Forming the Wrapper Ends

Flatten one wrapper end so the seam runs down the center.

Sew inward approximately 1/8" from the outer edge, pivot, and sew back out approximately 1/8" from the opposite side of the center seam.

Repeat for the opposite wrapper end.

Gathering the Wrapper Ends

Beginning at the center seam, create gathers approximately 1 inch apart, securing each gather with a Wonder Clip. Continue around the entire wrapper until all of the gathers have been secured with Wonder Clips. This will help create the gathered, twisted look of a candy wrapper end.

Repeat for the second wrapper end.

Hand Sewing the Wrapper Ends

Using a hand sewing needle and matching thread, thread the needle with a double strand long enough to sew around the entire wrapper. Tie a knot at the end.

Beginning at the center seam, stitch through the first gathered section, pulling the thread snug to secure the gather. Repeat stitching through the same gather two or three more times before moving on.

Move to the next gathered section, pulling it snug against the previous gather before securing it with another two or three stitches. As you work your way around the wrapper, remove each Wonder Clip after that gather has been stitched in place.

Continue until every gather has been secured.

Next, make two or three additional passes around the wrapper, stitching through each gathered section again. This reinforces the gathers, keeps them secure, and gives the wrapper a fuller, more polished finish.

Tie off the thread securely by knotting it, then weave the thread through the wrapper a few times before trimming the excess.

Repeat for the second wrapper end.

Designer Note: I chose to hand sew the wrapper ends because I loved the soft, gathered look it created. To me, it captures the look of a real wrapped candy in a way I couldn't achieve with a machine-sewn finish.

Don't worry if every gather isn't exactly the same size. Those soft, slightly uneven folds help give the wrapper the look of a real piece of wrapped candy.

You may also notice a small opening when looking through the wrapper ends. Because the gathers are stitched together by hand, a slight opening is perfectly normal and helps preserve the soft, gathered look. If you're concerned about Poly-Fil showing through those small openings, place a small scrap of Quilting Cuddle or quilting cotton inside each wrapper end before stuffing the pillow.

Stuffing & Finishing

Stuff the pillow firmly with Poly-Fil until you're happy with the shape.

Hand sew the opening closed using your favorite invisible stitch.

Give the pillow one last fluff and enjoy!

Helpful Tips for Working with Quilting Cuddle

• Use a walking foot.
• Sew a little slower than normal.
• Keep the pile running in the same direction.
• Finger press instead of ironing.
• Hand sewing the wrapper ends gives the pillow its realistic candy-wrapper shape.

Final Thoughts

Sweetly Wrapped may not have been part of my original plan, but I'm certainly glad it found its way onto my sewing table.

Sometimes experimenting with a new material leads exactly where you expect...

...and sometimes it leads somewhere completely unexpected.

That's one of the things I enjoy most about being creative. Every project teaches me something new, and in this case, it reminded me that changing course isn't a setback. It's simply part of the creative process.

Whether you decide to make your own Sweetly Wrapped pillow or simply enjoyed following along behind the scenes, I hope this little project encourages you to stay curious and leave room for unexpected ideas.

You never know... your next favorite project might not be the one you planned. It might be the one you discover along the way.

If you make your own Sweetly Wrapped pillow, I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @bykellyrenay or leave a comment below and let me know what fabrics you chose.