Patriotic Handkerchief Pillow and Summer Porch Tour


In this post I show you my front porch all decked out for Summer. I also show you how to make some super simple patriotic handkerchief pillow covers. This post contains affiliate links.
Summer might be my favorite season to decorate for. I just love a patriotic theme. Maybe because we always have a party for Independence Day. Perhaps it’s because there’s more time for decorating in the Summer. Either way I don’t think your patriotic theme has to be just for July. It can carry you all the way to Fall. Lets look at the porch with these patriotic handkerchief pillow covers!
Our Porch

This is our front porch, I introduced you to the porch in this post on ferns. You know that I love my front porch. I love it over storage space or closets. It is one of my favorite places to sit and chat with my husband on the weekends. It also makes our house feel way bigger than it really is. It’s like a bonus room…during some seasons anyway.
Use What you Have Decor
My go to for décor is buntings, pillows and chalkboards. So easy to change out for the seasons and it costs little or nothing to update.

For the buntings I used scraps of fabric from various projects. When I was younger and more ambitious…and had less daughters. I would always sew little Fourth of July outfits for my girls. I would make skirts and then embellish little t-shirts with applique. This left me with a lot of patriotic fabric scraps. These tie bunting are so easy to make and use up lots of scraps quickly. Denim fits in nicely with the red white and blue as well! Just cut your scraps into long strips mine are around 20″ and tie them to a piece of twine. I have had this one for three years.

The triangle buntings are a little more time consuming, but they hold up for years and years. These are just sewn to a piece of burlap ribbon.


The Chalkboard was made from plywood and Chalkboard paint. My husband built the frame from pine boards. I cover the front with plexiglass so that the chalk doesn’t get washed away in some of our crazy thunderstorms.
Make Some New Patriotic Handkerchief Pillows

These little patriotic handkerchief pillow covers were so easy to make, and they cost about $2 each. If you can sew a straight line you can make these pillow covers. Even if you can’t sew, fabric glue would work just fine too!
For the inserts I used the Ikea 20×20 feather inserts. It seriously took 20 minutes to make. Do you want to make some? Here’s how…
Materials
2 handkerchiefs or 2 squares of fabric
a roll of ribbon
a pillow insert
To Start….Iron your fabric
Am I the only one that gets irritated and wants to skip this step? However, it is so important and really makes your finished project look neater and more professional.
Measure your handkerchief against your pillow insert
My handkerchief was a bit bigger than my insert, so I ironed a 1″ fold on each side and also allowed for a 1″ seam allowance. You just want the cover to fit snug to the pillow insert.
Stitch the sides that will be open
After ironing your fold, stitch along it. I used a zig-zag stitch because I think it looks cute. A straight stitch or fabric glue is just fine too!

Cut and attach ribbons


Cut your ribbons to 7″ lengths. You will need 8 strips of ribbon for each pillow. Stitch them to the open sides of the handkerchief. I just counted down little paisley marks to make them even. Treat the end of your ribbon with a little fray block.
Next place your right sides together
Placing your right sides together, stitch along the top and the bottom sides.
Put your pillow in and enjoy.
Don’t forget the other tedious job of cutting off all the stray strings. Tie up the sides and enjoy your new patriotic pillow covers!

An Evening View

Thank you for stopping by!
Thank you so much for spending your time here at The Everyday Farmhouse! I truly appreciate you stopping by and checking out what we are doing here! I fully understand that your time is valuable and you could do any number of things with it! Thank you for choosing to spend some of it here!
Pin for Later!

Helpful tools and supplies
I used to despise sewing, I really think it was because I always had a used hand-me-down machines. I bought this machine a few years ago for my girls for Christmas. It has made all the difference in our sewing experience. It is so affordable and it really does a good job!
Beautiful! Yep I hate ironing beforehand too. And pressing seams. Actually I hate it all! But I think I could handle this.
So funny, I used to always tell my husband…remind me next time that I hate sewing!
Super cute and easy! Love it. Thanks for the info!
Thank you for stopping by Julie!
This is such a great tutorial! It’s so simple and so so cute!! I love your 4th of July decor! I have never been one to decorate for the holiday but I find myself being drawn to it and want to add all the cute patriotic things around the house!
So cute! I love the old iron. I have one even older (without steam holes). Great job!! Nice handwriting on the chalkboard! Super cute, great instructions.
Thank you Jersey! The iron isn’t actually old, it just looks old, and functions like new…not very well!
Thanks so much for sharing your cute pillows and porch with us on Farm Fresh Tuesdays, Jennifer! I’m featuring your post next week on the blog hop…can’t wait to see what you share next time. 🙂
Thank you Lisa! I think your weekly hops are so fun! I appreciate the work that must go in to organizing and executing something like that weekly!
That is the cutest pillow idea! And your porch says SUMMER!
Happy day friend!
KariAnne
Thank you KariAnne! That means a lot!
Love this idea. I have made table runners but never pillows. So cute! A definite must try!
I bet a table runner with handkerchiefs is really cute!
LOVE, love, love your front porch! Need to give these pillow covers a try next year!
I hope you do! You can put them on your new front porch!
I love the pillows made from bandanas – you bet I pinned this post to my Sewing board! I actually love sewing and even the ironing part. It’s kind of my ‘zen’ if you will. So rewarding to create something from a bolt of fabric – mostly pillows, runners, and yes-banners!! Your porch overall is so happy and inviting! Visiting from The Painted Hinge.
Thank you for stopping by and for pinning! I know others who like to iron, I just want to get everything done right now. I should slow down and try to enjoy the process!
So cute! I love the pillows! I highlighted your sea shell tablescape on my blog tonight for Centerpiece Wednesday. Hope you will stop by and link up this cute patriotic pillow and porch! https://karinskottage.com/2020/06/centerpiece-wednesday-linky-party.html
Karin
Thank you Karin!
Your porch tour is so cute!!!!!!!! Love the bandana pillows!
Happy day!
karianne
Hi there! Super cute idea. I’m stealing it to use for my son’s 2nd bday. His theme is “red, white and two” and its during Memorial Day weekend. I couldn’t resist. What size pillow did you use for the covers?
Thanks!
Hi Ashley…good question, I don’t remember! I usually have 20″ pillows, so I would assume these were too. 18″ at the smallest.
BTW that sounds like the absolute cutest party idea!