Crystal Monroe
Mrs. Katie Barrett
ENG 111 SN2
10 April 2015
Rejuvenating Your Home Using Accent Pillows Accent pillows are quickly becoming a popular way to add personality in the home. They can be used to catch the eye and bring a room together in spectacular ways. For instance, a boring brown couch can be rejuvenated by the “pop” of color that an accent pillow offers. One might also add a fresh new perspective to the bedroom by adding a few accent pillows. Since buying accent pillows from retail stores can be expensive, it may be difficult to find pillows that accentuate your personal preferences. By making your own, you can save money and have the freedom to express your personality in ways that a generic retail store cannot offer.
To begin, gather your favorite decorative cotton fabric and Brother LX2763 sewing machine. Any sewing machine will be effective in getting the job done; however, the Brother LX2763 is a great novice sewing machine that is exceptionally easy to operate. You will also need a ruler, fabric chalk, shears, iron, pins, and Poly-Fil brand polyester filling. Use the ruler to measure 20 X 20 inches of fabric and mark the dimensions with the fabric chalk. Once you have finished, use the shears to cut along the lines that you left with the chalk. Discard or save the scraps in a separate area. Place the decorative faces of fabric together once finished, this will be the sides of the pillow that are showing. Next, plug in your sewing machine. Make sure that all attachments, needles, and thread are in place.
Now you are ready to sew! Be sure that the fabric is placed evenly together. Then, put the beginning of the fabric one inch underneath the needle. Next, lower the attachment that is used to hold the fabric flat as it is fed through the machine and stitched, known as the presser foot, and needle into the fabric to hold it in place. Turn the dial on the sewing machine to straight stitch “one.” Once you are sure that everything is ready, place your foot on the pedal and begin to sew. Keep the fabric as straight as possible as the needle creates each stitch. Once you near the end, stop. Lift the presser foot, turn the fabric to the new direction that you would like to sew and lower it once more. After you reach the final side, sew until the pillow has a four inch opening. This will enable you to be able to fill the pillow with filling. Lift the presser foot, pull the fabric and thread away from the machine, and cut the thread.
Finally, it is time to stuff your new pillow! Use the four-inch opening to turn the fabric inside out; this conceals the rough edges. Iron the open edges to be sure that they are crisp and even. Then, begin to take handfuls of Poly-Fil polyester filling to stuff the pillow. Fill the pillow until it is firm, but not overstuffed. Once the pillow is filled to your desired firmness, close the opening with pins and return to the sewing machine. Lift the presser foot as high as it will go, and lower it onto the edge of fabric that is pinned. Use your left hand to apply pressure and hold it firmly in place. As you begin to sew, remove the pins before the machine reaches that area. Continue sewing until you are one-fourth of an inch past the opening, lift the presser foot and cut the thread. Congratulations, you have finished! You have created your very own accent pillow, which can be adorned from any room in the house. A well-made pillow will not come undone, and regular fluffing will ensure that the filling remains even distributed throughout the pillow. Now, you can save money, express your own sense of style, and rejuvenate your home using accent pillows. Practice makes perfect, so continue to express your personality by creating as many accent pillows as you would like!

Criteria for Evaluating an Essay
SCC Department of English and Humanities
Name:
Section Number: ENG111- Essay:
EXPRESSION AND COMMUNICATION