Dog Ears on Pillows

From Sonoran Sewing Experience

Do your pillows have Dog Ears?
This is when the corners of the pillow tend to curve outward or upward when the pillow is sitting up or against a background. Here are 3 different ways to take the puppy out of your pillows!

To Prevent dog ear pillows:
Pillow Templates are a great way to cut the perfect pillows.

Eliminating Misshapen Corners
To make professional looking, tailored corners on pillows that have corners sewn at right angles, slightly taper the fabrics raw edges at the corner as shown below. Cut away ½ inch on each corner with a gradual angle towards the center of the pillow. Cut this angle on all corners.

Cutting your pillow is easiest when using a Sew Fit cutting mat and a rotary cutter. As a professional we want to save time cutting and sewing. Not having to measure for every pillow that I make just saves time.

The Sew Fit Translucent Pin-able Cutting Mat—Soft Mats that can accommodate pins. Each Mat is has a full grid on all four sides.

Cutting by Measurement

Measure the pillow form you are planning to use for your pillow

Hint: I recommend using a straight edge (plastic) wood ruler or metal tape. We want the ruler to lay flat over the fabric. Fabric tapes can stretch and sometimes give with the fabric.

Determined the size of the pillow form add 1" for the w (width) and 1" for the L (length). This allows for a 1/2" seam allowance around the pillow.
Use a fabric marker and straight edge to measure and mark a square on the wrong side of the fabric.

If you are not cutting with a rotary cutter, pin the fabric together before you cut the double thickness of fabric. With the rotary cutter the fabric does not move as when cutting with scissors.