I am super excited to share with you my Shabby Chic frayed-edge euro shams.
 
Inspired by West Elm’s Frayed-Edge Shams ($39 per sham):
 

Gorgeous right?  I love the whole sha-bang, but all they have left in King is white and I can’t have white bedding with my dog sleeping on my bed. 
 
Needless to say I found some bedding that fit my new theme of Coastal Shabby Chic, but it didn’t come with Euro Shams, and I love my Euro Pillows!  I thought of these West Elm ones and knew I could recreate these for pretty inexpensive.
 
Supplies Needed:
5 Yards of 100% cotton fabric (creates 2 shams)
Matching thread
Scissors
Sewing Machine
Pins
 
Off to Joanns I went to pick up some gray 100% cotton fabric.  I got 5 yards for 2 shams.
And here is the tutorial:
 
A standard euro sham is 26″ x 26″.
I cut the front sham square to 27″ x 27″.
You will need to cut two sections for the back of the sham – 27″ x 17″ each.
 
You will need to cut two more squares to create the frayed-edge front.  I cut mine 28″ x 28″ in case of any movement, but I really didn’t experience much, so 3 squares of 27.5″ x 27.5″ should set you up nicely.
 
To create the frayed-edge you will layer your three squares and then sew diagonal lines.  This is the process:
 
If your squares are all the same size then it doesn’t matter which one is your top layer, but if you did as I did, then one of your 28″ squares should be on top while your 27″ is your bottom layer.
 
Grab your top layer square and fold it in half diagonally and press to create a line to follow while stitching.
Line your three squares up and pin.
Starting in the middle of the pillow sew along the diagonal line to a corner.  Do not bother cutting strings now – you can do it all at the end.
Go back to the middle of the pillow and follow the diagonal fold in the other direction to the other corner.
 
Now you will need to move your needle over because you want to have about a 1/2″ between your stitching.  Line your foot up with your last stitch and starting in the corner go all the way to the end.  Continue doing this a bazillion times until you fill half your pillow.  (You can do the whole pillow, I chose to do half!)  This process took me about a half an hour.
Now you get to create the fray.
 
Grab a pair of scissors and cut the first two layers of your squares in between each of your stiches (only cut between stitches, do not cut to the side of your first stitch that does not have another stitch on the other side – does that make sense?).  Go carefully, you don’t want to cut through your bottom layer.  Set this aside.
Next you are going to prepare your back pieces.
 
To create the hem, fold over a 1/4″ (along one of the 27″ sides) and iron.  Fold again, iron and stitch down.
Do this again for the other back piece.
Now you are ready to complete your pillow.
 
Place your front piece right side up and now match up one of your back panels – right side down and pin in place.  Do this again for your next panel, making sure that the two back panels overlap.  I suggest pinning where they do so that you know where to back stitch to create a nice secure seam for when you stuff in your pillow.
Stitch around the entire pillow, fold inside out and wash.
Put it on your euro pillow and admire your gorgeous handiwork!
 
West Elm Shams: $80 for two
My Shams: $16 for two(I did use a 40% off coupon on my fabric)
 
Do you have your own knock-off project?  Make sure to stop by next Monday to link it up in the Knock It Off contest!  Lots of fabulous prizes are up for grabs!

 

 

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