Do you want to know how to make a travel neck pillow? With just a few minutes of your time and some of your sewing kit essentials, you can make your travel neck pillow.
Car rides, bus rides, and plane rides can become dreadfully uncomfortable when it extends for long hours.
And a neck pillow is a travel accessory that you can rely on in these times of great need.
Most store-bought neck pillows have some issues that do not fit our liking. It may have less stuffing or have itchy fabric.
The good news is you can make this travel necessity in less than an hour, perfect for gifting purposes and for matching it with the color and fabric of your travel outfit or luggage.
It will not only be useful for the journey but memorable for you as well.
Supplies And Tools Needed
Here are the things that you will need:
- Sewing machine
- Hand needle
- Thread
- Sewing pins or clips
- Scissors
- Iron and board
- Cotton fabric (1/2 yard)
Be extra picky when choosing your fabric; make sure that it is soft and breathable.
Moreover, ensure to pre-wash it beforehand to eliminate existing chemicals that can irritate your skin upon usage.
Aside from this, pre-washing the fabric can prevent shrinkage
- Stuffing
Below are some of the suggested filling for your neck pillow:
Polyester– One of its advantages is that it is lightweight, and it cleans easily
Cotton- It is affordable and available almost anywhere. Aside from this, it is natural and allows you to breathe easily. However, it loses its shape after several uses and lumps up quite fast.
Microbeads- Helps prevent sweating because it is cool. Unfortunately, this stuffing requires frequent replacement since it deteriorates over time.
Feathers- Gives the user enough comfort as it is soft and lightweight. The downside is getting relatively hot upon use and flattens out most of the time.
Shredded memory foam- It does not only provide comfort but adequate support to the user as well. Moreover, it performs well in maintaining its shape. Some of its negative characteristics are that it tends to have an unpleasant odor, and it flattens when there is too much body heat.
- Pattern
Step By Step Instructions To Make A Travel Neck Pillow
Do you know how to make a travel neck pillow?
Here are the steps that you should follow so you can make your own travel neck pillow:
Step #1. Print out or draw your pattern
There are a lot of available free neck pillow templates online.
You can download one, print it, and cut it out.
Usually, one side of the pillow pattern fits an A4 size paper or US letter.
In any case, that you are unable to download a pattern or you don’t own a printer, you can always choose to draw it yourself.
On paper, sketch a figure that looks like a bean. It is the typical design of a travel neck pillow.
After this, just cut the pattern out.
Step #2. Cut the fabric
Get your fabric and lay it flat on the surface of your workstation.
Fold in half and take the straight-cut side of your pattern and align with the fabric’s fold.
Use your sewing pins or clips to keep the guide in place and ensure no movement.
Take your scissors and cut the fabric around the pattern.
While doing this step, remember not to stretch the material to keep its shape and prevent crooked cuts.
Because you will need two identical pieces of U-shaped fabric, one in front and the other for the back, repeat these steps for the second piece.
Step #3. Pin the two fabric pieces
The next step is to unfold both fabric pieces and lay them on top of one another, ensuring that the right sides of the material face each other.
Align them perfectly and pin or clip them in place.
Step #4. Sew the pieces together
Now, you are ready to sew the pieces together using a sewing machine, making sure to leave a 3/8 inch seam allowance with your fabric.
In other words, your stitches have to be approximately 3/8 inches away from the edge of the material.
Take note to leave about 2 inches of the fabric unstitched so you can turn it inside out and stuff your pillow.
Step #5. Turning the pillow inside out and ironing
For this part, you have to turn the entire thing inside out through the unsewn part of the pillow you left open earlier.
Next, fold or tuck the opening’s seam allowance towards the inside.
Take your iron and ironing board and press the whole thing.
Step #6. Stuffing the Pillow
This step is where your pillow will start to take shape.
With the filling of your choice, stuff the insides of the neck pillow as much as you want.
Make it suit your preference!
Just take note that if you stuff it too much, it may become too firm.
Step #7. Close the opening
For the last step, you have to close the unstitched opening of the neck pillow.
To do this, you have to use your needle and thread to seal the gap using the ladder stitch.
Conclusion
You’ve already learned how to make a travel neck pillow.
Making a personal travel neck pillow is not as difficult as it sounds.
Using the supplies and tools enumerated above and following the steps provided, you can unleash your creativity as you travel with comfort and style.