Exchanging rings is a vital part of a wedding. They are a physical symbol of the love that the happy couple shares and are one of the most iconic wedding moments. A ring bearer pillow is a beautiful and elegant way to transport the wedding rings up the aisle in time for them to be exchanged.
The use of a ring bearer pillow will ensure the focus is on the rings and allows them to be transported without the risk of them getting lost. Making your own means you can adapt them to suit the colors and themes of your wedding perfectly.
No-Sew Method
What Will You Need?
To make this no-sew pillow you will need 2 squares of your chosen fabric, measuring 10 inches by 10 inches (25 cm).
You will also need a pair of scissors, a hot glue gun (and glue sticks), or fabric glue. You will also need some polyester stuffing, or whatever you have chosen to fill the pillow with.
How Do You Do It?
The first thing to do is for you to choose and cut out your fabric. Use a heavy fabric such as canvas, burlap, or linen for the best results. This pillow will have quite a rustic appearance, hence why we recommend these fabric types.
The fabric color should tie into the color theme of the wedding.
Lie each of the squares on a flat surface and snip off the corners. You want to clip them by approximately a quarter of an inch or just over half a cm. You should have 4 little triangles as offcuts that can be disposed of.
This step is important as it helps to give the pillow clean edges and reduces bulk, making the creative process smoother.
Turn the fabric over, so that the inside is facing you and the pattern is facing the work surface. Fold each of the 4 edges over by a quarter of an inch to create a border all of the way around.
Press along these folds with an iron if necessary, to help secure the fold. Repeat this step for your second fabric square.
Fold back the border edges, one at a time, and use the hot glue gun to adhere it to the other part of the fabric. Do this for all of the border edges on both squares of fabric. If you are using fabric glue, leave the squares undisturbed for 10 to 15 minutes as the glue dries.
Once set, snip off any fraying bits of fabric.
Place the second fabric square on top of the first with the borders facing each other. Use your glue to adhere together 3 of the 4 sides. When doing this, ensure you cover all of the folded-over areas in glue to make a clean, neat seam.
Leave the fourth edge open while the other seams dry.
When completely dry, use the polyester stuffing to fill your pillow square until it is perfect for you. If you want a firmer pillow, use a mini pillow insert or a square of foam. Push the stuffing completely into the pillow and press the open seam closed.
Glue an inch of the seam at a time, pressing it together and holding it until it sets. If you are using fabric glue instead of hot glue, secure the seams with safety pins as it dries.
Simple Sewing Method
What Will You Need?
You will need 2 10 inch squares of your chosen fabric, as well as some pins and a thread that matches the color of your fabric. You will also need scissors and a sewing machine (or a needle).
You will also need something to fill your pillow with, such as polyester stuffing, foam, or scrap fabrics.
How Do You Do It?
Once you have cut out your fabric, lay the 2 squares on top of each other with the right sides facing in. Use your pins to secure the squares in place all the way around the edges.
Move your fabric squares over to your sewing machine and begin sewing seams around 3 of the edges. We suggest leaving a ¼ inch seam allowance and using a simple straight stitch.
Once you have done this, cut off the interior corners on a diagonal. This will make the corners more pointy and clean due to the reduced fabric bulk. Do not cut through the tread as this will cause the pillow to come apart.
Flip the fabric right side around and poke the corners out so they are sharp. We recommend using a knitting needle to poke them out so that they are really pointed.
Use the stuffing to fill the pillow until it has your ideal size and shape.
Fold the raw edges of the open seam into the pillow. Hold the seam closed and use a ladder stitch, needle, and thread to secure this side closed. We recommend using pins to keep the edges together as you sew. Alternatively, you can use glue to secure this edge.
Decoration
You will need a piece of ribbon and a string that matches the theme of the wedding and the material of the pillow. Double your piece of string over itself to make a loop behind the ribbon.
Pull the ends through the loop to make a knot and position this in the center of the ribbon. Once you are satisfied with the positioning, tighten the knot to secure it in place.
Tie a bow with the ribbon and place this on the center of the pillow. Use a needle and thread or hot glue to secure the bow in place. You should ensure that the strings and tail are hanging in the right place before securing.
You should then cut the loose ends of the ribbon and string to the desired length. Use a cigarette lighter to singe the ends. This will prevent them from fraying. Use the string to tie the rings onto the pillow.
