Level: Beginner - Advanced

Valora enjoys combining dimension with her embroidery designs. The Chenille Heart design (downloadable on the Design Download page) used in this project combines the popular faux chenille look with embroidery for a special Valentine design. Valora created the button-on panel for a pre-purchased decorative pillow for a quick and easy gift for this Valentine's Day.

Go to the Chenille Heart design page (in the Design Download area) and download the design as JEF file.

If you like chenille, be sure to see Valora's Chenille Easter Egg Pillow Top.

Janome Supplies Required:

• Memory Craft 10001, 10000, 9500, or 300E (embroidery only)
• Customizer 10000 or Digitizer 10000
• USB or RS232C cable, or ATA PC Card
• Clothsetter 10000
• Large Hoop B
• Embroidery foot P
• Sliding Buttonhole Foot R
• Zig-Zag Foot A
• Janome Embroidery thread (#225 Red, #201 Pink, #211 Pale Pink)
• Janome Bobbin thread
• Blue Tip needle 75/11

Fabric and Notions Required

• 18" purchased decorative pillow
• 1/3 yard firmly woven fabric
• Five 6 1/2" red or pink printed fabric squares
• Iron-on stabilizer
• Water-soluble stabilizer
• All purpose thread
• Four 5/8" buttons

Fabric Preparation

1. Cut one 12" square from the firmly woven fabric for the embroidered panel.
2. Cut one 10" square from the firmly woven fabric for the embroidered panel back.
3. Cut four 4" squares from firmly woven fabric for buttonhole strips.
4. Iron stabilizer to the 12" square. Mark the center of the fabric square.

1. Set up the Memory Craft for Professional-Style Embroidery. Note: Set the embroidery speed at 400spm to accommodate the layers for the chenille.
2. Download the "Chenille Heart" design from the Design Download page.
3. Transfer the design to the machine via USB, RS232C or ATA PC Card, using Janome software.
4. Place the stabilized square in the Large Hoop B, using the Clothsetter for perfect placement.
5. Stitch out the first color. This is the placement guide for the fabric squares.
6. Stack the five 6 1/2" squares together. Press, this binds the fabrics together slightly.
7. Slide the stack of fabrics under the foot. Use the placement guide for positioning, allow at least 1/2" overlap outside the guidelines.
Note: The extra fabric will be trimmed away later.
8. Stitch the hearts over the stacked fabric.
9. Remove the hoop from the machine. Do not remove the fabric from the hoop.
10. Trim the outside fabric 1/4" from the stitching.
11. Place the hoop back onto the machine.
12. Lightly moisten a scrap of water-soluble stabilizer.
13. Place the stabilizer in the lower right hand side of the heart.
Note: This will keep the fabric whiskers down while embroidering.
14. Finish embroidering the design. Remove fabric from the hoop.
15. Using a sharp pointed pair of scissors, slash the layers of printed fabric being very careful not to cut the background fabric.
Hint: You will need to clip the corners of the heart to allow the fabric to chenille.
16. Remove the iron-on stabilizer.
17. Wash pillow front twice.
18. Press design slightly, avoiding putting pressure on the chenille.
Hint: Use a toothbrush to help the chenille to bloom.

1. Set up the Memory Craft for ordinary sewing.
2. Attach the Buttonhole foot R.
3. Fold and press the buttonhole strips in half. Mark the center of each strip.
4. Sew a buttonhole at the center mark 1/4" from the folded edge on each strip.
5. Pin the buttonhole strips into each corner, at an angle, on the right side of the back panel piece. Be sure to match the raw edge of the buttonhole strip with the corner of the back panel. This will place the button hole at a 45∞ angle in the corners.
6. Trim off the excess fabric from the buttonhole strips.
7. Trim the embroidered panel to a 10" square. Be sure to center the design.
8. Sew the front embroidered piece and back panel piece right sides together, using 1/4" seam allowance. Leave a 3" opening to turn the panel.
9. Trim the corners and turn right side out.
10. Press and sew the 3" opening together.
11. Select a Built-in decorative stitch.
12. Sew around the edge of the panel. Be sure not to catch the buttonholes.
13. Place the embroidered panel face down in the center of the decorative pillow.
14. Place a pin in the center of each buttonhole. Mark position for buttons.
15. Sew on the buttons.
16. Button the panel onto the front of the pillow.