The Science of Sewing

 Print template (see above for download) so that outer square is 18x18 inches.

Cut one piece of black wool felt to 18x18 inches and two to 11½x18 inches. 

With X-Acto knife, cut planets from template on your mat.

Lightly trace planets on fabric scraps with a pencil and cut with X-Acto knife.

Place template (with planets cut out) on large pillow square for placement.

Place fabric planets according to the template. Secure with fabric glue.

Remove template and sew planets 1⁄16-⅛ inch from edge in corresponding thread colors.

To mark white stitch lines for the orbits, place chalk paper face down on pillow square. Line up template and run tracing wheel over the top of the dotted lines to mark where to stitch.

Remove chalk paper and template. Sew white running stitch lines.

Since the straight edges of the rectangles on the back will show, fold about ¼ inch of each edge over twice to completely encase the raw edge. Straight stitch on each piece.

With pinking shears, trim around the rest of the edges of your pillow fabric.

Pin and sew pillow pieces, wrong sides facing, lining up the outer edges and letting the two back pieces overlap by ½ inch.

Sew around all edges of your pillow, and serge or whipstitch edges.

Turn pillow right side out, and stuff with insert.