The pillows are not hard to make.  If you already have sewing skills, you can easily make one in about an hour.  If you are just learning to sew, these make great starter projects.

If you would like, you can try your hand at drawing your own horseshoe shaped pattern.  Otherwise, there are some patterns available for purchase, such as Simplicity 2924 and Simplicity 3561.   

Step 1: Purchase Fabric and Stuffing.  We suggest either cotton, cotton-blends, or flannel.  Since these are being used by babies, the fabric needs to be soft and washable. You will need about 1 1/3 yards of 45" wide fabric for each pillow.

We like using Poly-Fil because it is inexpensive, easy to use, and washable.  You need about 1 1/2 of the 16oz bags of stuffing for 1 pillow.  A large 10 pound box will fill between 5 and 7 pillows.

Step 2: Wash the fabric to remove any sizing or chemicals left over from manufacturing, dying, or printing the fabric.
Step 3: Lay the fabric on a flat surface.  You need two "horseshoes" - one for the top and one for the bottom.  Fold or stack the fabric so that you can cut both layers at the same time.

Step 4: New seamstresses may find it easier to use a non-permanant fabric marker to draw the seam line around the pillow.  This gives a visual guide when sewing.

Step 5: Cut out the pillow, making sure to leave at least a 5/8" seam allowance around all edges.

Step 6: Place "right" side of the fabric together and pin the pieces together to keep them from shifting while you sew.

Step 7: Sew around the pillow.  Leave a section of the pillow open (see drawing above) so that you will be able to stuff the pillow.

Step 8: Clip the seam allowance or make small notches in the seam allowance so that the pillow's seams will be smooth when you turn the pillow right side out. Make sure you do not accidentally cut the stitches or you will have a hole in your pillow.

Step 9: Turn the pillow right side out.

Step 10: Stuff the pillow.  Make the pillow firm enough to hold it's shape, but not so firm that the fabric begins to pull at the seam.

Step 12: Admire the finished pillow!