To position the design in the center of shape, print a paper template. Click here if you would like more details about printing and using templates. Poke a hole in the center of the template and line it up with the center point on the fabric. Make sure the design fits within the shape, with at least 1" of space between the outer edges of the design and the edges of the shape.
Spray a piece of medium weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and the stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric. Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric, and embroider the design.
When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.
Measure and mark 1/2" out along the top and bottom edges of the shape. Draw lines connecting the marks. Then, measure and mark 1" out along each of the sides. Draw lines connecting those marks, too.
Cut out the shape along the outer lines.
To prepare the back fabric, lay the embroidered front piece on top of the back fabric, right sides together. Pin in place, and cut out the shape. Then, sew a 1/2" seam along the top and bottom edges only (do not sew along the sides). Turn the fabric right-side out and press the seams with an iron. Next, turn the fabric of the side openings in 1/2" to the wrong side and press.
To prepare the inner lining of the pillow sham, cut two pieces of fabric the same size as the front and back pieces (mine are16" wide by 15" high). Align the pieces together, right sides together, pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the top and bottom edges only.
Turn the fabric of the side openings in 1/2" to the wrong side and press, and then leave the fabric wrong-side out (do not turn the fabric right side out after this step).
Insert the inner lining inside the outer shell, wrong sides together, and align the seams and the folded edges along the side openings of the outer shell.
To make the ties, cut twelve pieces of cotton fabric (I used quilter's cotton) to 1 1/4" wide by 12 1/2" high. You can use all one fabric for the ties, or different fabrics -- whatever you like! I used three different prints and colors for my ties.
Fold the short ends of the strips in 1/2" to the wrong side and press. Then, fold the long side edges in 1/4" and press. Align the long folded edges together and press. Next, sew a seam down the center of each strip.
To add the ties, first measure and mark the center of each side opening (front and back) by measuring and dividing by two. Then, insert a tie in about one inch in between the fabric layers at each mark and pin in place. After that, insert a tie in about one inch in between the fabric layers about 1" inch in from each corner at the front and the back.
Pin in place and sew a 1/4" seam along the entire outer edges of each side opening.
Insert the pillow form inside the sham and tie bows at each set of ties. And your tie-on pillow sham is complete!
