Fort Worth Fabric Studio: Christmas Pillow Tutorial {Guest Post}

Hi there! Today, Kim from Charm and Whimsy is stopping by to share this lovely pillow tutorial! Be sure to stop by Kim's blog to see all of her lovely quilts!

I'm thrilled and excited to be featured here today, on the Fort Worth Fabric Studio blog page. Thanks to both Jodie and Lindsey for having me here. Even though I reside in Canada....a long, long way from Texas, I order most of my quilting fabric from FWFS. I've come to love the service I always get, the fabulous quality of fabrics that arrive in my mailbox and regular Friday email featuring new fabrics and sale bundles. What could be better? I'm a freelance quilt designer and writer - my work can be found here and on my pinterest page. Visit my website and sign up for regular quilt-related emails. So.....speaking of fabric and bundles, here is what arrived in my mailbox a short time ago!

From that fabulous festive bundle of fat quarters, my Christmas pillow was born.

Sweet and simple is my motto when creating quilt patterns and this pillow is about as sweet and simple as they come. Since it's only September, you have oodles of time to make this project before Christmas rolls around. Make it as a gift for someone special! Supplies: (all fabrics used to make the pillow are in the pictured fabric bundle and are fat quarters - 18"x22" - with the exception of the white, background fabric) Finished size: Pillow cover 15 1/2"x15 1/2" 7 Fat Quarters - (Black with multi coloured dots, black with white dots, black with Christmas wreaths, green with white dots, green with Christmas trees, red stripe, red with green leaves) 1/2 yard white 15" square pillow form 17" square of quilt batt 2 yards stabilizer - 20" wide 1 yard fusible web 2 1/2 yards red rickrack spray starch temporary spray fabric adhesive needle, thread, thimble Optional: crocheted flower, four buttons Cut: 1. Two pieces of white fabric each 17" square 2. From six of the fat quarters, two blacks, two greens and two reds cut one 2"x22" strip from each. 3. Cut three more 2"x22" strips from the black with multi coloured dots, four 4" corner squares, and four 2" circles 4. Cut four 2 1/2" circles from four other fat quarters 5. From remaining fat quarters, choose four different fabrics and cut four 16 1/2"x12" rectangles for pillow back 6. Cut two 16 1/2"x12" rectangles from stabilizer for pillow back Construction: Pillow Front (Cover) use a 3/8" seam allowance unless otherwise noted Begin by stitching together six 2" strips for the pieced patchwork square. Press seam allowances and spray with starch.

Cut six 2" strips from the six fat quarter unit Line up the cut strips as per the photograph. Match seams and stitch. Press rows in alternating directions. Spray with starch.

Trim pieced patchwork square to measure 10"x10". Stitch 2" black strips as borders to both top and bottom and to both sides. Press and trim

Cut a piece of fusible web to measure 10"x10". Using the directions for the type of fusible web you are using, fuse to the back of the square using your iron. Fold one white fabric square in half, and then in half again to find the middle.

On the diagonal, center the pieced patchwork square onto the white fabric and using an iron, fuse being mindful to trim away any loose threads.

Stitch around the outer perimeter of the pieced patchwork square using a machine applique or blanket stitch. Trim any loose threads. Place one 4" square right side down on one of the pillow cover corners. Using a pencil, draw a line across square diagonally. Stitch along the pencil line.

Cut the square 1/4" from the stitching line.

Press the triangle open. Repeat for the three other corners of the pillow cover. Mark the center between the pillow corner and the edge of the pieced patchwork square. Draw a very light pencil line and pin rickrack to that line. Carefully stitch on the rickrack.

Fuse circles to rickrack as shown in the photograph.

Make a three-part quilt sandwich with the pillow cover, quilt batt and the second piece of white fabric as backing. Adhere each layer by smoothing and applying spray adhesive. Pin. Quilt as desired. Trim to even. (My pillow has been quilted using a free motion pattern, which worked double duty, by not only quilting the pillow cover, but also secured the circles onto the pillow cover. If you choose not to quilt the pillow in this manner, be sure to stitch around the circles to secure.)

Hand sew on the crocheted flower and buttons, if you so choose.

Pillow Back: Place the right side of one pillow back rectangle on the table. Layer a corresponding piece of stabilizer and another pillow back rectangle on top. Fold over the top edge 1/2" and press. Fold over top edge another 1/2", press and stitch. Do the same for the other pillow back piece.

Right sides together, layer the three-piece pillow back rectangles over the pillow cover keeping the seam allowances to the middle. See photograph for placement.