Quilted Pillow [Tute]

How would you like to make two quilted pillows just like the ones I designed for Windham Fabrics as part of their Christmas in July Blog Hop 2016 using the Craft Paper Christmas collection by Whistler?

Disclosure/Disclaimer: 

Craft Paper Christmas collection fabrics used for the pillows were supplied by Windham Fabrics at no cost to mbCD, all other materials are my own.  In all other respects, this post is for informational purposes only and no payment or commission is received on click-throughs to links shared.

In this post I'll show you how to cut, piece and hand quilt the front of the pillows and then you can click through to the new + updated version of my hidden zipper pillow tute to finish the pillows off perfectly.

Hand Quilted Pillow Front

Materials:

Measurements are for an 18" square pillow insert finished cover size is 17-1/2" square.
Back fabrics are cut 1/2" larger than insert (18-1/2") to allow wiggle room to line up the zipper to unfinished 18" pillow front.

Whatever fabrics and design you are using create a panel of fabric measuring 18" x 18"

I made both pillows (fronts and backs) from 9 FQs of Craft Paper Christmas and had lots left over for future projects.  Each pillow piece can be cut from an FQ - indeed a whole pillow cover can be made from 2 non-directional FQs (you'll need slightly more if using directional fabrics) 

Pillow 1

Muslin or cotton backing - 18" x 18"

Batting - 19" x 19" 

Sewing Thread and Embroidery Thread

Spray Baste or Basting Pins

Fabrics:

Windham Fabrics Craft Paper Christmas collection fabric codes are shown in brackets

Section A - (1) 12-1/2" (w) x 11-1/2" (h) (41495-X)

Sections B + C- (4) 12-1/2" x 1" (41499-5)

Section D - (2) 13-1/2" x 3-1/4" (41500-2)

Section E -  (2) 18" x 2-3/4" (41500-2)

Instructions:

Join B strips to top and bottom of A

Join C strips to both sides of BAB

Join D strips to top and bottom of CBC

Join E strips to both sides of DCD

Pillow 2

Muslin or cotton backing - 18" x 18"

Batting - 19" x 19"
Sewing Thread and Embroidery Thread
Spray Baste or Basting Pins

Fabrics:
Windham Fabrics Craft Paper Christmas collection fabric codes are shown in brackets
Section A - 4-1/2" (w) x 18" (h) (41500-2)

Section B - 1" (w) x 18" (h) (41499-5)
Section C - 13-1/2"(w) x 18" (h) (41496-X)

Instructions:

Join Section A to B and  Section B to C.

Hand Quilting

Spray baste one side of a 19" batting square and place your pieced pillow front on top of it (wrong sides together).  Repeat for the second pillow front.

Using a #3 Pearl cotton embroidery thread I added running stitches to hand quilt both pillows.  Of course, there are lots of other ways you can quilt, embroider and embellish your pillows too and it's always fun to experiment.

Pillow 1 (below left)

I've quilted around the edge of each of the lightest coloured squares in the centre panel and I've added 2 rows of running stitch around the inside edge of the red star border.  

Pillow 2 (below right)

I've quilted 2 rows of running stitch down the inside edge of Section A and then I've added rows of stitches along the top and bottom of each row on the Section C reindeer stripe.

When your quilting is complete trim your pillow fronts/batting to 18" 

square then spray baste the back of the batting and place an 18" muslin square over it.

In the pic above you can just about see my quilting on the back of the batting on the left and on the right you can see the other pillow front has been backed with muslin and trimmed.  This makes your work look very neat but it also protects the stitches and prevents the batting wearing away over time on the pillow insert.

The Next Step...

Your pillow fronts are now finished and when you are ready you can move on to my next tutorial to make the back for your pillow with a hidden zipper.  Don't be nervous, I'll walk you through it step by step and with my photo tutorials, you won't believe how fast it is and easy too.

My Fave Tools For This Project

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Disclosure:

Craft Paper Christmas collection fabrics used for the pillows were supplied by Windham Fabrics at no cost to mbCD, all other materials are my own. This post contains Amazon and Craftsy affiliate links for which I am paid commission on click-through purchases (at no additional cost to you). Otherwise, no payment or commission is received for click-throughs to shared links; the post is for informational purposes only and all opinions are my own.

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