Create a Unique Heat n Bond Octopus Throw Pillow

Octopus Pillow

I’m excited to share this fun octopus throw pillow with you!  These fun little ocean creatures are my teenage daughter’s favorite animal – so I’m always on the lookout for octopus everything!  The fabric collection is Moda’s new line “Manderley.”  For this 18″ pillow, I used Heat n Bond® Lite to applique the octopus.  It’s a nice weight for a pillow because it’s not too heavy but strong enough to hold all the arms down 🙂 I stitched around the octopus to secure.  You can whip up this pillow in about an hour!  Let’s get started!

Octopus Pillow Project Supplies

Heat n Bond® Lite Fusible Adhesive

SpraynBond Basting Spray

Fat quarter for octopus

Fat quarter for the pillow front

Fat quarter for pillow back

fat quarter muslin, or any cotton fabric (won’t be seen)

2 1/2 yards trim

18″ pillow form

20″ zipper

Octopus pattern download

Pillow Project Instructions

Before you get started, it’s best to admire your fabric and take a picture of your cat next to it!  Look how beautiful Manderley fabric is!  Lot’s more projects to come with this fun bundle!

We are using an 18″ pillow, cut the front fat quarter and back fat quarter 18″ square.  Set aside.

Since this pattern is several pages, it’s best to print it out, tape it together and trace it to the Heat n Bond® Lite.  You can trace him as is or reverse – he looks great both ways!  Once the pattern is on the heat n bond lite, press it with a hot dry iron to the wrong side of the octopus fabric.  Cut out the octopus.

Peel off the backing paper and place the octopus on the pillow front 18″ square.  Once you have it how you like, heat set in place.  Remember, with a pillow, the bottom 2 or 3 inches won’t be seen because of the curve and how the pillow sits.Sew around the octopus to keep him from swimming away.  I used white thread.

To quilt the pillow, use Spray n Bond® Basting Spray to baste the pillow top to a piece of cotton batting.  Then baste the cotton batting to a piece of muslin or any cotton fabric (it will only be visible from inside the pillow.)  Quilt as desired.  I quilted “pebbles” on the background fabric and did not quilt the octopus.  He kind of puffs out 🙂

To put the zipper in the back of the pillow, cut the 18″ square at 3″.  Insert the zipper and press.

Baste the decorative trim around the front of the pillow, sewing about 1/8″ seam, beginning and ending at the bottom center of the pillow.

Once the trim is basted in, open the zipper to the center and pin the pillow front to the pillow back with right sides together.  Sew using about 1/2″ seam around the entire pillow.  Turn right side out and insert pillow form.

I love having the front and the back different fabrics, yet coordinating!

Because of all the quilting, the pillow feels super soft and comfy!  The pillow is decorative yet soft and sturdy enough to be used while watching a movie or reading a book!