Hi friends! I hope you are enjoying this fall season!
Today I’m sharing my new Thankful pillow – perfect for fall and all year long. I stitched the pillow using my Find Your Way fabrics.
Here’s what you need to make this pillow:
6 fat eighths for block backgrounds
1 contrasting fat eighth for letters
5/8 yard coordinating focal print
5/8 yard muslin
HeatnBond Lite Sewable Fusible Adhesive
HeatnBond Medium Weight Fusible Interfacing
Pressing Paper
Fiberfill
Cutting:
From the fat eighths, cut a total of:
(8) 3-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangles
From the focal print:
(2) 3″ x WOF strips; subcut (2) 3″ x 29-1/2″ and (2) 3″ x 4-1/2″ pieces
(1) 9-1/2″ x WOF strip; subcut (2) 9-1/2″ x 17″ pieces
From the muslin:
(2) 9″ x 28-1/2″ pieces
From the HeatnBond Medium Weight Interfacing:
(1) 9-1/2″ x 29-1/2″ piece
Download the templates here.
Making the Pillow:
Step 1 Trace each letter onto the paper side of HeatnBond Lite Sewable.
Step 2 Fuse the traced letters onto the wrong side of the contrasting dark teal fabric. Use pressing paper between the iron and the fusible.
Step 3 Cut out each letter.
Step 4 Fold (1) 3-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangle in half and press to mark the vertical center. Position a ruler so the straight edge is 3/4″ above the rectangle bottom. Center the T on the pressed line and position the bottom of the T on the ruler edge. Fuse in place.
Step 5 Repeat step 4 to fuse each letter to a rectangle.
Step 6 Sew the letters together into a row.
Step 7 Sew 3″ x 4-1/2″ focal print pieces to opposite sides. Sew 3″ x 29-1/2″ focal print pieces to the top and bottom.
Step 8 Using Pressing Paper to protect your applique, fuse the 9-1/2″ x 29-1/2″ interfacing piece to the wrong side of the pieced pillow front. Adding interfacing to the pillow top serves two purposes: It makes the zig-zag stitching on the appliques easier, and it helps give the pillow front a firmer shape. Tip: Start fusing in the center and press out toward both ends.
Step 9 Use a zig zag or other decorative stitch to secure letters in place.
Step 10 Fold the short end of (1) 9-1/2″ x 17″ focal print piece in 1/2″ and press. Fold over another 1/2″ and press. Stitch down the folded edge to secure. Make (2) backing pieces.
Step 11 Lay the pieced pillow top right side up. Position (1) backing piece on top, right side down, matching raw edges. Pin in place. Position the second backing piece on the opposite end so the hemmed edges overlap. Stitch around the outer edge of the pillow top using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Step 12 Turn the pillow cover right side out.
Step 13 To make a custom pillow insert, sew the (2) 9″ x 28-1/2″ muslin pieces around 3 sides. Turn right side out. Stuff witih fiber fill. Stitch the open end closed.
Step 14 Stuff the pillow insert inside the pillow cover and enjoy!
Love the pillow with these fall leaves!
My name is Lisa and I'm a quilter. I was bitten by the craft bug early on in life, and have dabbled in drawing, beading, photography, and fabric. I learned to sew as a young girl, making clothes for my Cabbage Patch Kid, and then got into quilting about 22 years ago and never looked back. Modern quilting is my style of choice, and I particularly love improv piecing. I currently freelance in the quilting industry, designing, writing and editing patterns, and I also design and sell my own quilt patterns. Outside of work, I spend time hanging with my husband and three boys, ideally outside or playing sports, and yes, the boys all quilt too!