Scrappy Patchwork Pillow

I made this patchwork pillow on a whim. I had a few pieces of fabric left over from a reversible capelet that I made this fall.

I was so in love with the fabrics that I knew I needed to “use it up”, so the following is what transpired.

Step one:

Make a template for the square sizes you wish to use. I used 2 index cards and made the template as long as the shortest side of the index card.

Step two:

Cut out squares using template (I cut out 18 squares each of 2 different fabrics)

Step three:

Lay out the pieces in the layout that looks best

Step four:

Sew each square to the square that laid directly above it on your layout. I used a 1/6 of an inch seam when sewing the pieces together. This should make a strip of 6 squares.

Do this for each row until you have 6 rows of 6 squares.

Step five:

Lay out the strips next to each other to make sure that the pattern is still how you like it and that you don’t have 2 like fabrics in each row next to each other.

Step six:

Sew the adjacent row to the one next to it ensuring that you have the seams lined up for each square

Step seven:

Iron the entire piece using steam, if possible, to keep it flat

Step eight:

Cut out a coordinating fabric piece the size of your finished piece for the backer

Step nine:

Place both pieces with right sides together lining up edges. You may pin if you wish.

Sew around the entire perimeter leaving a 5 inch opening at the end of your run of stitches for placing the stuffing through.

Step ten:

Turn the pillow case right side out by pulling it through the opening.

Use a pair of scissors or a pencil to push out the corners from the inside so they are points on the outside.

Step eleven:

Stuff the pillow to desired firmness

Step twelve:

Fold over each fabric side at the opening and pin the folded edges together to make a finished edge.

Then sew along this edge and snip all loose threads on the pillow.

Step thirteen:

Place in a place of admiration and enjoy!

Laura Hooker is a full time mother, wife, Registered Nurse, and craft a holic! I came about this wonderful world of crafting at an early age, and find much inspiration from my lovely friends in blog land. I am partial to the sewing machine crafts, and really enjoy coming up with and displaying my own patterns and tutorials.  I have a five year old little boy named Sam Hayden. He is the light in my soul…my true inspiration. I blog about family life and at Lala… A Mountain Mama