Quilt Block Pillowby Ellen March

3 FREEDesigns

“Quilt Block Pillow”– 2 –

Read all instructions before beginning the project.

Supply List• Hand embroidery design (no larger than 5” square)

• 8” square of Sulky Fuse ’n Stitch™ stabilizer

• 8-1/2” x 11” sheet of Sulky Stick ’n Stitch™ stabilizer

• (3) spools of coordinating Sulky 12 wt Cotton Petites™ thread

• Cotton + Steel 50 wt Cotton thread (piecing & optional quilting)

• #24 Chenille needle (for hand embroidery)

• 80/12 Organ Universal needle (for construction)

• 12” pillow form

• 13” square of fusible foam interfacing (optional)

• Assorted fabric solids & prints (colors mentioned according to sample for reference when piecing; choose the colors you like best)

Fabric• 13” square (pillow backing; gray print)

• 5 1/8” square (center embellished square; tangerine solid)

• (4) 3-1/2” squares (orange print A & B)

• (4) 4-5/8” squares (1 of each teal and/or gray print cut into half-square trian-gles)

• (2) 4-5/8” squares (orange print C; cut into half-square triangles)

• Orange/white print center border strips

1-1/2” x 5-1/8” strip (1) 1-1/2” x 6-1/8” strip (2) 1 -1/2” x 7-1/8” strip (1)

3 Free Designs included with this project!

This pieced pillow features a solid fabric in the center, which is a great canvas for hand embroidery, machine embroidery or decorative quilting. The featured “Keep Austin Weird” Texas design is a Sulky exclusive.

“Quilt Block Pillow”– 3 –

Embroidery EmbellishmentThe featured center square is embellished with hand embroidery.

Prepare the fabric by fusing a piece of Sulky Fuse ’n Stitch to the fabric wrong side. This stabilizer will remain with the pillow after construction for additional support throughout use.

Print the chosen embroidery design onto a sheet of Stick ‘n Stitch, with the printer setting on the lightest ink setting. Cut out the design, leaving an 1/8” perimeter beyond the design outline.

Remove the paper backing and place the embroidery design template onto the center fabric square right side.

Thread the Chenille needle with one strand of Sulky Cotton Petites in the color for the centermost portion of the design.

Begin stitching, using the desired hand embroidery stitches. For the featured sample, a satin stitch was used for “Austin,” and backstitches were used for the remainder of the design.

At the beginning and end of each stitch sequence, leave long thread tails to weave into the embroidery wrong side, avoiding knots.

“Quilt Block Pillow”– 4 –

Embroidery Embellishment continuedWhen embroidery is complete, rinse away the top stabilizer under running water until dissolved. Let the fabric dry, and then press from the wrong side.

“Quilt Block Pillow”– 5 –

PiecingUse a ¼” seam allowance for piecing and press the seams toward the darker fabric.

Stitch the center border strips to the embellished center block.

Lay out the half-square triangles (HSTs) around the center block until satisfied with the fabric print placement.

“Quilt Block Pillow”– 6 –

Piecing continuedStitch one gray/teal print triangle to one orange print triangle, centering the orange edge along the gray/teal edge (it will not fit the entire length).

Position the adjacent gray/teal triangle along the adjacent orange edge; stitch.

Continue to stitch each HST; trim the edges so they’re even

“Quilt Block Pillow”– 7 –

Piecing continuedStitch the orange squares to the HST units in rows, creating the upper and lower rows.

Position the adjacent gray/teal triangle along the adjacent orange edge; stitch.

Continue to stitch each HST; trim the edges so they’re even.

“Quilt Block Pillow”– 8 –

Pillow ConstructionFuse the foam interfacing to the pillow backing square, if using. The foam interfacing gives extra body to the pillow, filling in edges and corners with bulk.

Stitch the pillow front to the pillow back with right sides together, leaving a 5” opening along the lower edge for turning.

Clip the corners and trim the seams to ¼”, leaving the opening seam allowance the same length.

Turn the pillow right side out through the opening. Insert the pillow form through the opening. Slipstitch the opening closed, using the Chenille needle and a strand of Sulky Cotton Petites for extra strength.

“Tulip” Embroidery Design

Design by Amy Barickmanfrom the book Stitched Style

https://amybarickman.com

“Quilt Block Pillow”– 10 –

“Keep Austin Weird” Embroidery Design

“Quilt Block Pillow”– 11 –

“State of Texas” Embroidery Design