Embroidery Library - Machine Embroidery Designs Inspired Project Page

Patchwork Pillow

Accent your home with a colorful patchwork pillow! Mix and match your favorite fabrics and embroidery designs to create a one-of-a-kind look.

Choose designs from all seasons for a beautiful way to freshen up your living space all year 'round.

Supplies Needed:

**18 inch by 18 inch pillow form

**1/2 yard solid colored
quilter's cotton
(for center front and borders)

**Twelve - 5 inch by 5 inch
   pieces of quitters cotton
   (prints and solids for
   outer squares)

**3/4 yard print quilter's cotton
(for back of pillow)

**Medium weight
cutaway stabilizer

**Temporary spray adhesive

**Air-erase pen

**18 inch all-purpose zipper
or invisible zipper

Design used:
Birch Leaf Trio - large

This design is also available in the following design packs:
A Autumn Shimmer Design Pack - Lg

Finished size:
18 inches x 18 inches

Project tips:
We are embroidering on quilter's cotton. For more information on how to embroider on quilter's cotton, click here.

We are also embroidering parts of the Birch Leaf Trio design using metallic thread. For more information on embroidering with metallic thread, click here.

First we will prepare the fabric for the front center square. Using an air-erase pen or other marking tool, draw a 9 1/2 inch by 9 1/2 inch square on the solid colored cotton fabric - leave a few inches of excess fabric around the shape. Then, measure and mark the center of each side of the shape by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines connecting the marks; these lines will be used for hooping.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric. Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design.

After the design has finished, cut out the shape. We left the stabilizer on the backside of the fabric as to avoid seeing the edges of the stabilizer through the fabric.

To prepare the outer squares for the front of the pillow, cut twelve pieces of quilter's cotton to 5 inches by 5 inches. We are using four different print and solid fabrics.

Lay out the center embroidered square and the outer squares how you would like them.

Align the side squares (the squares that are just to the right and left sides of the center square) together, right sides together, and pin in place. Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the pinned edge only.

With an iron, press the back seam open.

Align the assembled side squares on top of the embroidered center square, right sides together, and pin in place. Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the pinned edges only and then press the back seams open.

Next, align the top outer squares together, in pairs of two, with the right sides together. Pin in place, sew a 1/4 inch seam along the pinned edge, and press the seams.

We will now align the inner edges of the center squares of each pair together, right sides together, pin in place, sew a 1/4 inch seam, and press. Repeat this process for the row of bottom outer squares.

Now, align the assembled top and bottom outer squares with the assembled center/side portion, right sides together. Pin in place and sew a 1/4 inch seam along the pinned edges only. Then, press the back seams.

To prepare the top and bottom front borders, cut two pieces of fabric to 17 1/2 inch long by 1 1/4 inch high. Then, align the pieces with the top and bottom edges of the assembled front piece, right sides together. Pin in place, sew a 1/4 inch seam along the pinned edges, and press.

To prepare the side front borders, cut two pieces of fabric to 19 inches long by 1 1/4 inch high. Align the pieces with the sides of the assembled front piece, right sides together. Pin in place, sew a 1/4 inch seam along the pinned edges, and press.

When preparing the back fabric piece, lay the assembled front piece on top of the print fabric and cut out the shape. Align the pieces together, right sides together, and pin in place at the top and sides. Next, align the bottom edge of the zipper with the bottom edge of the back fabric with the right sides together. Pin in place.

Using a zipper foot on your machine, sew a seam along the bottom edge of the zipper.

Last, align the opposite edge of the zipper with the bottom edge of the front fabric, right sides together. Pin in place and sew a seam along the outer edge of the zipper. Unzip the zipper and sew a 1/2 inch seam along the side and top edges of the pillow. Turn the fabric right side out, insert the pillow inside, zip it up, and you are done!

Play with different colors, fabrics, textures, and designs to create personalized pillows for friends and family!

Click here for a printable version of these project instructions.

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