Pleated Effect Strip Pillows Tutorial

I love making pillow covers to make simple changes to home decor.

I'm happy to share a quick method to make

pleated fabric pillows.

These covers can be made with one fabric or many different fabrics.

Use this technique to make your own shaped pillows too.

Let's get started!

Pleated Effect Strip Pillow tutorial

(Tree pillow instructions in italic)

Supplies

Fabric - Island Batik Season's Splendor

1 - 16 1/2" square for the pillow front

(for the tree, cut one of tree shape from fabric)

22 - 3" x width of fabric strips for the pleats 

(this is for the 16" square the Tree requires less)

2 - 10" x 16 1/2" rectangles of fabric for the envelope back of the square pillow

(the back of the tree pillow is another tree shape cut out of fabric)

2 - 2 1/4" x Width of Fabric for the binding for the square pillow

1 - 16 1/2" square of batting

(the tree is the tree shape cut from batting)

1 - 16 1/2" square of muslin (won't be seen)

(the tree is the tree shape cut from muslin)

fabric marking pencil 

Fabric basting spray

Thread

Iron and ironing surface

14" - 16" pillow form

Sewing Machine and other basic sewing essentials.

(for the tree - freezer paper to draw the pattern and fiberfill for stuffing)

Instructions

Step 1:  Cut all fabric pieces as listed above.  (For the tree, the pattern needs to be made.  Draw a 16 1/2" square on the paper side freezer paper.  Find the center and draw the tree shape with a stem.  The trunk on this one is about 3 1/2".  With the fabric folded to cut 2 trees, put the shiny side of the freezer paper down on the fabric and press it to stick to the fabric.  Cut out two tree shapes from fabric, one from muslin, and one from batting.)

Step 2:  Spray baste the batting between the muslin and the pillow front fabric.  I like SpraynBond Basting Spray.

Step 3:  With a ruler and fabric marking pencil, mark the pillow front fabric with lines 3/4" apart.  If you end up a little off, it is ok as long as the lines are straight.  Excess can be trimmed off later.

(For the tree, mark with 3/4" spaced lines.  Start at the base of the tree first and work up with the lines and then mark the stem starting at the base of the tree shape. The last line may not be exactly 3/4" from the bottom, but the excess can be trimmed later.)

Step 4:  Fold and press all of the 3" fabric strips lengthwise.  

Step 5:  Starting at one end of the pillow front, place one fabric strip with the raw edges on the drawn line.  Leave a little excess at the beginning and end of the line.  The excess will be trimmed away later.  Stitch 1/4" from the raw edges of the folded strip across the pillow front.  Continue to stitch the strips across the pillow front. 

(Start at the top point of the tree to sew the strips.  The strips will be folded down later.  Be sure to leave excess at the beginning and the end of the strips to cover the pillow front completely once the strip is folded down.  Sew strips across the tree and change colors for the lines across the trunk.)

Step 6:  Once all the strips are stitched onto the pillow front, press each strip in the opposite direction to cover the seam raw edges.

Step 7:  (Optional - if you don't plan to wash the pillows excessively, this step probably isn't necessary.  But, if you want a more professional finish, do this step.)  Encase the raw edges by stitching across the strips again.  Stitch 1/4" from the pressed edge.  Start stitching across the strips with the strip that was sewn onto the pillow front last.  Continue stitching until all the strips are stitched.

Step 8:  Once the strips are stitched there may be a gap at the top.  Simply trim a strip to fit and stitch it to the top.  The square pillow needed 1/4" trimmed from the raw edges and then it was stitched across the top. (The tree had a very small piece added to the top.)  

Next, turn the pillow top over with the right side down on a cutting surface and use the original background to trim the excess fabric away.  Stitch around the pillow top a little less than 1/4" to hold the pleats down during the final construction of the pillow.

Step 9:  To finish the square pillow, hem the 2 backing pieces on one of the 16 1/2" sides.  Place the two backing pieces with the hemmed sides in the center overlapping and pin to the back of the pillow front wrong sides together.  Stitch around the pillow 1/8" to hold the back to the front and then add the binding with your favorite method.  Insert the pillow form.

(For the tree, place the tree shaped back fabric on top of the tree front right sides together and pin.  Stitch 1/4" from the edge around the tree and the sides of the trunk.  Leave the bottom of the trunk open for turning.  After stitching is finished, trim off the corners, turn right side out, and push out the corners.)  

(Stuff the tree pillow with fiberfill and slip stitch the bottom of the tree closed.)

Use creativity to make your own shapes and designs with

this Pleated Effect Strip Pillow technique.

Thank You Teachers!!!

I've heard so many say how grateful we should be to the teachers

for all they do.

These times of "stay at home"

have taught us to appreciate these unsung heroes.

They've stepped up to teach in a new way.

I'm over on the Thermoweb blog today

with a great project to show how much you love

the teacher in your life.

It's great to surprise a teacher with a doorstep gift

and

this tote is perfect to fill with all the presents.

Then it's a tote for all the essentials your hero needs to take to school every day.

The free pattern and tutorial is available

on the 

Thermoweb blog.

Thank you to the teachers, our HEROES!!

Words to Grow By Block of the Month - May

Today is the first day of May

and I have the block finished

for the

Words to Grow By

Block of the Month.

Our team of designers has been so busy with this

Block of the Month

 and

love showing the new blocks each month.

Joan at Moosestash Quilting

is the designer for May

and

there is 1 applique block this month.

So perfect for May.  Right?

You can find a list of the fabric requirements and more information about the

Block of the Month by clicking HERE.

Bloom

I love printing the applique patterns right on the fusible adhesive with

 HeatnBond EZ Print Lite 

(no tracing!)

Find Joan's pattern information by clicking HERE.

Join us for this fun Block of the Month. 

 There are over 3500 friends on the Facebook group and we are having a blast.

Everyone is so encouraging.

Come have some fun with us.

Stitching Sunshine Blog Hop Sign Ups

Are you ready for a little sunshine? We have all been through the wringer lately.

We will be celebrating sunshine and the color yellow in June

with a blog hop.

What is a Blog Hop?

It's like a "show and tell" online.

Our blog hops feature sewing and quilting and are like joining a quilt guild without leaving home.  Once the theme (challenge) is presented we set to work sewing.

We inspire each other with projects, tutorials, or patterns.

Stitching Sunshine Blog Hop

I have been craving a little sunshine in my life.

Something happy and fun.

No more cloudy days and blah.

SO

Let's stitch something up with the color yellow or with a little sunshine. 

 It doesn't have to be a quilt, by the way.

Let's celebrate getting out of the doldrums and make some bright happy projects.

It doesn't have to be only yellow or only sunshine.

Make it with any other colors, just have some yellow.

Anything will do.  It's your interpretation of
Stitching Sunshine!

The blog hop rules:  

sorry, there has to be a little organization...

Post your project on your assigned day.

Have a giveaway or don't have a giveaway. It's totally optional!

Visit everyone's blog on the list and leave a sweet comment. Make friends!!!!

Are you in?

Send me an email with the following information:
Your first name
Your email address
Your blog name

Your blog URL

Subject Line:  Sunshine

PLEASE, email me the info.

I do know most of you, but if you don't send the info, I have to look up all your information.

If you have emailed me and don't hear from me within a few days, please email me again or contact me on Facebook.  Sometimes Hotmail eats my homework...lol

Remember, this is for fun.
Let's play.

Grandmother's Favorite Quilt Along

When the Fat Quarter Shop asked if I would make a quilt block for the 

Grandmother's Favorite,

I took one look at the block

and couldn't wait to make one.

The Grandmother's Favorite Quilt Along is part of the

Fat Quarter Shop's 

Classic and Vintage Series

where they focus on traditional quilt blocks

and add a modern touch.

With each block in the series, the block pattern and video tutorial are FREE.

You can find the Grandmother's Favorite Quilt Block Pattern

HERE

and

the video tutorial HERE.

Once you've mastered the quilt block, a quilt pattern is available for purchase

with 4 different sizes included.

I used Curiosity fabrics by Michael Miller for my whimsical block.

Have fun making your own Grandmother's Favorite

and

joining the Quilt Along

with me!