patchwork pillow: a tutorial

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared a tutorial. This one adds a splash of color without a lot hassle. You can make a whimsical disappearing nine-patch pillow for your child’s room or your sofa in no time flat and it’s a great project for beginners. If you’re still learning to sew in a straight line, this patchwork pattern is pretty forgiving. Please note that all seam allowances are 1/4″.

1. Select your fabrics. I chose five contrasting cotton prints for the front and a white cotton for the back.

2. Cut out 9 squares. Mine are 6″ x 6″.

3. Arrange your squares however you like. Keep in mind that the square in the very center will be split into four pieces. The ones in each of the four corners will remain whole.

4. Stitch the squares together in strips of three. (You’ll have three strips of three squares). Press seams flat.

5. Stitch the three strips together. Now you have one large patchwork square. Press the seams flat.

6. Cut your square into four equal parts.

7. Rearrange the parts until you get the desired effect.

8. Stitch the four parts together and press the seams flat.

9. Lay the backing fabric on top of the patchwork square, right sides facing.

10. Stitch around the edge, leaving 3″ opening for turning.

11. Turn right side out and stuff with polyfill.

12. Top-stitch all the way around the pillow, 1/4″ from the outside edge, to secure the layers and seal the opening.

13. Lay down and take a nap.

Thank you for the warm reception at Solstice Letters yesterday. I’m there again today. If you’d like to contribute photos for the project, all the details are there.