To add interest to an otherwise simple design, the center of this pillow features a traditional quilt block made from four triangles. Mix and match fabric colors and prints and this pillow will look brand new each time.

In this project, we use the term Fat Quarter. Please don't be offended. It simply means a more generously proportioned "quarter yard" of fabric that measures 18" x 22". Generous Quarter just isn't as snappy as Fat Quarter. To understand this you need to do a little math. Fabric is measured in yards. A yard is 36". When you ask your fabric store to cut a yard of fabric, you get 36" by the width of the fabric. Quilting cottons are usually 44" wide. So, if you buy a yard of quilting cotton, you'll have a cut piece that measures 36" x 44". Now, if you'd stepped up to the counter and ordered a quarter yard of fabric, you'd get a piece that is 9" (36" divided by 4) by 44". But a Fat Quarter is actually a full quarter of that original piece we got when we ordered our single yard of fabric (36" x 44"). If I divide that original piece (36" x 44") into four equal pieces, each one will be 18" x 22". A Fat Quarter. Do not call your Aunt Louise a Fat Quarter; she'll hit you upside the head with a ruler.

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome Magnolia 7318)

Fabric and Other Supplies

• Fat quarter (18" x 22") Fabric A (for ½ of internal square)
• Fat quarter (18" x 22") Fabric B (for other ½ of internal square)
• ½ yard Fabric C (for inner border)
• ¼ yard of Fabric D (for outer border)
• ½ yard backing fabric
• All-purpose thread in colors to match fabrics
• 20" pillow form
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Pins
• Ruler
• Iron and ironing board

Getting Started

1. Cut one 8 7/8" square from Fabric A and Fabric B.
2. Draw a diagonal line on the back of each square. Cut on this line. When finished, you will have four triangles, two of each fabric.
3. Cut one 2½" strip from Fabric C. Then recut this strip into four pieces: two pieces 2½" x 8½" and two pieces 2½" x 12½".
4. Cut two 4 ½” strips from Fabric D. Then cue each of these strips into a two pieces to give you four pieces of fabric: two pieces 4½" x 12½" and two pieces 4½" x 20".
5. Cut two pieces of backing fabric 20½" x 14¼".

At Your Sewing Machine

Note: Use a ¼" seam allowance for this project.

Pillow Top:

1. With right sides together, sew a triangle of Fabric A to a triangle of Fabric B along one short side.
   
2. Repeat with the other two triangles.
3. Iron them open, with the seam toward Fabric A.
4. Place the two pieces right sides together and sew along the long side. This will complete the center square. (TIP: You can ‘nest’ the two pieces together along the seam. Because you pressed the seams toward Fabric A above, the seams will be going in opposite directions, which allow you to align them perfectly.)
   
5. Add a 2½" 8½" Fabric C piece to the top and bottom of the center square. Press.
   
6. Add a 2½" x 12½" Fabric C piece to both sides of the center square. Press.
   
7. Stitch a 4½" x 12½" Fabric D piece to the top and bottom of the 12½" center square.
   
8. Add a 4½" x 20½" Fabric D piece to both sides to complete the pillow top.
   

The pillow sample in our photo features mitered corners instead of square corners. A mitered corner is a corner seam that comes together at a precise 45˚ angle, like a picture frame. This is an advanced technique.

Pillow Back:

1. Take one piece of your backing fabric, and turn under the right side of the fabric ½" along the entire width of the piece (the 20½" side in our sample). Press.
2. Fold under an additional 1½" and press.
3. Edgestitch along the folded edge to make a clean double turn hem.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 with the other piece of backing fabric.
5. Take both pieces and overlap the hems to yield the correct finished height (20½" in our sample). Pin hems together.
   
6. Working as close to the edge as possible, stitch the sides of hems together to secure and create one piece. It's easier to work with one piece to stitch front to back.
   

Finish the Pillow:

1. Place the pillow top right sides together with the pillow back.
2. Pin in place.
3. Stitch around all four edges of the pillow cover.
4. Trim all four corners.
5. Using the envelope opening on the back, turn the pillow covering right side out. Push out the trimmed corners from the inside to make nice, square corners on the outside. Use your finger or a blunt edge tool, like a large knitting needle.
6. Insert the pillow form and fluff out the corners.

Other machines suitable for this project include the Pfaff Select 3.0 or the White Style-Maker 3100.

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