For this very uniquely shaped pillow, we wanted specific parts of our fabric designs showing on each panel. We also wanted each set of coordinating panels to match. To make this happen, we had to ‘fussy cut’ the triangles from our fabric, which means we centered our triangle pattern on the exact part of the fabric we wanted to show. We maneuvered the pattern piece until we had our fabric design element centered just the way we liked it. Then we pinned and cut. This process takes more time and more fabric, but the result is a dynamic, perfectly symmetrical pillow.

For this very uniquely shaped pillow, we wanted specific parts of our fabric designs showing on each panel. We also wanted each set of coordinating panels to match. To make this happen, we had to ‘fussy cut’ the triangles from our fabric, which means we centered our triangle pattern on the exact part of the fabric we wanted to show. We maneuvered the pattern piece until we had our fabric design element centered just the way we liked it. Then we pinned and cut. This process takes more time and more fabric, but the result is a dynamic, perfectly symmetrical pillow.

This pillow follows the exact same directions as our Elegant Hexagonal Pillow from the Citrus Holiday collection. The only difference is this version has no tassels.

We choose just two coordinating fabrics for our pillow. However, the pillow is made from twelve individual triangle pieces, six for the top and six for the bottom, so you could use scrap fabric cuts and create a kaleidoscope of up to twelve different fabrics.

Our Pretty Prints Please projects were made using fabrics from the collections of seven fabulous fabric designers: Amy Butler, Valori Wells, Anna Marie Horner, Erin McMorris, Tina Givens, Sandi Henderson and Paula Prass. Their beautiful prints were accented with turquoise and zebra fleece and a pink designer solid from Free Spirit. To see how we developed our mix-and-match, teen-friendly palette, read our article: Pretty Prints Please: Teen Room Makeover. To learn more about pulling prints together, read our tutorial: Tips For Mixing Fabric Collections.

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome DC4030)

Fabric and Other Supplies

• Fabric for first 6 of 12 triangle pillow panels: ½ yard of 45″ wide fabric: we used: Sandy Henderson’s Farmers Market in Petal Party-Pink
• Fabric for second 6 of 12 triangle pillow panels: ½ yard of 45″ wide fabric: we used Tina Givens’ Choloe’s Imagination in Evening Light-Pink
• Scrap fabric for covering two center buttons: we used: Sandy Henderson’s Farmers Market in Petal Party-Pink
• Button covering kit (1″ – 1½”) to complete two buttons
• All purpose thread
• Button or carpet thread
• Large bag of Polyfil to stuff pillow
• See-through ruler
• Fabric pencil
• Iron and ironing board
• Hand sewing needle
• 4 – 6″ doll maker’s or upholstery needle
• Straight pins
• Scissor or rotary cutter and mat

Getting Started

1. Download and print out pattern for triangle piece.
2. Placing pattern on the fold of your first fabric (Sandy Henderson’s Farmers Market in Petal Party-Pink), and following the explanation outlined above, ‘fussy cut’ six pieces.
3. Placing pattern on the fold of your second fabric (Tina Givens’ Choloe’s Imagination in Evening Light-Pink), fussy cut six pieces.
   
4. Make two covered buttons per pillow, using a Cover Button Kit and following manufacturer’s directions. If you would like to pad your buttons, place a small piece of polyfil or quilt batting on top of the fabric before placing into the plastic form. For more information on covered buttons, we have two tutorials: Button Kit Covered Buttons and DIY Covered Buttons (No Kit Required).

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

1. Take your first two triangle pieces and pin them right sides together along one long edge. Stitch, using a ½” seam allowance.
   
2. Take the third triangle in your pattern and pin it, right sides together, to the two-piece unit you just created. Stitch, using a ½” seam allowance.
   
3. Make sure your raw edges are even so your seam will make a nice straight line across the center of the pillow.
   
4. Continue stitching triangles in this manner until you complete a hexagon (that’s six triangles for those of you who, like me, dozed a little during high school geometry). You can alternate fabric prints as shown in our picture or create your own design.
5. Press all seams open as you go so your hexagon front/top will lay flat.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 to form the hexagon for the back/bottom.
7. With right sides together, pin the front hexagon to the back hexagon. Use a ½” seam allowance to stitch around the outer edge, leaving an unstitched opening of 5” – 6”. You’ll use this opening to turn the pillow right side out and to stuff in the filler.
   
8. After stitching, clip the seam allowance on all six points so you’ll get a nice, sharp point when turned right side out. Remember, be careful to NOT clip through your stitching.
   
9. Turn the pillow right side out through the 5” x 6” opening.
10. Stuff the pillow with polyester fiber fill to an adequate thickness. We like to use a lot of stuffing because it makes the pillow look much more professional.
    
11. Tuck in the seam allowance at the 5” – 6” opening and slip stitch closed.
12. Using a long needle (either a 4” – 6” doll maker’s needle or a 4” – 6” upholstery needle) threaded with button or carpet thread, sew a few stitches through the center of the pillow. Pull these stitches very tight and knot off with several knots. This will pull the center of the pillow in and allow your covered buttons to sink into the center.
    
13. Using a smaller hand sewing needle, hand stitch a covered button to the center of each side of the pillow.

Other machines suitable for this project include the Bernina aurora 450 and the Pfaff expression 2.0.