Cutting is one of my least favorite parts of the sewing/quilting process. So I knew that anything that could make the cutting faster and easier was right up my alley! Enter, the Accuquilt GO! Fabric Cutter*. I have been playing around with it for a week or so, and I love it! It does require a little cutting prep work, but it's totally worth it! After I cut my rectangles the right size for the least amount of waste, I cut out 50 triangles in 2-3 minutes easy.
Today I'm going to share a tutorial with you using the Accuquilt GO! Fabric Cutter*, making a Vintage Sheet Half-Square Triangle Pillow. It's quilted and fully lined, featuring an envelope back. I used pink and yellow for mine, but you could use any colors you want. Regardless of the cutting method you use, you'll be making 25 half-square triangles that are 3.5" unfinished and 3" finished. I've including measurements for both rotary cutting and the fabric cutter:
I was sent this machine by Accuquilt in exchange for writing this post. All opinions, images and text are my own. I've used affiliate links in this post (noted with an *), which means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Sewing Level: Intermediate
Materials:
- 2 fat quarters of pink fabric**
- 2 fat quarters of yellow fabric**
- 1/2 yard of backing fabric
- 1/4 yard of binding fabric
- 18"x18" piece of muslin fabric
- 18"x18" piece of batting
- 14" pillow form
**Minimum amount required. Use additional yardage for more variety.
Cutting:
If cutting with a rotary cutter:
- (25) yellow 4" squares
- (25) pink 4" squares
If cutting with an Accuquilt GO! Fabric Cutter* with the HST-3" Triangle Die:
- (7) 4.75" x 9.5" pieces of yellow fabric
- (7) 4.75" x 9.5" pieces of pink fabric
From binding fabric:
- Cut (2) 2.5" x WOF strips
From backing fabric:
- Cut (2) 15.5"x18" pieces
If you'd like to learn more about working with vintage sheets, check out my post: How to Identify, Shop for and Sew with Vintage Sheets.
Instructions:
Use a 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise noted.
1. If you're using the fabric cutter, carefully align a few of your rectangles on the HST die and roll it through the cutter. Repeat until all your triangles are cut! If you're using a rotary cutter, cut 50 4" squares, 25 pink, 25 yellow.
2. Separate your pink and yellow pieces. Make pairs (of triangles or squares, depending on your cutting method!) with one pink and one yellow.
3. Sew your HSTs. If you're using the fabric cutter, carefully sew your sets of triangles together, making sure they feed evenly through your sewing machine. If you're making regular HSTs, you can refer to my Half-Square Triangle Tutorial if you need help!
4. Once your HSTs are all finished, be sure to press them and square up to 3.5" if necessary. I didn't do any squaring or trimming with mine, they were quite accurate!
5. I've included a diagram of my layout above if you'd like to use it, I went with an off center diamond. The nice thing about HSTs is the endless design possibilities! Go ahead and lay out your pillow top.
6. Carefully stack up your rows and mark them accordingly. Sew your rows, pressing to one side, alternating each row. For example, press the 1st, 3rd, and 5th row to the right, press the 2nd and 4th row to the left. This allows your seams to nestle together!
7. After your rows are sewn, sew them together to complete your pillow top. The top should be 14.5" square.
8. Now that the top is finished, baste it, using a muslin or scrap fabric for the backing. You won't see it, it will be the inside of the pillow. If you need a refresher on basting, you can check out my Basting Tutorial.
9. Quilt it however you'd like! For mine, I did free motion lines on the diagonal. I used loose lines in the yellow parts and tighter lines in the pink parts to play up the contrast.
10. Trim away the excess batting and backing, and square up your pillow top. It might be slightly less than 14.5" square now since the quilting squishes it up a little, that's okay!
11. Now let's make the envelope back. This method does take a little more fabric, but no hemming, yay! Take your two 18"x14.5" rectangles and fold them in half width-wise so they are now 9"x14.5". Press.
12. Top stitch along the fold you just made, 1/4"-1/8", whichever you'd like.
13. Lay one rectangle down on your cutting mat. Set your pillow top on top of it, lining up the bottom edge (raw) and one side edge (also raw). You may have a little extra on one side like me, go ahead and trim that off! Repeat with the other piece.
14. Now that everything is the right size, pin your backing pieces to the back of your pillow top. You want your top-sitched edges to both be in the center. They will overlap, that's what we want! Before starting in on the binding, I would suggest quickly basting your edges with a zig-zag to secure them. It will just make the binding go more smoothly!
15. Binding: Trim off selvedges and sew your binding strips together to
form one long strip, press seams open. Fold in half lengthwise, pressing
with your iron as you fold. Attach binding using your preferred method.
For a detailed tutorial on attaching your binding to both sides by
machine, see here.
Voila, you're finished! Enjoy your pretty new pillow!
Mine is hanging out with my other three pillows for our futon! It feels a little more complete now that there are two big ones and two little ones.
Happy Quilting!
*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
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I love that quilting style you chose. And the fabrics are so cheery. It looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteLove your pillows. Great tutorial. You really have an eye for color.
ReplyDeleteSuper cute!
ReplyDeleteLove the tutorial and that you used vintage sheets. I agree with West Michigan Quilter. You have a great eye for color!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! The colors are great!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I love it!
ReplyDeleteDarling pillows! Thanks for the tutorial. The Accuquilt cutter looks like fun!
ReplyDeletejennyy
I love the really close quilting on that pillow! I have done the least amount of quilting possible on all three of my quilts so far - now I want to try that! Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty pillow! Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! Your tutorials are great.
ReplyDeleteI think I am in love. I have been hoarding...holding onto some vintage sheets I picked up here and there at Thrift shops. I think this would be a good project for me to take a deep breath and cut into them. :)
ReplyDeleteDeb from clutteredquilter.blogspot.com
Brilliant! What a fabulous tutorial; and love the quilting by the way.
ReplyDeleteI actually just tried my first go at FMQ. I must say it is amazing. I don't know why I waited so long to try it out! Beautiful pillow, I think I'll have to try it out eventually :D
ReplyDeletelove this Jeni! thanks always for your tutorials :)
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful pillow ... the fabrics all look amazing together! You are making me wish I had one of those machines too. :) Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteSara @ thesplitstitch.com
I love your beautiful pillows.
ReplyDeleteWhat a collection of pillows, Jeni! I love how your header matches everything about this post.
ReplyDeleteI love your lovely cheery blog especially your header!! The tutorial is really good I haven't done much of this quilting without blocks so will give it a little go! Keep calm and QUILT! x
ReplyDeleteJeni - This is another project I am adding to my list! Do you ever have the ends of your hst's get pulled down into the machine - i find that my corners get pulled in and tangled. Any ideas? I am thinking of tracing or pattern paper but wonder if anyone else has had this problem? Esp. with vintage material?
ReplyDelete*A* ...wonderful!
ReplyDeletePretty,pretty and a tute for the envelope pocket on the back---yeay!!! Thanks:)
ReplyDeleteVery pretty, Jeni!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Thanks for the great tute. I've been debating a Go Baby and I'm getting closer and closer to YES! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial! I love the schematic for the off-center diamond layout. I love that layout so I know I'll be referencing it!
ReplyDeleteomg, I didn't know such a machine existed. Here I am, living in the 20th century with my rotary cutter.
ReplyDeleteThanks for playing along in the Vintage Sheet Blog link up party.
First of all, I want to say one thing about your photo sharing ability. You have done excellent work with your Flickr account & integrate that photo in your blog post! I'm beginner in sewing but, love to start project on decorative pillows. I will drill down more on it very soon!
ReplyDeleteOK you are going to think I am an idiot but i could not go further until you enlighten me - what is an HST?
ReplyDeleteHi again Jen -
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks ago I was leaving my local quilt shop when one of the workers stopped me and said - hey JoAnn, this is for you!!! It was the Accuquilt cutter!!! I was so surprised - while I was taking a quilt class downstairs my partner came in and bought me this tool!!! I was so surprised. I decided to cut into my vintage sheet stash and made the pattern that came with the die in my accuquilt - I'll have to take a picture of it sometime and send it to you. I didn't realize you have a Go Baby! I'm going to make your pillow next - thanks for such a great website/blog... I truly admire your work!!
JoAnn (sorry, too many !! I know... I lead such an exciting life ;)
I just finished my first quilting project using this pattern. Thank you so much for this. It was a great tutorial that was easy for this novice to follow. I'm super pleased with my pillow.
ReplyDeleteBright and beautiful! Love your color choices and great instructions.
ReplyDelete