Be Squared Quilted Pillow Tutorial

Be Squared Pillow Tutorial, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Happy Wednesday! How about that pillow tutorial I promised last week?  This simple and sweet modern quilted pillow was featuring in the Color Me Retro video! It was made in a week of crazed sewing in January, so I don't have photos of the steps, just diagrams.  Regardless, I still wanted to share it with you!  I'll be sharing a tutorial for the triangle pillow from the video next week!

This pillow showcases the Dulcette prints from Color Me Retro!  It finishes at 18"! Let's dive in!

Be Squared Pillow Tutorial, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Sewing Level: Intermediate


Materials:
- 3 print fat quarters
- 3 solid fat quarters
- 22"x22" square of batting
- 5/8 yard of interior backing fabric
- 1/2 yard of pillow backing fabric
- 1/4 yard of binding fabric
- 18" or 20" pillow form

Be Squared Pillow Tutorial, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Cutting:
From dark blue print:
- Cut (3) 2.5"x22" strips
- Subcut 1 strip into (3) 2.5" squares and (3) 4.5"x2.5" rectangles
- Subcut 1 strip into (3) 4.5"x2.5" rectangles and (1) 6.5"x2.5" rectangle
- Subcut remaining strip into (2) 6.5"x2.5" rectangles

From light blue print:
- Cut (2) 2.5"x22" strips
- Subcut 1 strip into (2) 2.5" squares and (3) 4.5"x2.5" rectangles.
- Subcut remaining strip into (1) 4.5"x2.5" rectangle and (2) 6.5"x2.5" rectangles

From red print:
- Cut (4) 2.5"x22" strips
- Subcut 1 strip into (4) 2.5" squares and (2) 4.5"x2.5" rectangles
- Subcut 1 strip into (4) 4.5"x2.5" rectangles
- Subcut 1 strip into (3) 6.5"x2.5" rectangles
- Subcut remaining strip into (1) 6.5"x2.5" rectangles and (2) 4.5"x2.5" rectangles

From dark blue solid:
- Cut (3) 2.5" squares

From light blue solid:
- Cut (2) 2.5" squares

From red solid:
- Cut (4) 2.5" squares

From interior backing fabric:
- Cut (1) 22"x22" square

From pillow backing fabric:
- Cut (1) 13.5"xWOF strip
- Subcut into (2) 13.5"x18.5" rectangles

From binding fabric:
- Cut (2) 2.5"xWOF strips

Instructions:

Be Squared Pillow Tutorial, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

*Use a 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise noted.*

1.  Sew a 2.5" dark blue print square to the right side of a 2.5" dark blue solid square.  Press seam open.

2. Sew a 2.5"x4.5" dark blue print piece to the bottom of the pieced unit.  Press seam open.

3. Sew a 2.5"x4.5" dark blue print piece to the left side of the pieced unit.  Press seam open.

4. Sew a 2.5"x6.5" dark blue print piece to the top of the pieced unit.  Press seam open.

You've completed one block! Trim to 6.5" square. Repeat steps 1-4 to create three dark blue blocks, four red blocks, and two light blue blocks.

Be Squared Pillow Tutorial, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

5. Arrange the blocks as shown in the diagram above, three rows of three blocks each.  Piece together the blocks in each row.  Press seams in one direction, alternating directions every other row.

Be Squared Pillow Tutorial, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

6. Sew rows together, press seams open.

7.  Baste and quilt pillow top as desired. Trim quilted pillow top to 18.5" square.

Be Squared Pillow Tutorial, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

8. Create envelope backing using the two 13.5"x18.5" rectangles.  Take one rectangle and turn the long edge down 1/2" towards the wrong side, press.  Turn down again 1/2", press.  Topstitch closed. Repeat with remaining rectangle.

Be Squared Pillow Tutorial, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

9. Pin one backing piece wrong sides together with the back of the pillow, lining up the raw edges with the sides and bottom of the pillow.  Pin the remaining piece to the top of the pillow, overlapping the first.

10. Stitch around the pillow top, securing the backing in place.

11. Apply binding to the pillow using your preferred method.  I like to attach it by machine to both sides! You can find my binding tutorial here.

Be Squared Pillow Tutorial, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Voila! You're done!

Hope you've enjoyed this tutorial!