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    Home » Sewing

    How to Make a Bench Pillow using your Favorite Quilt Blocks

    Updated: Nov 24, 2020 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · Leave a Comment

    quilted christmas pillow on gray bed

    Turn any 3 quilt blocks into a festive bench pillow with our bench pillow pattern. This pattern uses 3 Christmas Quilt blocks creating a fun Christmas Bench pillow. You can substitute any blocks to create a pillow for any holiday!

    quilted christmas pillow on gray bed
    Table of Contents
    • Pillow Back Options
    • How to Adapt the Pattern for Other Size Quilt Blocks
    • Where to Get the Santa Hat Pattern
    • Santa’s Hat Shop Quilt Along Schedule

    Welcome to week 3 of our Santa’s Hat Shop Quilt along. Technically this week is “catch up” week for the quilt along. So I hope you’re busy piecing all of your blocks.

    This week for the quilt along, I’m sharing a tutorial to turn your quilt blocks into a bench pillow. If you prefer to make a pillow instead of a whole quilt, I hope that you’ll enjoy today’s tutorial.

    quilted pillow top on white table

    This bench pillow pattern features 2 Santa Hat blocks and one Santa Belt quilt block. It is also machine quilted but you do not have to quilt it if you don’t want to.

    Pillow Back Options

    To make things simple I created an envelope back for my pillow but it’s also really easy to create a zippered back for the pillow using our tutorial. If you go this route I’d make the zipper run along the short side of your pillow.

    (note: the measurements refer to the quilt block size BEFORE finishing).

    Since this pattern calls for ANY 3 10 ½″ quilt blocks you can use it as a base for a large variety of bench pillows. Think of how cute it would be for Halloween or with hearts for Valentine’s Day.

    I used a similar method to make a cute Halloween quilt block tote a couple of years ago!

    quilted pillow on bed

    How to Adapt the Pattern for Other Size Quilt Blocks

    If you want to make this pillow using other size quilt blocks, simply size the sashing up or down by ½ the difference in block size.

    For example; if you want to use 12 ½″ quilt blocks, you simply need to REDUCE the width of sashing by 1″ for each piece.

    Similarly, if you want to use 9 ½″ quilt blocks you would INCREASE your sashing width by ½″ on each side.

    The largest quilt block you can use for this method is 14 ½″ square. I would not recommend this method with smaller than a 9 ½″ block.

    santa hat quilt blocks on white cutting mat
    quilted christmas pillow on gray bed

    Bench Pillow Pattern

    Melissa Mortenson
    A pattern for a 14" x 36" Quilted Bench Pillow sewn from 10" quilt blocks
    5 from 2 votes
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    Prep Time 2 hrs
    Active Time 1 hr
    Total Time 3 hrs

    Equipment

    • Sewing Machine
    • Basic Sewing Tools
    • Rotary Cutter
    • Cutting Mat

    supplies

    • 3 completed Quilt Blocks Blocks should be 10 ½" x 10 ½" BEFORE they are sewn into the pillow
    • ¼ Yard Fabric For sashing around blocks
    • ½ Yard Fabric For pillow back
    • 1 Pillow Form 14" x 36"
    • 1 piece Batting or fusible fleece at least 15" x 36 If you do not want to quilt your pillow front you can use fusible fleece. If you want to quilt your pillow front use batting.

    Instructions
     

    Cutting Directions

    • Cut 2 pieces 3" x 14 ½" from sashing fabric
      Cut 2 pieces 2 ½" x 30 ½" from sashing fabric
    • Cut 1 piece 14 ½" x WOF (width of fabric) from pillow backing fabric. Cut this piece in half so that it is approx 14 ½" x 21" leaving the selvage edges attached.

    Create the Pillow Front

    • Sew the 3 quilt blocks together in a row.
      grid illustration in gray and white for pillow construction
    • Sew one of the 2 ½" x 30 ½" pieces of sashing fabric to the top of the blocks.
    • Sew the other 2 ½" x 30 ½" piece of sashing fabric to the bottom of the blocks. Press the seams to one side.
      grid illustration in gray and white for pillow construction
    • Sew one 3" x 14 ½" piece of sashing fabric to each side of the sewn pieces.

    Quilt

    • If desired quilt the blocks. If you are quilting the blocks I recommend creating a "quilt sandwich" with the quilted blocks & cotton batting with scrap fabric on the back. You can easily quilt this size pillow on a home sewing machine.
      If you do not wish to quilt your pillow front, press the fusible fleece onto the wrong side of the sewn quilt blocks according to the package directions.
      quilted pillow top on white table

    Sew Pillow Back

    • Hem the edge of the pillow back pieces by turning under the selvage edge of both of the 14 ½" x 21" pieces ½" and press. Stitch in place.
    • Place one of the pillow back pieces on top of the quilted pillow front piece right sides facing. Pin in place. Place the other pillow back piece on top of this. The pieces will overlap.
      grid illustration in gray and white for pillow construction
    • Stitch around the perimeter of the pillow using a ½" seam allowance.
      grid illustration in gray and white for pillow construction
    • Turn right side out and insert the pillow form.

    Video

    Notes

    My pillow is created using 3 Quilt Blocks from my Santa Hat Quilt Pattern. You can use any quilt blocks from any pattern that you like. 
    I have included a link to a YouTube tutorial teaching you how to assemble the quilt block. You do still need to buy the pattern even with the video. 
    The blocks should measure 10 ½″ square before finishing. 
    The pillow can be machine quilted or left unquilted.  
    PRINT
    Tried this tutorial?Let us know how it was!

    Where to Get the Santa Hat Pattern

    Santa’s Hat Shop Quilt Along Schedule

    If you’re particpating in our quilt along or stumbling on this post at a later date, here is the scheudle for the quilt along. It incluses links to all of the blog posts shared in the project to date.

    • All About the Quilt Along
    • November 4th – Kick-Off & Design Suggestions
    • November 11th- Begin Piecing Blocks – with video tutorial
    • November 18th- Pattern for Santa’s Belt Quilt Block
    • How to Make a Bench Pillow Tutorial
    • November 25th- Catch Up Week
    • December 9th- Finishing

    More Christmas Pillow Patterns

    Gnome Christmas Pillow Pattern

    Quilted Star Christmas Pillows

    Easy Log Cabin Block Christmas Pillows

    More than 25 Cute Things to Sew for Christmas

    quilted christmas pillow on gray bed

    More Projects You May Enjoy

    • Sewing Machine Needles Explained & Printable Guide
    • Color Combination Ideas for your Next Quilt or Sewing Project
    • 25 Free Patchwork Quilted Pillow Patterns
    • Mini Fabric Envelope Sewing Pattern

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

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    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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