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Patchwork Plaid Quilted Pillow Tutorial

I’m excited to introduce a new feature on the blog, a Pillow of the Month series! Each month Amy Ball will be sharing with you a tutorial to make a beautiful quilted pillow! She’s kicking things off this month with a beautiful wintery blue patchwork pillow tutorial!

woman holding blue plaid quilted pillow

January is always a great time for a sewing room to sort out and, if youโ€™re anything like me, reorganizing your supplies will uncover a whole lot of fabric scraps. This plaid-style patchwork cushion is a great chance to dig through the scrap bin and use up some of your favorites.

stack of blue and white fabrics

Pillow of the Month Patterns

This is the first of our year-long Pillow Tutorial series! Watch for even more projects as the year goes on! Here you can find links to all of the Pillow Patterns designed by Amy so far this year. Watch this list grow throughout 2022!

blue quilted pillow on gray chair

Plaid Patchwork Pillow Pattern

woman holding blue plaid quilted pillow

Patchwork Plaid Quilted Pillow Tutorial

Amy Ball
This plaid-style patchwork pillow pattern is a great chance to dig through the scrap bin and use up some of your favorites.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Active Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 30 minutes

supplies

Fabrics

  • Selection of fabric scraps separated into three groups

    pale, mid, and darkโ€จ

  • 1 piece Light Backing Fabric 18" x 18
  • 1 Fat Quarter Fabric for pillow back

Other Materials

  • Batting: 18โ€ x 18โ€
  • 1 Pillow Form 17" x 17" (can also use 16" x 16" if you'd like the pillow to be fuller).

Instructions
 

Cutting:

  • From pale fabric (Iโ€™m using white/pale grey) cut:
    3ยผโ€ square (16),
    3ยผโ€ x 1โ€ (8) and
    6ยฝโ€ x 1โ€ (4)
  • From mid fabric (Iโ€™m using turquoise) cut:
    3ยผโ€ square (20),
    3ยผโ€ x 1โ€ (8) and
    6ยฝโ€ x 1โ€ (4)
  • From dark fabric (Iโ€™m using blue) cut:
    3ยผโ€ square (16),
    3ยผโ€ x 1โ€ (10) and
    6ยฝโ€ x 1โ€ (5)
  • From Pillow back fabric cut: 17ยฝโ€ x 9โ€ (2)

Block Assembly:

  • Use a ยผโ€ seam allowance.
  • The cushion design is made up of 6ยฝโ€ square blocks (13) in different two-tone combinations.
  • Take four dark-colour 3ยผโ€ squares, two light-colour 3ยผโ€ x 1โ€ rectangles, and one light-colour 6ยฝโ€ x 1โ€ rectangle.
    blue fabrics cut on white table
  • Sew one light-colour 3ยผโ€ x 1โ€ rectangle between two dark-colour 3ยผโ€ squares and press. Then repeat to create a second unit.
    blue fabrics cut on white table
  • Sew the light-colour 6ยฝโ€ x 1โ€ rectangle between the two units from step two to complete the square block. Make sure the short rectangles are lined up with each other.
    blue fabrics sewn together in patchwork pattern
  • Repeat steps one to three to make twelve more blocks with the following colour combinations:
    โ€จlight with mid strips (2)
    โ€จlight with dark strips (2)
    โ€จmid with light strips (2)โ€จ
    mid with dark strips (3)โ€จ
    dark with light strips (1)
    โ€จdark with mid strips (2)
    blue fabrics cut and pieced together on white table

Construction:

  • Arrange the thirteen blocks using the diagram as you guide for positioning the different colours.
    Rotate any blocks to make sure you donโ€™t have any similar scraps next to each other.
  • Sew the blocks together in rows and then sew the rows together. Press well.
    blue fabrics sewn together in patchwork pattern
  • Trim down to a 17ยฝโ€ square. Save the off-cuts as youโ€™ll need them later.

Quilting:

  • Now itโ€™s time to make a quilt sandwich. Place your light backing square (right side facing down) with your batting on top, then add the patchwork cushion front with the right side facing towards you.
    Make sure all the layers are smooth and flat then baste the layers together using your preferred method.
    blue fabrics sewn together in patchwork pattern
  • Quilt as desired.โ€จI have hand quilted inside the block strips.
  • Once you have finished quilting, trim off excess backing fabric and batting and square up your cushion block if required.

Finishing:

  • Take six of the off-cut half square triangles from step seven. Sew them together to create a long strip.
    blue fabrics cut and pieced together on white table
  • Then trim the strip down to 17ยฝโ€ x 3ยฝโ€.
    blue fabrics sewn together in patchwork pattern
  • Take one cushion back 17ยฝโ€ x 9โ€ rectangle and pin the strip from step eleven to one long edge. Sew together then press.
    blue fabrics sewn together in patchwork pattern
  • Take the other cushion back 17ยฝโ€ x 9โ€ rectangle and hem one long edge by pressing the raw edge to the wrong side by ยผโ€ then again by another ยผโ€. Press well and sew. Set aside.
    fabrics pinned together
  • Now hem the raw long edge of the strip by pressing the raw edge to the wrong size by ยผโ€ and then sew.
  • Pin or clip the cushion back pieces to the quilted block, right sides together, all around the four side. Make sure the cushion back piece you want to appear upper-most once the cushion is turned right side out is underneath the second back piece.
  • Sew around all four edges using a ยผโ€ seam allowance, securing the start and finish with some back-stitching.
  • Trim the corners, turn the cushion cover the right way out, carefully poke out the four corners and then press.
    back of pillow
  • Stuff with an 17โ€ cushion pad and enjoy your new Winter Blanket cushion!
Keyword Patchwork, Pillow
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Love this tutorial? Get the behind the scenes on Instagram
blue plaid quilted pillow on bed with books

About the Designer

Amy lives in the north of England with her husband and son. When sheโ€™s not sewing and quilting, Amy can usually be found baking or reading. You can find her on Instagram @amyatthegate

More Projects by Amy

Choosing Fabric Colours | Two & Threeย Colours

The Ruler Rules: Online course – get the measure of your quilting rulers and learn how to use them with confidence and accuracy.

Seams Perfect: Online course – create spot-on patchwork seams with precision and confidence.

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