Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Stag Pillow Duo Tutorial

This time of year, it's down right impossible to fit in absolutely everything that you want to do. If you're anything like me, the list of "have to dos" is ten times the list of "want to dos," and just when you think you're about to conquer the list of "have to dos," and can squeeze in a "want to do," the "have to dos" list seems to multiply ten fold. Oh, wait, that's not just this time of year. I think I'm kind of beginning to accept the fact that you just have to throw in a "want to do" from time to time regardless of how demanding the "have to dos" list is. Well, this Stag Pillow Tutorial was on my "want to do" list ever since the beautiful Juniper Berry collection arrived and I finally made it happen just in time to adorn my sofa with two fun holiday pillows for Christmas. So, set aside that "have to do" list for a few hours because this just went to the top of your "want to do" list and why not scratch it off?!

Visit LouLou's Fabric Shop and grab your kit!




 Stag Pillow


The Fabric Lineup:

  • One Fat Quarter Moda Black Cross Weave for pillow background
    • Cut one 16 1/2" square
  • 1/2 Yard fabric for stag applique and quilted backing
    • Cut one 18" square and use the remaining fabric to cut out your stag design
  • 1/2 Yard fabric for pillow backing and binding
    • Cut two rectangles 10 1/2" x 16 1/2"
  • 16" x 18" Wonder Under
  • 18" square batting
  • 16" Pillow Form
Let the fun begin! Find or draw a stag pattern. I have no artistic abilities whatsoever so I perused the website and came across this free printable from Jenny Collier


Print and cut out your stag design. Due to the size that I wanted, it printed on two pages, which I taped together.

Iron your stag fabric to the Wonder Under. (wrong side of fabric to "rough" side of Wonder Under - per the directions found on your Wonder Under.)


Tape your stag cutout to the paper side of the Wonder Under and trace around it.

Remove your stag cutout


Following your tracing lines, cut out your stag.


Peel the paper off of the Wonder Under


Position your stag over your square of Black Cross Weave as shown below and iron to adhere per Wonder Under instructions.



Layer your pillow top backing, batting and stag pillow top as follows: (sorry, I failed to get a picture of the layering - but do it just like you would a quilt) What you're going to do is actually quilt the pillow top before attaching it to the pillow back.
  • 18" square backing fabric right side down
  • 18" batting
  • 16 1/2" stag pillow top right side up
Secure all three layers with pins. I used my favorite 505 fabric adhesive and then added a few pins for good measure.

Machine Quilt your pillow top to your liking. I chose to do straight lines 3/8" apart. I started in the center of the pillow top and then worked out to both sides. I used a classic white, Aurifil 50wt 2024 thread to make the pillow top really "pop." 




When your finished, it should look something like this.

Trim off the excess batting and backing and square up your pillow top to 16 1/2".


Now, you pillow top is all nice and clean and ready for the back!




For your pillow back, you should have two pieces that are 10 1/2" x 16 1/2". Fold over and iron 1/2" down one long side of each piece. Straight stitch or zizag to create a hemmed edge on both pieces.

Place your pillow top face down, then position your two back pieces, face up, with hemmed sides overlapping down the middle as pictured. All edges should align, with the two pieces overlapping in the middle.


Secure in place with pins.

Sew or baste 1/8" around the entire pillow square.
Bind using your preferred method. 
Voila!




Coordinating 9 Patch Pillow



The Fabric Lineup:


  • Nine Charm Squares or 5" squares
  • 1/8 yard Moda Black Cross Weave for border
    • Cut two strips 1 1/2" x 14"
    • Cut two strips 1 1/2" x 17"
  • One Fat Quarter for quilted backing
    • Cut one 18" square
  • 1/2 Yard fabric for pillow backing and binding
    • Cut two rectangles 10 1/2" x 16 1/2"
  • 18" square batting
  • 16" Pillow Form
Lay out your nine 5" squares in desired pattern, three rows of three.
Sew the top row together and then repeat with the other two rows. Pressing seams in opposite directions so when you sew all three rows together, the seams will nest.

Sew all three rows together and press seams.


With right sides together sew one 1 1/2" x 14" border strip to each side of your 9 patch square. Press Seams.


With right sides together sew one 1 1/2" x 17" strip to the top and bottom of your 9 patch square. Press seams.


Just as you did for your stag pillow, layer your backing, batting and 9 patch pillow top as follows: 


  • 18" square backing fabric right side down
  • 18" batting
  • 16 1/2" 9 patch pillow top right side up
Secure all three layers with pins and/or use 505 fabric adhesive. Quilt to your liking. Once again, I used Aurifil 50wt 2024 and quilted as pictured.




                                     

Trim off the excess batting and backing and square up your pillow top to 16 1/2".

Prepare and sew the pillow back just as you did for the Stag Pillow. 



SHARE SHARE SHARE your pillows with us on Instagram and Facebook and tag LouLou's Fabric Shop! We'd love to see the holiday joy that's adorning your home! Oh, and cross off the Stag Pillow Duo from your "want to do" list!