Scrapbuster Modern Cross Pillow {a tutorial}

I’ve been quite focused on using scraps and making pillows the past few months (just look at how many of my blog posts have been about pillows!).  I thought I’d share how I made the most recent pillows, which fit 18” pillow forms.

Supplies:

• 45- 2.5” squares (rainbow, monochromatic, whatever you like!)
• 4- 6.5” square solid squares (I used Kona silver)
• 1 piece of muslin bigger than 18.5” square
• 1 piece of batting bigger than 18.5” square
• 2 backing panels measuring 12.5” x 18.5” if you want to do an envelope closure backing
• 18” pillow form

Directions:

Decide what kind of color scheme you want to use, then lay out five 3 x 3 grids of 2.5” squares for each of the sections of the cross.

Sew the squares together in rows.  You can nest your seams (alternate the direction you press them for each row) or press open.

Sew the rows together.  Press to one side or open.

Now lay out your pillow top.  Sew the sections together the same way.

Here are my two pillow tops waiting to be quilted.

That’s all there is to making the pillow top!  Quilt as desired.

Flowers and teardrops for the rainbow pillow.

Ripple stipple for the purple pillow.

Create an envelope back for the pillow with the two 12.5” x 18.5” backing panels or use an alternate method for making the back.

Bind or serge to finish.

I think this block would be awesome for a bee!  I might even have to make my own rainbow quilt. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Strawberries in season

Local strawberries just appeared at the farmer’s markets in our region and they inspired me to make a little mat for our dining room table.

I just cut 2.5” squares from an assortment of “strawberry” fabric and some of that sweet birdie fabric from these baby shoes.

These mats make great protectors for your dining room table.  You can put warm dishes on the table without the fear of ruining your tabletop.  I like tablerunners, too, but this size is much more practical for our table.  It finishes about 11” x 19”.

The back is this sweet apple and cherry print, so it can be reversible.  The binding is machine attached, which hopefully will give it a little more durability since I figure it will be washed a lot.

I wish I could have taken a photo with a bowl of fresh strawberries on top, but every time I’ve bought strawberries they are gone within the day—not enough time for me to snap a photo.

Have a wonderful day!

Spring Sprouts

I made this tablerunner for the Pantone 2013 Challenge.  The color this year is emerald.  Last year it was tangerine.

It’s quilted about 1 inch apart with a long (3.2) stitch in cream thread.

The background fabric is Essex Linen in ivory. 

The backing fabric is canning jars and is reversible.  I sent this tablerunner to my sister who loves to can almost as much as me!

I machine attached the binding as usual.  I don’t know if I’ll ever hand stitch a binding ever again.

Hurry up, spring!

Traceyjay Quilts shared this diagram on Flickr that I used to make this tablerunner.