A Quilted House Pillow Tutorial : :

I first have to mention that from all those helpful comments you all left yesterday and my own stubbornness to try to fix things as quickly as possible when they're just not working, I believe I solved my Shelburne Falls dilemma! And, I now have a new quilt layout that I am very happy with. Thank you! I shared a quick shot on my Instagram so you can see the simple change I made that I think did the trick!

Today, in between lots tutorial writing & computer work, I plan to piece my staggering Shelburne Falls & Pure Element strips together with hopes for a quilt finish to share next week! Speaking of tutorials, I also thought today would be the perfect day to share my Quilted House Pillow Tutorial right here. I created this as part of the Riley Blake Design Team and had shared it on their blog on a pretty busy week. It's definitely my most favorite project that I have put together for RBD! With another busy year of tutorial projects beginning in the Fall, I like to make certain I share these project once more, right here, just in case you missed any of them. Here you go, enjoy!



Thanks for checking out my newest RBD Design Team Project! This time I'm sharing a quilted and very sweet house pillow, using prints from the Little Red Riding Hood Fabric collection and a couple RBD Basic Solids. This tutorial combines some basic quilting, simple & fun patchwork, raw-edge applique, with a few special embellishments that you can really have some fun with!



Now let's get started!!

What you'll need : :

• 1 - 3/4 yd cut of Little Red Riding Hood Little Main print in Red
• 4 - fat quarters prints from the Little Red Riding Hood Collection
• 1 - Fat Quarter cut of solid fabric for the house pillow front, I used the RBD Basic Gray
• 1 - Fat Quarter cut of white solid fabric for the windows
• 1 - piece of batting measuring at least a 15.5" square 
• 1 - piece of batting measuring at least 10"x16"
• iron-on fusible interfacing, such as HeatnBond lite
• sewing pins or basting spray
• rotary cutter/mat/ruler
• 1 - size 14" pillow insert
• house pillow embellishments -- buttons, ric rac, ribbon, embroidery floss, etc.

You can still find the Little Red Riding Hood collection available in these shop!

*  Cotton Blossom Farms  *  Stash Fabrics  *  Fabric Shoppe  *  Bloomerie Fabrics  *  Skye Reve Fabrics  *  Fat Quarter Shop  *  Fabric Fly  *

Cutting : :

1. Using a cutting mat, ruler, and rotary cutter, cut a piece from the fat quarter of fabric you choose for the main house pillow front measuring 12.5"x14.5"  2. from the Little Ride Hooding prints, cut 8 - measuring 3"x4". I fussy cut some of these to showoff the adorable design of the main print in this collection




Piecing the Pillow Front : : 

3. using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the side patchwork pieces together in the order chosen for both sides of the main house pillow solid fabric, press seams open  4. lay these patchwork panels, right sides down, along both long sides of the main house pillow solid fabric, pin in place, and sew to attach using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press these seams open, as well





Quilting the Pillow Front : : 

5.  Using either pins or basting spray, baste the pillow front to the piece of batting measuring at least a 15.5" square



6. begin to add the quilting stitches, first by sewing a 1/4" on both sides of the pillow front seams where the main house solid fabric and patchwork panels were sewn together



7. continue adding the quilting stitches through the center of the pillow front, keeping a space of about a 1/2" between each. I simply use my presser foot as my guide



8. use the rotary cutter/ruler/mat set to trim the quilted pillow front to be a 14.5" square



Adding the House Appliques : : 

9. for the house door cut a piece measuring 3"x7". For the windows cut 3 - measuring 2.5"x3" from the white fabric. For the shutters cut 4 - 3"x4". Have the embellishment supplies ready for adding. I chose ric rac, a button for the door knob, threads, and floss



10. follow interfacing directions and attach to door and window fabrics



11. to create the shutter, fold each piece in half with right sides facing and sew along both side edges using a scant 1'4" seam. Clip corners, turn out, and press well. Using a contrasting thread, top stitch around each shutter



12. layout the prepared applique pieces and embellishments onto the house pillow design. Press with hot iron to adhere the door and window pieces. If needed, use pins to set any other pieces in place



13. using either an applique or zig zag stitch on your sewing machine, stitch around each of the windows and door to attach them permanently




Adding the House Details : :  

14.  it's time to add those little details -- use black thread to add machine stitched details to the windows, hand sew on the button doorknob, add hand-stitching with floss, etc. This is the part where you can really have some fun and make this your own!!



Making the House Pillow Roof : :  

15. cut from one fat quarter a piece of fabric measuring 10"x16" and layer onto a batting piece that same size  16.  again add quilting stitches about 1/2" apart. For this I start in the very center and work my way out on both sides of that first stitched line, using my presser foot again as my guide



17. cut roof piece to size by first triming this quilted piece to measure a 9"x15" rectangle.  Mark a point at the very top center of this piece, using your rotary cutter/ruler/mat set, set ruler from this point traveling down to 2" up from the bottom and trim away corner. Repeat for the other side, as well

 

18.  cut a piece from the main Little Red Riding Hood fabric the same size as the quilted roof piece. With right sides together, sew 1/4" seam along the pointed sides of the roof and then again with a zig zag stitch



19. Trim away the top corner of the roof, turn right side out, and press well  20. Add a top stitch staying very close to the outside edge of this roof piece





Adding the House Pillow Roof : :  

21. place quilted roof piece right side facing, along the top of the house pillow front. Pin and sew using a 1/4" seam allowance   22. to prepare for adding the pillow back fabrics, use pins to make sure the roof sides are out of the way



Finishing the House Pillow : :  

23. from the main Little Red Riding Hood fabric, cut 2 -- 12 x 14.5" pieces for the pillow back fabric. Hem one long side of each piece by folding edge over 1/4", press, fold 1/4" again, press again, and sew along the inner and outer edge of that fold. Repeat for both pieces. Remember that these are directional printed fabrics, so make sure you hem the right side  24. place with rights sides facing onto the house pillow front and pin in place all the way around



25. keeping a 1/4" to a 1/2" seam, sew all the way around the pillow. Using a zig zag stitch, sew all the way around again, to reinforance the pillow sides



26. clip corner, turn pillow out, remove any pins used to pin the roof sides in, and press. Add two rows of top stitching to the very top of the house pillow, just below the roof, to give it a little bit of extra sturdiness



Fill with your pillow insert and Voila! Your Little Red Riding Hood Quilted House Pillow is finished!!!



I hope you enjoy this new tutorial!! If you do give this project a go, please feel free to share on the Riley Blake Facebook page, my Facebook page or in my Maureen Cracknell Handmade Flickr group, as well!

♥  Maureen