In this tutorial I will show you the method I use to make a quilted pillow cover from a completed quilt block. I love making pillow covers because its a relatively quick project, they make great gifts and, are such a perfect way to freshen up a chair or bed. While you might have a perfect new fabric in mind, this can also be a great use of your fabric stash. Sometimes I start them from scratch, but often I use a quilt block that I made for practice, or one that was for a larger project that I ended up putting on hold.
Fabric Requirements
Piece of batting - 22” square - Backing for top quilted piece - 22” square
Back of Pillow- 1/2 yard - Binding - 10” strip width of fabric 44 Fabric to add to
* Fabric to add to quilt block to make 21” square - 1/3 yard - Zipper - 15” to 18”
* This will change depending on the quilt block you use. See below to calculate what size pieces you will need.
Here is how I do my math. I like to round up or add a little because it’s a lot easier to trim a little off later than end up with a too small finished piece. I don’t, however, make the pillow cover any bigger than the pillow insert because I prefer a snug fit. Even if there is some shrinkage, I prefer that to a saggy pillow cover.
My finished quilt block is 12 1/2 “ square. (Figure 1) I am using a 20” insert. I add an inch for seam allowances (this pillow top will have 4 seams) I use a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Plus I add an inch for a little extra.
20” + 1” + 1” = 22” 22” - 12.5” (the quilt block size) = 9.5 “ I’ll round up to 10”
I will need 10” total of border fabric width, divided in half for each side. So, 5”.
The top and bottom pieces will be 21” (the size of pillow insert and the extra 1” buffer) by 5”.
The two side pieces will be 12.5” by 5 “ (Figure 2)
Sew your quilt block to each of the side pieces, right sides together. Press your seams and sew, right sides together, to the top and bottom pieces. Press your seams and trim. (Figure 3 )
Now you can make your quilt sandwich. If you haven’t quilted before this is where you layer your quilt block on the top (right side up), your batting in the middle, and your backing on the bottom (right side down). Trim your pieces so they are manageable if needed, but save the accurate trimming for when you finish quilting. (Figure 4)
You can baste your pillow top however you like. My preferred way is to pin baste. I start in the middle and work my way toward the edges, smoothing as I go and making sure to get all three layers. (Figure 5)
If you are planning to use straight line quilting you may want to mark your lines. I use a hera marker to sort of “score” my lines. (Figure 6)
There are endless ways to quilt from straight lines to intricate free motion designs. For this pillow cover I chose a grid pattern which is my latest favorite for a clean and modern finish. (Figures 7 & 8) If your quilting doesn’t end up near the edge of your pillow top, you may want to baste a simple stitch around the perimeter for easier handling when assembling.
For the bottom of your pillow cover cut one piece 21” X 17” and one piece 21” X 7”. Along the bottom (21”) of the top piece ( 21” X 17”) , fold and press about 1/3” toward the wrong side of the fabric, and press another 1/3” in the same way. Repeat for the top (21”) of the bottom piece. Then sew the inside edge of each piece. For the top piece only, fold over and press again 2”. Then sew along that edge. (Figures 9 & 10)
Center your zipper top side down along the inside edge of your 2 inch seam on your top piece, and pin. (Figure 11) Sew a seam along the zipper. (Figure 12) A zipper foot is helpful if you have one, but it will be fine if you need to use a regular presser foot. You may want to sew most of the way, slide your zipper over to where you have sewn, and finish sewing the rest.
Next, place your top piece wrong side down and fold back your 2 inch flap exposing your zipper. Line your bottom piece up with the top and along the zipper and pin in place. (Figure 13) Sew the bottom piece to the zipper, again moving the zipper head back to where you have sewn and continue sewing to the end. (Figures 14 & 15) Zip it up and you have completed the bottom. (Figure 16)
*** (If you would rather not add the binding to your pillow cover, you can place your pillow cover top and bottom right sides together, pin in place, and sew around the edge of the whole square. Trim it up, flip right side out, and you are finished. One reason I prefer the binding method, aside from the added accent fabric around the edge, is that it gives you a completely finished pillow cover with no raw edges inside or out.)
Place your quilted pillow cover top and your zippered bottom wrong sides together with the zipper toward the bottom of the pillow cover, (Figure 17) Pin and baste around the edge. (Figures 18 and 19) Trim around the edge (Figure 20)
Now you are ready for the binding :) This is my favorite step when I make a quilt or pillow cover. Sew your 2 1/2 “ strips together to make one long strip. There are a few ways to do this but for a pillow I actually just sew them straight end to end and press my seams open. When I have one long strip I fold in half and press lengthwise. Then fold a 45 degree angle and press. (Figure 21) Fold over and press the end. (Figure 22)
Place the angled tip of your binding on top of your quilted pillow cover lining it up at the raw edge. (Figure 23) You can pin or clip around the edge, but I usually just hold the binding in place making any adjustments as I go. (Figure 24)
Sew the binding, beginning a few inches past the end, to the pillow cover with a 1/4” seam. (Figure 24) When you reach the corner, stop about 1/4 inch from the edge with the needle in the down position. (Figure 25) Rotate the quilt top and fold the binding 90 degrees toward the top, making a 45 degree fold in the binding strip. (Figure 26) Fold the strip back down and continue your 1/4” seam, making a little back stitch before proceeding. (Figure 27) When you reach your starting point, trim your binding at the same angle as your beginning folded piece, tuck it inside and finish stitching the binding down. (Figure 28)
Now you have your binding secured with a nice 1/4” seam. (Figure 29) You could fold your binding over at this point and machine stitch along the edge of the binding from the pillow bottom. You will see the stitched line from the pillow top but it still looks nice. I prefer to hand sew this last step. It just feels really polished to me, and at the same time I love the hand sewn finish. You can use any stitch you like from a hidden flat back stitch or a fun big top stitch with a contrasting thread. I don’t find pinning or clipping necessary at this point, except for the corners which I pin in place to get a nice mitered corner. (Figures 30, 31, & 32)
Once you have finished your binding, you are finished. Flip your pillow cover right side out, fill with your insert, and enjoy your pillow :)
Happy sewing, Judy