Category: Pillow

Having recently returned from a trip of a lifetime to Alaska I knew I wanted to create something that would remind of the trip over and over again. Purchasing the Creatures of Wild panel and some coordinating fabric while in Alaska was just the starting point. Once home with access to my sewing machine and tools, the creative journey truly began, bringing back memories of what was truly a trip of a lifetime.

What you need to make this project

Materials: Poly-fil® Soft Touch pillow insert 14 inch x 28 inches; Classic Cotton Batting - Two 10 inch scraps (Optional)

Supplies: Fabric - Creatures of the wild by Teresa Ascone for Robert Kaufman – One Panel, ½ yard of a coordinating print; Thread; Sewing Machine; Basic Sewing, Cutting, Measuring and Pressing Tools & Supplies

Instructions

Step One

Cut apart the panels and trim around each of them leaving a ¼ inch seam allowance. See Diagram A

Complete step by step illustrated diagrams are contained in the document Alaska Trip Banded Pillow
Alaska Trip Banded Pillow

Step Two

Cut three – 2 inch by the ‘width of the fabric’ strips from the coordinating fabric. Turn under ½ inch along each edge and press well, forming three 1 inch wide strips or bands. See Diagram B

Step Three

Pillow Side A:
Choose two panels and stitch together using a ¼ inch seam. Press seam open. Center one of the bands made earlier over the seam and topstitch down either side. Trim strip even with the panels. See Diagram C

Step Four

Cut one 2 ½ inch strip and stitch to the top and bottom edge of the fabric panels. Trim strips even with the panels. Press the seam towards the outside edge. Center a band strip over the seams and topstitch down either side. Trim even with the panels. See Diagram D

Step Five

Cut one 3 ½ inch strip and stitch to either side of the fabric panels. Trim strips even with the panels. Press the seam towards the outside edge. Center band strips over the seams and topstitch down either side. Trim strips even with the panels. See Diagram E
Optional Quilting: Place batting behind images within panels and hand quilt around each of the images. Trim the batting close to the stitching to remove excess bulk.

Step Six

Pillow Side B:
Choose three panels and trim 2 inches from the left side of one panel and 2 inches from the right side of the second panel. Stitch the three panels together using ¼ inch seams. Press seams open. Center band strips over the seams and topstitch down either side. Trim strips even with ends of the panels. See Diagram F

Step Seven

Cut two rectangles 5 ½ inches by 2 ½ inches. Sew each of the rectangles to the ends of the horizontal panel using ¼ inch seams. Press seams open. Stitch the rectangle panel to the bottom of the three panels sewn together earlier. Press seams open. See Diagram G

Step Eight

Center a band strip over the seams and topstitch down either side. Trim even with ends of the panels. See Diagram H

Step Nine

Finish the raw edges of each of the pillow sides using a zig zag, or edge finish stitch. With right sides together, stitch the two sides together using a ½ inch seam and leaving a 6 inch opening along the bottom center of the pillow. Turn the pillow right side out and press well. Insert the pillow form and hand stitch the opening closed. See Diagram I

Alaskan Adventure Banded Pillow