Made by: Polly Carlson

I prefer to cut my fabric in width of fabric strips for lots different projects, so I often end up with scraps of varying widths that stretch the whole width of the fabric from the bolt (42-44 inches.) I always trim these even, so they’re all ready to use for projects that require scrappy strips. If you love scrappy strips too, this is a great project to use them.

The fusible fleece in this product serves to give the pillow more structure than regular quilting fabric on it’s own with. It also provides a layer similar to batting, but without the need for a third layer that regular quilting would need.

Instructions

Step One

Start by gathering your scraps. I chose to focus on black and orange for a Halloween pillow, but you can make this pillow fit any theme by choosing a different color scheme. Most of my scraps had a Halloween or fall print, but I also added some orange cracker fabric and black swirls because I loved the color and contrast.

I used scraps that extended the whole 42-44″ width of the fabric.

Step Two

Arrange your scraps in the order you prefer. We want to have a finished length of 10 1/2 inches, and you’ll “lose” 1/2 inch in each seam you sew. Before sewing my strips added up to about 14 1/2 inches.

Step Three

Stitch your strips together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Press your seams in one direction.

Check to make sure you now have a piece that is at least 10 1/2 inches x 42 inches.

Step Four

Trim off the selvage edge and cut into 10 1/2 inch square blocks. You should have just enough fabric for 4 blocks.

Step Five

You can play around with your four blocks and see which arrangement you like best. Depending on which way you turn your squares you will end up with a different look. I chose to go with the third arrangement.

Step Six

Stitch your blocks together with a 1/4 seam allowance and press the seams to the side.

Step Seven

Cut two backing pieces 10 3/4 inches x 20 1/2 inches

Cut black fusible fleece pieces to line your pillow front as well as both of the backing pieces. (One 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 square and two 20 1/2 x 10 3/4 inch pieces.

You will also need one zipper at least 20 inches long.

Step Eight

Iron the fusible fleece onto the BACK of your pillow front and backing fabrics. The rougher feeling side of the fusible fleece goes TOWARD your fabric when you iron. (Note: Fusible fleece is made from polyester, so you do NOT want to use the highest heat setting on your iron. On my iron, I use the second highest setting.)

Step Nine

Use coordinating thread to quilt your pillow top. I chose to quilt mine by sewing 1/4 inch to the side of about 1/2 of the seams in my pillow top, but you can have fun being creative with your quilting.

Step Ten

Sew your two backing pieces together, with RIGHT SIDES together and a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Stitch the first and last 1/2 inch with regular stitches and back-stitch. Stitch the rest of the seam with a long stitch length, because we will be removing these stitches after we put our zipper in.

Step Eleven

Pin your zipper to the back of your backing seam and pin well. Stitch on your zipper using a zipper foot and sewing as close to the zipper as you can without interfering with your zipper.