Learn how to make a DIY Quilted Pillow. Take a traditional Churn-Dash block, make it into a 20″ x 20″ quilted pillow top, then add the pillow backing.
Follow along and make your own Churn-Dash Quilted Pillow.
MATERIALS FOR QUILTED PILLOW
FABRIC FOR PILLOW TOP
- Fabric A / Green Fabric – Fat Quarter
- Fabric B / Background Fabric – ½ Yard
PILLOW BACKING / SLEEVES
- ½ Yard
CUTTING YOUR FABRICS
CUTTING FABRIC
- Fabric A / Green Fabric –
- (9) 4 ½” squares
- (1) 10″ square
- Fabric B / White Fabric –
- (12) 4 ½” squares
- (1) 10″ square
- (1) 23″ square (to be sued for backing to quilt your pillow top).
- Pillow Backing / Sleeves –
- (1) 12″ x 20 ½” rectangle
- (1) 14″ x 20 ½” rectangle
HALF SQUARE TRIANGLES
Start by making (8) Half Square Triangles that measure 4 ½” unfinished. Do this by:
- Drawing an X from corner to corner on the wrong side of (1) Fabric B / Background 10″ square.
- Place (right sides together) your Fabric A and Fabric B 10″ squares. Pin in place.
- Sew ¼” away from the drawn lines on both sides of the drawn lines.
- Cut ON the drawn lines.
- Without moving your square off your cutting mat, cut both horizontally and vertically in the center of your 10″ squares.
- You now have (8) HSTs that need to be trimmed to measure 4 ½”.
BEHIND THE SCENES TIP
When making (8) at a time half square triangles, it works best to sew on both sides of your drawn line going in the SAME direction.
This helps avoid fabric bunching / puckering.
My sewing machine: Baby Lock Crescendo.
NINE PATCH
To make a 9 patch block:
- Sew (right sides together) (1) Fabric A 4 ½” square to (1) Fabric B 4 ½” square. Press seams toward Fabric A.
- Repeat this a total of (3) times, so you have (3) Fabric and A and Fabric B rectangles that measures 4 ½” x 8 ½”.
- Looking at the image below, sew right sides together (1) Fabric A 4 ½” square next to (1) Fabric B 4 ½” square. Repeat this two times.
- Looking at the image below, sew right sides together (1) Fabric B 4 ½” square next to (1) Fabric A 4 ½” square.
- Press seams toward Fabric A.
- One row at a time, sew right sides together. Press seams open. You have (1) 9 patch block that measures 12 ½” x 12 ½”.
MAKING YOUR CHURN-DASHER BLOCK
- Sew right sides together, one at a time, (1) half square triangle, (1) Fabric A 4 ½” square, and (1) half square triangle, as shown below. Note the direction your half square triangles. Press seams toward Fabric A.
This makes (1) row as shown below that measures 4 ½” x 12 ½”. Repeat to make (4) total rows.
2. Sew (2) rows to the top and bottom of your 9 patch block. Sew right sides together and press seams open.
3. On the opposite ends of your last (2) rows, sew (1) Fabric B 4 ½” square to both the top and bottom of each row. Sew one at a time, right sides together. Press seams toward Fabric B squares. This will make (2) side columns that measure 4 ½” x 20 ½”.
4. Sew right sides together, one at a time, your (2) side columns to your pillow top. Press seams open.
You now have (1) completed Churn-Dash 20 ½” x 20 ½” quilted pillow top.
QUILT YOUR PILLOW TOP
It’s now time to quilt your pillow top. To do this:
- Cut a 23″ square piece of batting. (I used wool batting for mine, you can use whichever type of batting you prefer).
- Sandwich (1) Fabric B 23″ square right side down, your batting square, and your pillow cover, right side up.
- Baste (I use spray baste, but you can baste however your prefer).
- Quilt in your desired method.
NOTE: I used a Hera marker and ruler and did a modern straight line quilt pattern to quilt my pillow.
My quilting lines where spaced every 2″ and were on the diagonal.
I used my Baby Lock Crescendo to quilt my pillow cover.
Trim the excess batting and backing, so your quilted pillow top measures 20 ½” x 20 ½”.
MAKE PILLOW SLEEVES
I will be back next week with the steps on how to complete your quilted pillow. There will be step by step instructions. tomake your pillow backing.