Pinwheel Pillow by Jennifer Moore for Monaluna.
Brighten your spring décor with this cheerful pillow
Pinwheel Pillow Tutorial
Courtesy of MonaLuna Fabrics http://monaluna.com/
This project is perfect for showing off a few featured fabrics, as well as using small strips or scraps. I’ve used the
upcoming Haiku collection by Monaluna here, paired with organic solids. These instructions are for a 22” pillow
insert, though the final pillow sham will measure 21.5” square. This allows the pillow form to fill the sham tightly
for a better presentation.
Step 1.
Cut 4 squares of your featured fabrics to 6.5”x6.5”, plus one 2.5” square for the center. Then cut the solid strips
(I’ve used Warm White) to the following sizes:
4 strips @ 2.5x8.5”
8 strips @ 2.5x10.5”
Step 2.
Arrange long strips of fabric in desired composition for the pieced edging (fig. 2). The strips can be varying width
from 1”- 2”, and the final size after sewing should be at least 8” x 20”. If I have extra scraps I like to add additional
height so that I have flexibility with the composition once stitched. Sew together the long way with a ¼” seam
allowance.
Step 3.
Once your strips are sewn together, press seams open and cut crosswise into 2.5” strips. You will need 4 strips that
measure 2.5x6.5 and 4 strips that measure 2.5x8.5”. With right sides facing and using a ¼” seam, stitch one 6.5”
strip to the top of your first large fabric square.
Then, sew one 2.5x8.5” strip to the outside of the square to create an 8.5” square consisting of your large fabric
square and two pieced strips. Repeat with the second top fabric square, stitching the short strip to the top and the
long strip to the outside edge. Then, do the same with the bottom two squares except stitch the short pieced strip
to the bottom side of your squares and then the long strip to the outside edge. Press all seams open.
Step 4.
Next, sew the 2.5x8.5” solid strips to the top edge of your squares. Then sew the 2.5x10.5” strips to the outside
edges of all 4 squares, and the bottom edges of the bottom squares. Sew the top left square to the bottom left
square, and the top right square to the bottom right square. Finally, piece the small center fabric square vertically
between 2 2.5x10.5” strips, and with right sides facing, piece that strip to the left squares and then the right
squares, matching edges and seams. Press finished top.
Step 5.
Next, cut a square of batting and a square of backing about 2” larger than the finished top (24” square). Position
the top on top of the batting and backing (with batting sandwiched between fabric layers) and pin well.
Quilt all three layers together. I used a simple vertical straight stitch. Once quilted, trim top to original size (22”
square).
Step 6.
Cut 2 22x11.5” rectangles for the back. Press ½ “ under on center seams and insert zipper. With right sides facing,
sew the finished pillow top to the back with a ¼” seam allowance. Clip the corners and turn. Insert pillow form.