Flower Garden Pillow Tutorial ....

I hope you all had a fun New Years ... I spent my evening with the kids and my husband and a needle and thread ... a perfect night really!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway for the Flower Garden Pillow there really was an amazing response! Thank you also to Rachel at One Pretty Thing who featured both of the pillows, you provide a great resource for us all!

So after all that the winner is ... Lorraine of Granny Loz 

Congratulations Lorraine! Please send me your details and I will pop the pillow in the mail.

Because of the number of requests for the pattern I have decided to include it in this post. I will send out an email to everyone who asked for a pattern and link you back here. I have also put a link in the side bar.

I'll be back on the 4th with the winner of the Rocket Ship Pillow.

Flower Garden Pillow

This pattern, for the most part, uses fusible raw edge appliqué and the pillow top has been machine quilted. This doesn’t mean that you’re locked into using these methods. You might prefer to finish your appliqué edges with a machine blanket stitch and leave your pillow top as a plain piece of fabric with no batting or quilting. The pillow is secured with two large self covered buttons, alternatively you might prefer to use a zip or ties.

Chose a method that you feel comfortable with.

Please remember that this pattern and appliqué design is intended for your own personal use only and should not be used for profit or sale.

What you need...

55cm   white cotton – cut as follows ;

            X1        20 ½” square (front)

            X1        20 1/2 “ x 18 1/2” (back lower section)

            X1        20 ½ “ x 12 “ (back upper section)

20cm   green print or multiple scraps of different greens totaling 20cm

20cm   various scraps totaling this amount for appliqué shapes

20cm   coordinating stripe for binding – this will allow 3 x 2 ½ “  strips for the binding providing you with ample excess for matching of stripes

55cm x 55cm piece of batting – try and use one that has a high loft to ensure that your finished appliqué has a full ‘puffy’ appearance.

30cm   piece of Fusible web – I use a fusible that leaves a tacky surface on the rear of the appliqué shape making auditioning the appliqué shapes a breeze. In this project I have used Lite Steam-A-Seam 2 – this is available in Australia from Oz Quilts. 

x2        30mm self cover buttons

x2        small beads for the birds eyes (alternatively you could use a French knot – I would recommend this if you are making the pillow for a small child)

Scissors

Fine tip Permanent marking pen

Water soluble pen

Spray Baste

Pins & needles

Rotary cutter, quilting ruler & cutting mat

Iron

Light box – not essential

Darning foot and a sewing machine capable of lowering the feed dogs

Quilting gloves

Method    

1. Download Applique shapes and print them out ready for use. Always follow the manufactures directions regarding the use of your fusible web.Trace the appliqué shapes onto the backing paper of the fusible web using a permanent marker ensuring that you leave adequate space between your shapes to allow them to be separated while still leaving a small margin around each of the shapes. You will require the following numbers of shapes;

Flower 1          3

Flower 2          5

Flower 3          3

Flower center  11

Leaf                 11

Bird & wing      x1 plus x1 in reverse

Beak                2

 

2. Separate all of the shapes and select the colour combinations that you intend to use. Adhere the fusible to the rear of the fabric following the manufacturer's instructions. Cut out the shapes. Remove the backing paper revealing the tacky surface of the fusible. Using the photograph as a guide roughly set out the applique shapes. Don't spend a lot of time on this task as you are likely to move them quite a bit before they are finally ironed in place. 

 

 

3.    Cut a length of fusible 3 ½“ x 17". Iron the fusible to the back of the fabric you intend to use as the flower stems. Using your rotary cutter cut ten - ¼” strips. Using the photo of the quilt as a reference, arrange the stems of the flowers. Cut the lengths leaving yourself a little overhang to allow for adjustment if required. Once you have all of the pieces on the background fabric stand back and make sure that you are happy with the overall design. Iron the appliqué shapes in place.

 

4.    Using the photo of the quilt as a reference and a water soluble pen, mark out the stitching detail of the birdie tail & legs on the pillow top.

 

5.    Make a quilt sandwich with the pillow top, batting and lining fabric using spray baste – be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

 

6.    Use a machine blanket stitch to secure the flower stems. Bring threads to the back of the fabric and tie off.

 

7.    To complete the  remaining appliqué edges & the stitching detail; Change your machine foot to a free motion foot and drop your feed dogs. Select a top & bobbin thread to complement the shape you will be working on. Begin by lowering your needle into the quilt an inch or so from the shape. Raise the needle and pull on the top thread pulling the bobbin thread through to the top. Lower and raise the needle again temporarily securing the two threads on the top of the quilt. Slide your quilt to your intended starting point and lower your needle. Free motion stitch close to the edges of all of the appliqué shapes stitching over each area at least twice. Add detail to the leaves & flower centers as desired.

 

Take several stitches close together at the start and finish points of each appliqué shape. This will secure the start & finish points allowing you to cut the threads at the quilt surface eliminating the need to bury threads.

 

8.    To complete the stitching detail of the bird tail & legs stitch over the marked line several times until the row of stitching is the desired thickness – I used 4 rows on the tail and 6 rows on the legs.

 

 

9.    Once you have finished this process complete the background quilting. I used a swirl flower background fill design. 

 

 

 

If you are new to machine quilting and would like to give it a go my best advice to you is to do a class! Other than this practice before you start on a scrap section of quilt sandwich but most of all don't get hung up on the machine quilting! It doesn't need to be perfect no one will notice! The pillow is for someone you love ... they won't be judging you. 

 

 

            10.      Square the pillow top using a ruler and rotary cutter ensuring that the finished edges are 20 ½” ensuring that the corners are square and sides are even and straight.

 

Completing the pillow back ...

11.  On the larger of the two pieces of fabric fold over a hem of ½ “ on one of the long sides and press. Fold over further  3“ and press. Secure the hem using a straight stitch close to the edge of both folds.

 

12.  On the smaller of the two pieces of fabric fold over a hem of ½ “ on one of the long sides and press. Fold over further 3“ and press. Secure the hem using a straight stitch close to the edge of both folds.

 

 

13.  At this point if you want to add the additional appliqué to the pillow back you should do so now. Arrange the shapes on the larger of the pillow back pieces using the photograph as a guide. Attach the shapes following the directions you used previously using tear-away stabilizer rather than batting to stabilize the fabric while you are securing the shapes and completing the stitching detail.

 

 

 

14. On the smaller of the two back sections mark points at 6 ½ “ & 13 ½ “ along the hem. In addition to this mark ¾ “ up from the edge of the hem. Make button holes at each of these two points.

 

 

15.  Attach the beads for the birds eyes.

 

16.  Position the pillow top, right side up on top of the pillow front with wrong sides facing each other. Adjust the pillow back so that the smaller section overlaps the larger piece.  Bind the pillow using the bias strip as you would normally bind a quilt finishing with a mitered seam. You can find my instructions to help with this here ...

 

                

 

17. Make the two self cover buttons according to the manufacturer's instructions. Using a water-soluble pen mark the lower point of each button hole on the larger of the pillow back pieces. Fix buttons to these points.

 

 

Finished!!!

 

 

I hope you enjoy making the pillow!

Kellie

PS. Sorry about the formatting ... poor Typepad has really struggled with this post!

Comments

[Flowers Philippines]

Hey! this is interesting views, Thanks for the pattern on how to make a Flower Garden Pillow. it helps a lot..nice tutorial.. keep doing this.

-khatie-

[Mónica]

Me lo puedes enviar a mi correo por favor, monica_dez@hotmail.com.

Muchas gracias.

[Chris Allen]

Hi Kelly, This is the first time I have blogged. I just got home from our group where you talked this afternoon and thought I would give it a go. Thanks for showing us some of your beautiful work. Also for sharing this Flower Garden Pillow Pattern I may have a few projects on the go but this is something I will look forward to getting to one day.
We really aren't a scary audience are we? And you did very well, thanks.

[Sonja]

I love your appliqués...
I LOVE everything you sew, it's just... breathless!!!
I've tried to do some but without entering the edges of my appliqués and the result is not "happy": a bit flossy;)))
Thank you for all your tutos!
You are verry generous...

[flower Philippine]

Love this design,this is perfect gift for my sister.

~Ashley~

[Creative Craft Ideas]

Your pillow is so beautiful. I bookmarked it...man, i hope some day I will be able to make one of these. I have always wanted to try machine quilting. It looks so pretty and you make it look easy enough. ha ha.

thanks,
annie

[Susan]

Thank you so much for sharing the pattern! It is so lovely
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas Season.

[flower Philippine]

You give an idea of what kind of gift should i do this coming christmas.

~Ashley

[flower Philippine]

Wow this is cool!!I want to try this.

~Ashley~

[Jack]

Hi there,
I usually visit design blogs and get ideas through designs. I got some pillow designs, card designs etc. But these designs are so creative, its amazing i love it.

[lilie]

MAGNIFIQUE !

[debbie maloney]

where can I find the pattern for Honey Bunny to use on a pillow?

I plan to make Flower Garden Pillow also.

[Jilly]

Thankyou it's beautiful!
oxoxo

[Jacqueline Barrantes Ulate]

gracias por compartir estas cosas tan bellas, me encantan los almohadones con las flores y el detalle del pajarito esta super delicado... felicidades por tanto talento..

[Jenny Howell]

I really like your tutorial, I've blogged my version of it - not quite as perfect as yours but people seem to like it!
http://littleoverliving.blogspot.com/

[sharon]

OMGGG I love that pillow. My friend Pam told me to come see your blog. Love it!!!! Love your pillow.

[garden equipment]

Wow, I love the design, it's so beautiful and lovely!

Luigi Hanway

[flower Philippine]

Oh! glad I saw this post. I enjoyed reading this Flower Garden Pillow tutorial. I will try to make something like that this weekend. Thanks for guiding me through this. Rarely do I find good entries that would walk me through.

-pia-

[Morgane]

I have so many projects that I need to finish before starting a new one....
Oh well, they will have to wait!
I just love your style! and this tutorial is excellent!
I am off to dive in my supplies and make a beautiful spring pillow.
Thank you so much for sharing.

[Jouer au casino]

thank you for this article spanking long as I had not read an interesting article on personal as a blog. Congratulations and good luck to you

[Dana St John]

yay i finally did it! blogged about here: http://drinkingfabric.blogspot.com/

[Jordan Hydro]

I suppoes, Sunny spring afternoon, garden stone bench is a good place to study.

[jojo]

tu es geniale merci ma belle j ai mis ton lien sur mon blog bises jojo

[Dana St John]

Thank you so much for this pattern. I'v never quilted anything before and couldnt master stippling so I stuck to straight line quilting the background. I have blogged about it here:http://drinkingfabric.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-quilted-cushion-cover.html I desperatly want to try your rainbow lollipops quilt but have no clue as to what I can do with the background as stopping and starting with straight lines isnt much fun!, im considering getting a new machine that might regulate my stippling stitches because of my lack of skill doing this! (my standard machine is only 4 months old!) I wish I could attend one of your classes but im in the U.K, such a shame!

[Teresa Felgueiras]

Great tutorial ans fabulous pattern. Thank you very much!

[gisela]

wauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu hemoso que colores, estan perfecto...
no tengo palabras, la erdad es que yo apenas estoy enpesando y no tengo maquina lo que hago lo hago a mano y sin mucha esperiencia.
estaba buscando un blog que me dejara sin palabras y este seguro qe lo ha logrado.
espero me entiendas pues la verdad yo no entiendo nada; pero lo que he visto me gusto. que manos y que cabeza para trabajar a la par waoooooooooooooooooo.

[Rochelle]

Wow - thank you, this is gorgeous, I a, certainly going to give this a go. I have never done anything like this before but your tutorial makes it look so easy.
I must admit until reading your tutorial, I always thought it was all needle turned. I think I am relieved it is not - until I try to use a machine :-)
Thank you again.

[Arabella]

I'm learning... it's very hard to reach these marvellous patterns. A challenge for me.

[sarah]

Thank you for this lovely tutorial, your work is amazing...I am very excited to give my finished product over at christmas.....

[Jen]

Thankyou so much for the tutorial! I used it to make a panel in duvet covers I made for my girls this christmas and they turned out beautifully. I did just a swirlly quilting as it was my first time machine quilting, but it turned out nicely. I would love to show you how it turned out, but don't know how to do that. If you are interested, let me know. Thanks again for the tutorial!

[gamblers types]

Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!

[Mica]

this is awesome. i love the one pillow with full of flowers

[Univers]

I think, that is good stuff just about this topic.

[Karolina]

Thank you for sharing this beutiful pattern and by doing so inspire me to try out two new techniques. I have never used raw edge applique or free hand quilting. It was great fun! All I need now is some more practise.... You can se my version on: retstickan.blogspot.com, under: blomsterkudde.

[Candi]

Do you happen to have a quilt pattern that compliments this quilt?

[I have nothing. The gods got everything and control the gates of heaven. Consistant with capitalism I will get CHEATED out of everything. Why bother me?]

A.G. Ferrari

[Belstaff Coats]

Nice, and thanks for sharing this info with us.Good Luck!

[Cathy Dale]

Love this pillow!

[judith]

thank you for the beautiful pattern, I want to use the shapes for a cover for my new sewing machine

[Account Deleted]

What a lovely pattern....Oh I really love this....

[Malini]

Beautiful!

[Amy Kelsch]

I just came across your site. What a fun site!!!! I love your style!!! Can't wait to see what you come up with next!