Creative Sewing Quilt Block Pillow Instructions and Visual Aid
1. You will need (2) 3 wide strips of fabric that will coordinate well with a T-Shirt of your choice. Place the strips right sides together and carefully line up along one of the long sides. Pin along the long edge that you just lined up, placing pins perpendicular to the edge of the fabric. (2) 3 wide strips of coordinating fabric Fabric, right sides together and pins placed perpendicular to the edge of the fabric. Keep it nice a straight.
2. Using a paper with a straight edge, sew a ¼ seam on one long edge. Measure the seam with a seam gauge set to ¼. Have the paper sample approved by the instructor before moving to the next step. TIP: The ridge on the inside of the presser foot is the ¼ mark.
3. Set the stitch length control to a 2. Using a ¼ seam allowance, backstitch as you begin to sew along the long edge of your fabric on the side that you have pinned. Remove the pins as you sew, backstitch at the end of the seam. Stitch Length of 2 Use a ¼ seam allowance. See the ridge on the inside of your presser foot. Backstitch at beginning AND end ¼ seam allowance. Remove pins as you sew. Go nice and slow to ensure a straight seam.
3. Press the seam allowance to one side. (See Pictures)
4. Decide on a center piece that you will use for this project. Cut from a T-Shirt a 10.5x5.5 rectangle. Use the template to help you.
5. Attach the fusible interfacing to the T-Shirt Piece. Here is how: Place the T-Shirt design side down and lay the interfacing glue side (bumpy side)down on the wrong side of the T-Shirt. Gently iron until the interfacing is adhered to the T-Shirt. Check the measurement of the finished piece. It should be a perfect 10.5 x 5.5 rectangle. If it s too large, trim it.
6. IMPORTANT, CRITICAL STEP! Very carefully cut the long sewn strip into 3 sections. You MUST measure VERY accurately for this project to be a success. You will need a total of (14) 3 sections. (you may have an extra piece at the end of your fabric that you will discard later. (See next slide for pictures)
6. Measuring and Cutting 3 pieces 1. Set your seam gauge to 3 2. Use a marking pencil to mark 3 in from the end of the fabric. *See the blue marks made across the strip?
6. Are you sure you have measured a 3 segment? If YES. 3. Cut the piece you just measured. Repeat the measuring, marking, cutting process across until you have all of your pieces cut. You will use 14 of them.
7. Lay out the fabric sections and the center piece in a pattern of your choice so that the finished piece will be 16 square. That means you will have six small squares on each side. Checkerboard is an option (not required).
8. Lay two of the pieces which are next to each other in the pattern right sides together. Make sure the crease in the middle lines up. Place one pin at the point of the crease and 2 additional pins (1 at each end). Place the center pin first. Make sure the creases line up.
8. Backstitching at beginning and end, sew a ¼ seam along the side you just pinned. Don t forget to backstitch! ¼ Seam Allowance. Take your time and keep it straight. Remember to look at the ridge on the inside of your presser foot.
8. Open the 2 pieces you just sewed together. Now, pin the next piece right sides together, just as you did before. (Start with the center pin, just as you did before). Sew ¼ seam, just as you did before.
8. Then add the next piece (and so on), until you have all 6 pieces in a section sewn together.
8. Continue the same process with the Bottom other 2 sections. TOP CENTER
9. Press the new seams (on all 3 sections) toward 1 side.
10. Sew the three panels together using a ¼ seam to create a 16 square block. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each seam. 1 st sew the bottom section to the middle section. Right sides together. ¼ seam. Backstitch!! Next, sew the top section to the middle section. Right sides together. ¼ seam. Backstitch!!
10. PRESS AGAIN!
11. Locate a 16x16 square. Pin the pillow front to the pillow back in the same manner you did the tooth fairy pillow. (Right sides together). Use double pins to mark a 4 opening at the top of the pillow. DOUBLE PINS: Marks the opening
12. Use a 3/8 seam allowance. (Follow the line on the throat plate just outside the presser foot). Begin at one set of double pins, backstitch and sew to the outside corner. Leave the needle down, pivot the corner and repeat until you have sewn all the way around the pillow. End at the other set of double pins. Backstitch at the end.
12. 3/8 seam allowance
12. Clip corners
12. Turn inside out. Poke the corners so they are sharp.
13. Press 1 more time so that the opening is folded in 3/8 to the inside (even with the seam allowance).
14. Stuff the pillow with batting and once it is full, pin the opening (just as you did on the tooth fairy pillow), and stitch it closed using the Ladder Stitch. Your beginning knot, stitches, and ending knot should be hidden.
15. You are almost finished! Trim any loose strings and turn in with the scoring guide!