My American Sewing Guild neighborhood group met last week for the annual holiday party. Good food with an amazing group of absolutely lovely women that LOVE to sew. I can’t think of a better way to spend a morning.
In July we traded brown paper bags containing a cool fabric from our stash that we just never figured out how to use. The guideline was to make clothing. Oops, this is the second year I’ve participated and I’ve been completely out-to-lunch on that bit of the challenge.
I received the gorgeous pink silk fabric. It has a second thread running through it which creates an irredescent glow. A deep, dark navy, maybe black thread. I cut my squares 5 3/4″ each for a finished size of 5 1/4″. This was supposed to yield a finished pillow top of 26 1/4″ square. Quilting shrinkage was left out my calculations resulting in a finished pillow of around 25 1/2″ square.
Once the 26″ pillow form was stuffed in through a zippered back I was thankful for the mistake. It made for a nice plump tight fit, very comfy for lounging on. The girls are fighting over it nightly. Definitely need to make a second.
The front and back were sewn wrong sides together. The binding was applied just like a quilt. I had never thought to do that until I saw the detail on my pillow from Malka. I’m in love with this finish.
I’m also totally diggin’ that wavy quilt line. Walking foot, presser foot to the metal. This is the quilting treatment I recommend for the Anna Banana placements. It’s ended up being an extremely adaptable, quick-to-sew, good-looking quilting finish for all sorts of projects. It especially lends itself to patchwork tops that have seam lines that can be used as guides. No marking, yay! For the pillow I stitched down all the lines (starting with the center) both ways and then went back and filled in with another line in between.
I sure wish December would last just a couple of weeks longer. I never have enough time to make everything!
I have been reading your blog for so long now, and it’s amazing to see how it has evolved!
I have attempted quilted pillows, and have always been wondering, what is the “quilt sandwich” for these?
I’ve tried to make a pillow with the quilt top + batting + muslin backing, but it’s way too thick. When you actually quilted the wavy lines, what were you quilting through? How many layers?
Many Thanks!
What is the AMAZING fabric in the center — what looks like mid century modern ranch houses? I must have it. Please tell me you remember where you got it!
Allison: I did in fact make a traditional quilt sandwich. I used white kona cotton for the bottom layer and a super thin bamboo batting by Fairfield (yes, I still use those 50% off Jo-Anns coupons).
I was worried about it being too thick as well but I was pleasantly surprised with how flat it feels. Doing the binding for the edge may have helped, nothing to turn inside out.
Beth: That is some pretty darn cool fabric. It’s really thin like a Liberty cotton. Made for clothes. Out of my stash, purchased at Esther’s several years ago.
The Amy Butler honeycomb, Anna Maria Horner home decor scrap, all the pink/gray small prints are vintage cottons, corduroy polka dots and strawberries, gray wool suiting scraps, the swirly one is pink thread embroidered on silk.
It’s really lovely! (But would be hard to wear.)
Oh there is nothing better than some just straight up beautiful patchwork! It’s really lovely.
I love it so much. I’ve been making pillows as Christmas gifts, and square patches may be just what I need for the next set. I especially love the wavy quilt lines. Just perfect!
Wow, what an amazing pillow cover! I love the fabric combinations you put together. And I agree with you, I love that binding – great finishing touch!
I really like the fabric in the middle too! I love the pillow
I need to be more bold in fabric combinations – I’d be way too scared to put all of those together, but I LOVE it. I also like the quilt binding finishing on the pillow… I’ll have to remember that one!
beautiful!!
Great color combos! Love the binding idea for pillows – it makes total sense!
Love the quilting in this! And, glad your “mistake” was such a happy one!
Are you a part of the Silverdale group? I’ve been looking to join something (live in Port Orchard) but it is so hard for me to just put myself blindly “out there”. I know, silly, but I’m somewhat shy.
Shannon (and anyone else in the Kitsap area): Silverdale is the location of the ‘chapter’ in this area. There are about 10 to 12 neighborhood groups that are part of this chapter. I attend the Bainbridge Island group which meets at Esther’s on the first Thursday of the month from 10 to 12.
What’s very cool about the neighborhood groups is that you can attend any of them at any time. I attended the chapter retreat two years ago at Seabeck and met a lot of the ladies from all the different groups. So many wonderful ladies.
All the groups publish their schedule of meetings in advance so you can even pick and choose. If I had more time I’d consider attending the Silverdale and Kingston meetings. I just always end up short on time so I make it a point to get to the BI group once a month.
You’ll find a very welcoming group of members wherever you go. I’ve made several friends through my BI group. Quilting is such a big thing in Kitsap that ASG really fills a need for people that like to do other types of sewing.
Definitely contact the chapter and ask if they could send you a newsletter. It will give you the schedule of meetings so you can figure out where you’d like to attend. If going for the first time I would contact the president of the neighborhood group and let them know you’re coming. Sometimes schedules change from the newsletter. You’ll also get a very warm welcome when they can plan ahead for a new visitor.
What a gorgeous pillow! Who cares if you broke the rules!?!
Drool drool drool, so beautiful. Ironic that I just bought some bamboo and organic cotton batting at JoAnn’s with my 50% off coupon
Nice job!
Lovely pillow. I totally agree with another comment that straight up patchwork can be so beautiful.
About the batting, backing sandwich thing, I’ve found that if you use a thin batting like you’ve recommended that even a pillow that’s going to be turned right side out won’t be too thick. I think that’s good to know in case you want to put an edging like piping or ric rac on your pillow.
Hi Kathy,
I finally posted pictures of my Awesome Advent Calendar that was based on yours. I had sent the link of yours to my Aunt and she made one. I love it.
http://wilson-six.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-awesome-advent-calendar.html
Thanks for all the great inspiration on your blog! Have a great Holiday!
Oooh, I love those colors! It is so different from my usual combinations–I’m definitely going to remember it. Beautiful pattern combos, too.
Hi Kathy,
Yesterday I saw your beautiful patchwork pillow and I simply had to make one myself right away. Go and have a look on my blog, I am so glad with it. Thank you so much, once again!
Regina, St. Maarten DWI
I’m really liking all those prints together… very striking. The binding is nice, and unexpected, too!
I, too, have problems measuring and my pillows never end up square. But that makes them more loveable doesn’t it?