With so many unfinished quilt projects on the go, I am trying very hard (although I haven’t been completely successful!) to resist the urge to start any new large scale projects.
Lately, other than making the odd quilt block here and there, I have been finding it increasingly difficult to acquire a large enough chunk of sewing time to make decent progress on any one particular project. (Plus I seem to be attention-deficit when it comes to staying focused on only one project at a time!)
Making pillows seems like the perfect solution to me. I can try new techniques and get the satisfaction of a reasonably quick finish!
I wrote about my paper pieced economy blocks in a previous post.
As most of my Amy Butler fabric scraps have now been used and I didn’t want this to end up as another UFO, I decided to turn these nine blocks into a pillow.
I added a narrow outer border which allowed me to maintain the block points when constructing the pillow (sorry I didn’t take a photo of this step) and then quilted diagonal lines on either side of the seams.
I used Amy Butler Deco Rose – from her Daisy Chain collection – for the envelope back of this 18″ pillow.
This pillow will be going to a very special someone…
My second pillow finish involves my much cherished Carolyn Friedlander Doe fabric.
I don’t consider myself a fabric hoarder. After all, isn’t fabric purchased to be cut up and used? However, this beautiful Doe fabric has been sitting unused in a drawer – occasionally looked at and stroked 😉 – waiting for the right project to come along…
Anyway, I recently borrowed this great book – Modern Log Cabin Quilting – from my local library. I don’t own a lot of quilting books but am really tempted to order and purchase a copy of this one for myself.
I was greatly inspired by this book and decided to make myself a giant log cabin block. (I have actually started a second project from this book but will write about that at a later date.)
I allowed myself to cut just one 2 inch by WOF strip from each of my ten Doe fabrics and began the log cabin process.
There was very little wastage from this project and I used all but a few bits from my strips. I later used these leftover scraps in my pillow backing.
I was very tempted to continue with this giant log cabin block – measuring 24 inches square – and make it quilt sized. However, I ultimately decided to stop at this size, quilt it and turn it into a 23 inch square pillow.
I used polyester/wool blend batting which gave the pillow top a nice puffiness after quilting (in the ditch),
and found some well-matched cotton duck fabric (interspersed with my leftover Doe scraps) to use for the envelope back of the pillow.
Now I can see and admire this lovely fabric on my bed every day!
Now a question for you:
Do you consider yourself a fabric hoarder? Have you got any fabrics at home that you consider too precious to cut up? Or are you simply waiting for the right project to come along? I’d love to hear from you so please leave me a comment.
Deb 🙂
Linking up to Main Crush Monday @ Cooking Up Quilts, Design Board Monday @ Bits ‘n Bobs, Let’s Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation and TGIFF @ Quilt Matters
These are wonderful pillows Deb. Very different from each other but both look great. I don’t think of myself as a fabric hoarder but if I’m honest I am. I have far too much of it not to be. I’ll have to liberate some of it and then I can ditch the label.
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Lovely pillows! Small projects are a great way to try new techniques. I rarely buy fabrics just because I like them – I have to have a project in mind. Having said that I’ve got quite a few little groups of fabrics that are ‘yet to be started’ projects!
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Hi Deb, LOVE your Amy Butler and Carol Friedlander pillows! I have ONE piece of fabric that I am hoarding because the repeat is so big and beautiful I hate to cut it up! (it’s the one I use for the background photo on my blog). The rest of it, I am just waiting for the right project to come along.
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Just love your pillows Deb, your choice of fabric is very appealing, really enjoying your posts.Love Heather XX
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Hello Deb…..from one tassie to another, lovely to see you over at Bits ‘n Bobs for Design Board Monday! I do like the Amy Butler pillow but, WOW!, so in love with the Log Cabin….I love those fabrics (did you get any from Frangipani?) I am a chronic fabric hoarder….I also hoard patterns and pattern kits…..one step at a time…right? I wonder if I can get that book though my local LINC…
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This is a great way to use just a little of Doe and enjoy it, while saving the rest for another project. And I love your Amy Butler pillow, it’s gorgeous! I don’t consider myself a fabric hoarder. I try to use what I have on hand, but I do have a few pieces that I won’t use unless I’m convinced I’ve found the right project to highlight the fabric (Architextures is one of them – I seriously *love* that stuff!!)
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Very pretty! I am a fabric hoarder but only for a time. There are fabrics that I love looking at in my stash but eventually I cut into them, only so I can make room for more!!!
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I think that making a quilt is such a long process that it’s important to allow yourself some quick and small in between projects… I know it keeps me from loosing interest in my long term projects.
Beautiful pillow… great fussy cut blocks!
That backing fabric on your CF pillow is a great fabric too!
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Love the Economy Blocks pillow — so cheerful!!
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Superb fussy cutting in your Amy Butler cushion, I’m not surprised you find it difficult cutting up such gorgeous fabrics!
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Your pillows are gorgeous. I LOVE the Amy Butler one 🙂
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GORGEOUS pillows! And yes, I consider myself a fabric hoarder (especially when it comes to my Tula Pink stash!). However, I am working to remedy my condition by shopping my stash before I hit the fabric shops. It’s hard, but I’m happy to report that my most recent finish includes only fabric from my stash. 🙂
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Great pillows! Sometimes you have to save the fabric for the special projects. And yes, I’m definitely a fabric collector. 😉
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These are both gorgeous pillow – and so different. Love the doe log cabin.
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What charming pillows Deb and just love your choice of fabrics-always my love mum XO
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