I’m so happy to share a new Christmas project with you – it’s the Ho Ho Farmhouse Pillow Tutorial! It’s just in time for holiday decorating, and I think it turned out pretty darn cute.
I used mostly Fig Tree fabric from the Chestnut Street and Farmhouse lines. There is some black and white striped shirting fabric (whose origin is unknown), and I think the whole thing has a real farmhouse feel. Add some dimensional bows and you’ve got a real down home pillow.
This tutorial will make one 18 1/2″ pillow. I used an envelope-style back with binding all the way around the pillow edges. Adding binding to a pillow gives it a nice accent – it almost looks like piping.
I tried to simplify the tutorial so that it’s not overly long. It assumes you have basic piecing and quilting skills. Eventually I will make this tutorial into a downloadable PDF format.
Ho Ho Farmhouse Pillow Tutorial
Finished size: 18 1/2″ square. All seams are 1/4″
Supplies:
Background: 1/8 yd. each of 3 cream & black prints
Red: 1/8 yd. each of 4 red prints
Green: 1/8 yd. each of 3 green prints
Black & white stripe: 1/8 yard
Backing: 5/8 yard
Binding: 1/4 yard
Ribbon, 1/4″ – 3/8″ wide (optional): 1 1/4 yards
Embroidery floss to match bows
Fusible fleece or batting: 19″ square
Lightweight fusible interfacing (optional): 1/2 yard
18″ pillow form
Cutting Instructions:
Background: from each print, cut (1) 3 1/2″ square, (1) 2 1/2″ square, (1) 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ rectangle, (1) 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ rectangle, (8) 2″ squares, and (5) 1 1/2″ squares
Red A (letter H): (9) 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ rectangles, and (3) 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ rectangles
Red B (letter O): (6) 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ rectangles, and (6) 1 1/2″ squares
Red C (1 bow): (1) 4″ x 9 1/2″ rectangle
Red D (2 bows): (2) 4″ x 9 1/2″ rectangles
Green: from each print, cut (4) 3 1/2″ squares
Black & white stripe: cut (2) 3 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ rectangles
Backing: (2) 13″ x 18 1/2″ rectangles
Fusible fleece: 18 1/2″ square
Lightweight fusible interfacing (optional): (2) 18″ x 12″ rectangles
Binding: (2) 2 1/4″ x WOF strips
Piecing Instructions:
“ho” block
Draw a diagonal line on four of the 1 1/2″ background squares. Lay out the background fabric pieces, red A and red B pieces as shown in the photo below:
Join the units as shown in the photo below and press as indicated by the arrows. The finished block should measure 6 1/2″ square. Repeat to make a total of three “HO” blocks.
Wreath block
Draw a diagonal line on (8) 2″ background squares. Place them on opposite corners of the 3 1/2″ green squares and stitch just next to the diagonal line. Trim seams and press, following the pressing arrows in the photo below.
Sew the the units into pairs and press so that you have opposing seams. Sew the two pairs together to create the wreath. This block should measure 6 1/2″ square (which I forgot to take a picture of). Repeat to make a total of three wreath blocks.
Join blocks and add top/bottom border
Arrange the blocks as shown below and sew them together, forming the pillow center.
Add the 3 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ black & white stripe rectangles to the top and bottom of the pillow center. Press seams toward the border.
If using ribbon, glue baste it on top of the seam and topstitch close to both edges.
Cut fusible fleece the same size as pillow top. Press to the wrong side of pillow top following manufacturer’s instructions.
Quilt through both layers. I used a serpentine stitch and a walking foot to quilt mine. The bows get attached after quilting.
Now it’s time to make the bows!
Bows
Using the 4″ x 9 1/2″ red rectangles, gently press or crease each in half along the length. Press the two long sides to meet the center crease.
Press the two short sides so that they overlap in the center by 1/4″. I “pinked” one of the short sides to prevent raveling.
Glue baste or hand baste along the center overlap.
Using 3 strands of embroidery floss, take a stitch into the overlap seam allowance.
Pinch the center of the bow so that it forms an accordion pleat.
Wrap the embroidery floss around the bow center 3 or 4 times.
Secure in the back with a small stitch. Don’t cut the thread yet.
Using the same thread and needle, secure the bow to the top half of the wreath with a few stitches. Knot and cut the thread. (The photo shows this step before the block has been quilted. I think it’s a good idea to wait until the pillow top is put together and quilted).
Prepare pillow back
Press under 1/2″ along one 18 1/2″ edge of both pillow back pieces. Add fusible interfacing if using. Press under 1/2″ again along the same edge. Top stitch close to folded edge.
Layer and baste
With wrong sides facing, layer the pillow top and both pillow back pieces so that they overlap in the center. There should be a 6″ overlap. Pin raw edges (or use wonder clips) and baste along all four sides.
Add binding
Make binding strips using the 2 1/4″ x WOF strips. Apply binding using your favorite method. I stitched mine to the back of the pillow and wrapped it around to the front. Then I stitched close to the folded edge of the binding on the front. Insert pillow!
Please keep in mind that this tutorial has not been tested. It is a free pattern and I welcome your feedback. This is my holiday gift to you! You can use the “print friendly” button below to print the portions that you want or save this post for future reference.
I hope you have fun making your own Ho Ho Farmhouse Pillow. Send me a picture if you do. I’d love to see it!
Happy quilting!
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