Sewing
Sewing
L e i s u r e A r t s L i b r a r y. c o m
Flag Pillow
#800483
This patriotic pillow will fill your home with star-spangled spirit! Inspired by an Early American flag, the pillow is easy to make using a variation of the traditional Log Cabin quilt block pattern. What a great way to show your love of home & country!
Approx Finished Size: 17½" x 12" Originally published in the August 1990 issue of Leisure Arts The Magazine ©2008 by Leisure Arts, Inc.
Click Here to sign up for the FREE Leisure Arts E-newsletters at www.leisurearts.com to receive free projects, book reviews, handy tips, and more Inspiration!
Flag Pillow
3. For left inner border, sew one short edge of one navy print strip to one short edge of one red print strip. Referring to photo, sew strip to left edge of flag center; trim top and bottom edges even with edges of flag center.
You will need: one 1¾" x 9" strip each of four navy print fabrics one 5½" x 4½" piece of solid navy fabric one 1¾" x 18" strip each of eight red print fabrics four 1½" x 10½" strips of solid red fabric three 1½" x 10½" strips of muslin two 18" x 15" pieces of muslin one 18" x 15" piece of low‑loft polyester bonded batting sewing thread tracing paper fabric marking pencil ecru embroidery floss embroidery needle ecru quilting thread quilting needle polyester fiberfill
4. For top inner border, sew one short edge of one navy print strip to one short edge of one red print strip. Referring to photo, sew strip to top edge of flag center and attached side strip; trim edges even with edges of flag center plus attached side strip. 5. Sew one red print strip to right edge of flag center and attached top strip; trim edges even with edges of flag center plus attached top strip. 6. Sew one red print strip to bottom edge of flag center and attached side strips; trim edges even with edges of attached side strips.
Note: For each sewing step, pin fabric pieces together with right sides facing and matching raw edges. Use a ¼" seam allowance throughout and press seam allowances toward dark fabrics. 1. Refer to Fig. 1 to sew long edges of solid red and muslin strips together; this will be referred to as the flag center. Fig. 1
2. For star area, tear 1" from one long and one short edge of solid navy fabric. With cut edges of pieces matched, refer to Fig. 2 and place navy fabric on top left corner of flag center. Basting close to edges of navy fabric, baste pieces together. Fig. 2
7. For outer border, follow Steps 3 ‑ 6.
8. For pillow top, place batting on one 18" x 15" muslin piece, matching edges. Center flag right side up on batting. Smoothing any wrinkles, pin all layers together. Beginning each basting line at center of pillow top and keeping stitches approx. ½" long, baste layers together horizontally, then vertically. 9. For stars, trace Star Circle pattern onto tracing paper; cutting 1" from circle, cut out pattern. Make a small hole at each l in pattern. Center pattern over solid navy area of pillow top; use fabric marking pencil to lightly transfer star placement to fabric. Use six strands of embroidery floss to work one French Knot for each star. 10. Use quilting thread and needle and refer to Quilting Stitch instructions to quilt along each seam of pillow top; quilt ¼" from bottom and right edges of star area. 11. Trim batting and backing even with edges of flag.
12. For pillow back, trim remaining muslin piece same size as pillow top. Leaving an opening for turning and stuffing, sew pillow top and back together; trim seam allowance at corners. 13. Turn pillow right side out and stuff with polyester fiberfill; whipstitch opening closed.
LeisureArtsLibrary.com • #800483
Page 2 of 3
©2008 by Leisure Arts, Inc.
FRENCH KNOT For each French Knot, bring needle up at 1. Wrap floss once around needle and insert needle at 2, holding end of floss with non‑stitching fingers (Fig. 3). Tighten knot; then pull needle through fabric, holding floss until it must be released. Fig. 3
Holding needle with sewing hand and placing other hand underneath pillow top, take tip of needle down through layered fabric. As soon as needle touches finger underneath pillow top, use that finger to push tip of needle back up through layered fabric. Rocking needle up and down, take three to six stitches before bringing needle and thread completely through fabric (Fig. 5). Fig. 5
QUILTING STITCH The Quilting Stitch is a basic running stitch that forms a broken line on both front and back of layered fabric. Both front and back stitches should be equal in length. Thread quilting needle with on 18" length of quilting thread; knot one end of thread. Bring needle up through layered fabric and batting next to seam at center of pillow top; when knot catches on back of fabric, give thread a quick, short pull to pop knot through fabric into batting (Fig. 4).
At end of a length of thread, knot thread and take needle down through layered fabric and batting; when knot catches on top of fabric, pop knot through fabric into batting. Clip thread close to fabric. Star Circle Pattern
Fig. 4
We have made every effort to ensure that these instructions are accurate and complete. We cannot, however, be responsible for human error, typographical mistakes, or variations in individual work. ©2008 by Leisure Arts, Inc., 5701 Ranch Drive, Little Rock, AR 72223. All rights reserved. This digital publication is protected under federal copyright laws. Reproduction or distribution of this digital publication or any other Leisure Arts publication, including publications which are out of print, is prohibited unless specifically authorized. This includes, but is not limited to, any form of reproduction or distribution on or through the Internet, including posting, scanning, or e-mail transmission. LeisureArtsLibrary.com • #800483
Page 3 of 3
©2008 by Leisure Arts, Inc.
L e i s u r e A r t s L i b r a r y. c o m
Flag Pillow
#800483
This patriotic pillow will fill your home with star-spangled spirit! Inspired by an Early American flag, the pillow is easy to make using a variation of the traditional Log Cabin quilt block pattern. What a great way to show your love of home & country!
Approx Finished Size: 17½" x 12" Originally published in the August 1990 issue of Leisure Arts The Magazine ©2008 by Leisure Arts, Inc.
Click Here to sign up for the FREE Leisure Arts E-newsletters at www.leisurearts.com to receive free projects, book reviews, handy tips, and more Inspiration!
Flag Pillow
3. For left inner border, sew one short edge of one navy print strip to one short edge of one red print strip. Referring to photo, sew strip to left edge of flag center; trim top and bottom edges even with edges of flag center.
You will need: one 1¾" x 9" strip each of four navy print fabrics one 5½" x 4½" piece of solid navy fabric one 1¾" x 18" strip each of eight red print fabrics four 1½" x 10½" strips of solid red fabric three 1½" x 10½" strips of muslin two 18" x 15" pieces of muslin one 18" x 15" piece of low‑loft polyester bonded batting sewing thread tracing paper fabric marking pencil ecru embroidery floss embroidery needle ecru quilting thread quilting needle polyester fiberfill
4. For top inner border, sew one short edge of one navy print strip to one short edge of one red print strip. Referring to photo, sew strip to top edge of flag center and attached side strip; trim edges even with edges of flag center plus attached side strip. 5. Sew one red print strip to right edge of flag center and attached top strip; trim edges even with edges of flag center plus attached top strip. 6. Sew one red print strip to bottom edge of flag center and attached side strips; trim edges even with edges of attached side strips.
Note: For each sewing step, pin fabric pieces together with right sides facing and matching raw edges. Use a ¼" seam allowance throughout and press seam allowances toward dark fabrics. 1. Refer to Fig. 1 to sew long edges of solid red and muslin strips together; this will be referred to as the flag center. Fig. 1
2. For star area, tear 1" from one long and one short edge of solid navy fabric. With cut edges of pieces matched, refer to Fig. 2 and place navy fabric on top left corner of flag center. Basting close to edges of navy fabric, baste pieces together. Fig. 2
7. For outer border, follow Steps 3 ‑ 6.
8. For pillow top, place batting on one 18" x 15" muslin piece, matching edges. Center flag right side up on batting. Smoothing any wrinkles, pin all layers together. Beginning each basting line at center of pillow top and keeping stitches approx. ½" long, baste layers together horizontally, then vertically. 9. For stars, trace Star Circle pattern onto tracing paper; cutting 1" from circle, cut out pattern. Make a small hole at each l in pattern. Center pattern over solid navy area of pillow top; use fabric marking pencil to lightly transfer star placement to fabric. Use six strands of embroidery floss to work one French Knot for each star. 10. Use quilting thread and needle and refer to Quilting Stitch instructions to quilt along each seam of pillow top; quilt ¼" from bottom and right edges of star area. 11. Trim batting and backing even with edges of flag.
12. For pillow back, trim remaining muslin piece same size as pillow top. Leaving an opening for turning and stuffing, sew pillow top and back together; trim seam allowance at corners. 13. Turn pillow right side out and stuff with polyester fiberfill; whipstitch opening closed.
LeisureArtsLibrary.com • #800483
Page 2 of 3
©2008 by Leisure Arts, Inc.
FRENCH KNOT For each French Knot, bring needle up at 1. Wrap floss once around needle and insert needle at 2, holding end of floss with non‑stitching fingers (Fig. 3). Tighten knot; then pull needle through fabric, holding floss until it must be released. Fig. 3
Holding needle with sewing hand and placing other hand underneath pillow top, take tip of needle down through layered fabric. As soon as needle touches finger underneath pillow top, use that finger to push tip of needle back up through layered fabric. Rocking needle up and down, take three to six stitches before bringing needle and thread completely through fabric (Fig. 5). Fig. 5
QUILTING STITCH The Quilting Stitch is a basic running stitch that forms a broken line on both front and back of layered fabric. Both front and back stitches should be equal in length. Thread quilting needle with on 18" length of quilting thread; knot one end of thread. Bring needle up through layered fabric and batting next to seam at center of pillow top; when knot catches on back of fabric, give thread a quick, short pull to pop knot through fabric into batting (Fig. 4).
At end of a length of thread, knot thread and take needle down through layered fabric and batting; when knot catches on top of fabric, pop knot through fabric into batting. Clip thread close to fabric. Star Circle Pattern
Fig. 4
We have made every effort to ensure that these instructions are accurate and complete. We cannot, however, be responsible for human error, typographical mistakes, or variations in individual work. ©2008 by Leisure Arts, Inc., 5701 Ranch Drive, Little Rock, AR 72223. All rights reserved. This digital publication is protected under federal copyright laws. Reproduction or distribution of this digital publication or any other Leisure Arts publication, including publications which are out of print, is prohibited unless specifically authorized. This includes, but is not limited to, any form of reproduction or distribution on or through the Internet, including posting, scanning, or e-mail transmission. LeisureArtsLibrary.com • #800483
Page 3 of 3
©2008 by Leisure Arts, Inc.
