Neutral Print Pillows

Inspired by Happy Haunts from designer Sue Marsh of Whistlepig Creek Productions

Project tester: Mary Pepper

• 5⁄8 yard brown print (pillow top, binding)
• 18x22" piece (fat quarter) gray print (pillow top)
• 1-5⁄8 yards cream print (border, pillow back)
• 2⁄3 yard iron-on fusible fleece
• 16"-square pillow form

Finished pillow: 221⁄2" square (including 3-1⁄4"-wide flange)

Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics unless otherwise specified.

Measurements include 1⁄4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order. Cut cream print 3-1⁄2x16-1⁄2" border strips lengthwise (parallel to the selvages).

From brown print, cut:

• 3--2-1⁄2x42" binding strips
• 2--10" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 4 triangles total

From gray print, cut:

• 1--11-7⁄8" square

From cream print, cut:

• 2--22-1⁄2x26-1⁄2" rectangles
• 2--3-1⁄2x22-1⁄2" border strips
• 2--3-1⁄2x16-1⁄2" border strips

From fusible fleece, cut:

• 1--22-1⁄2" square

1. Sew brown print triangles to opposite edges of gray print 11-7⁄8" square (Diagram 1). Join remaining brown print triangles to remaining edges. Press all seams toward triangles. Trim to 16-1⁄2" square including seam allowances to make pillow center.

2. Sew cream print 3-1⁄2x16-1⁄2" border strips to opposite edges of pillow center. Add cream print 3-1⁄2x22-1⁄2" border strips to remaining edges to make pillow top (Diagram 2). Press all seams toward border. The pillow top should be 22-1⁄2" square including seam allowances.

3. Following manufacturer's instructions, press fusible fleece 22-1⁄2" square to wrong side of pillow top.

1. With wrong sides inside, fold cream print 22-1⁄2x26-1⁄2" rectangles in half to form two double-thick 13-1⁄4x22-1⁄2" rectangles. (The double thickness makes the pillow back more stable.) Overlap folded edges about 4" to make a 22-1⁄2" square (Pillow Back Assembly Diagram). Baste across top and bottom of overlapped layers to make pillow back.

2. With wrong sides together, layer pillow top and pillow back; baste. Stitch in the ditch along inside border seam through all layers to make a pillow cover with a 3-1⁄4"-wide flange.

3. Bind with brown print binding strips. Insert pillow form through opening in pillow cover back to complete Square-in-a-Square pillow.

• 1-5⁄8 yards solid black (inner border, binding, pillow back)
• 1⁄2 yard black chain print (pillow top)
• 1⁄3 yard black starburst print (outer border)
• 2⁄3 yard iron-on fusible fleece
• 16"-square pillow form

Finished pillow: 22-1⁄2" square (including 3-1⁄4"-wide flange)

Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. Measurements include 1⁄4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order.

From solid black, cut:

• 3--2-1⁄2x42" binding strips
• 2--22-1⁄2x261⁄2" rectangles
• 2--1x17-1⁄2" inner border strips
• 2--1x16-1⁄2" inner border strips

From black chain print, cut:

• 1--16-1⁄2" square

From black starburst print, cut:

• 2--3x22-1⁄2" outer border strips
• 2--3x17-1⁄2" outer border strips

From fusible fleece, cut:

• 1--22-1⁄2" square

1. Sew solid black 1x16-1⁄2" inner border strips to opposite edges of black chain print 16-1⁄2" square (Diagram 3). Add solid black 1x17-1⁄2" inner border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward inner border.

2. Join black starburst print 3x17-1⁄2" outer border strips to opposite edges of pillow center (Diagram 3). Add black starburst print 3x22-1⁄2" outer border strips to remaining edges to make pillow top. Press all seams toward outer border.

3. Following manufacturer's instructions, press fusible fleece 22-1⁄2" square to wrong side of pillow top.

1. With wrong sides inside, fold solid black print 22-1⁄2x26-1⁄2" rectangles in half to form two double-thick 13-1⁄4x22-1⁄2" rectangles. (The double thickness makes the pillow back more stable.) Overlap folded edges about 4" to make a 22-1⁄2" square (Pillow Back Assembly Diagram). Baste across top and bottom of overlapped layers to make pillow back.

2. With wrong sides together, layer pillow top and pillow back; baste. Stitch in the ditch along inside border seam through all layers to make a pillow cover with a 3-1⁄4"-wide flange.

3. Bind with solid black binding strips. Insert pillow form through opening in pillow cover back to complete square pillow.