Trim the Tree Pillow

Inspired by: Trim the Trees from designer Sherri K. Falls

Quilt tester: Doris Brunnette

Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width.

• 1/3 yard solid white (pillow top)
• 6-1/2 ×12-1/2" rectangle light green print (pillow top)
• 4-1/2 ×12-1/2" rectangle medium green print (pillow top)
• 4-1/2 ×12-1/2" rectangle dark green print (pillow top)
• 2-1/2" square brown print (pillow top)
• 10" square red print (pillow top)
• 5/8 yard blue print (pillow top and back, binding)
• 20"-square batting
• 20"-square muslin
• 18"-square pillow form
• Buttons in various sizes: red (optional)

Finished size: 18" square

Finished block: 16" square

Cut pieces in the following order.

From solid white, cut:

• 2—2-1/2 ×16-1/2" rectangles
• 2—6-1/2" squares
• 2—2-1/2 ×5-1/2" rectangles
• 4—4-1/2" squares

From red print, cut:

• 4—4-1/2" squares

From blue print, cut:

• 2—2-1/2 ×42" binding strips
• 2—11-3/4 ×18-1/2" backing rectangles
• 2—1-1/2 ×18-1/2" border strips
• 2—1-1/2 ×16-1/2" border strips

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

Press seams in directions indicated by arrows on diagrams. If no direction is specified, press seam toward darker fabric.

1) Use a pencil to mark diagonal lines on wrong side of solid white 6-1/2" and 4-1/2" squares.

2) Align a marked solid white 6-1/2" square with one end of light green print 6-1/2 ×12-1/2" rectangle (Diagram 1; note direction of marked line). Sew on marked line. Trim seam allowance to 1/4". Press open attached triangle. Add remaining marked solid white 6-1/2" square to opposite end of rectangle to make tree top unit. The unit still should be 6-1/2 ×12-1/2" including seam allowances.

3) Align a marked solid white 4-1/2" square with left-hand end of medium green print 4-1/2 ×12-1/2" rectangle (Diagram 2; note direction of marked line). Sew on marked line. Trim seam allowance to 1/4". Press open attached triangle. Add a second marked solid white 4-1/2" square to opposite end of rectangle to make tree middle unit. The unit still should be 4-1/2 ×12-1/2" including seam allowances.

4) Repeat Step 3 using dark green print 4-1/2 ×12-1/2" rectangle to make tree bottom unit.

5) Sew solid white 2-1/2 ×5-1/2" rectangles to opposite edges of brown print 2-1/2" square to make tree trunk unit (Diagram 3). The unit should be 2-1/2 ×12-1/2" including seam allowances.

6) Sew together tree top, middle, bottom, and trunk units to make tree unit (Diagram 4). The unit should be 12-1/2 ×16-1/2" including seam allowances.

7) Add solid white 2-1/2 ×16-1/2" rectangles to left- and right-hand edges of tree unit to make block center (Diagram 5). The block center should be 16-1/2" square including seam allowances.

8) Mark a diagonal line on wrong side of red print 4-1/2" squares.

9) Referring to Diagram 6, align a marked red print square with each block center corner. Sew on marked lines. Trim seam allowances to 1/4". Press open attached triangles to make block. The block should be 16-1/2" square including seam allowances.

10) Sew blue print 1-1/2 ×16-1/2" border strips to opposite edges of block (Pillow Top Assembly Diagram). Sew blue print 1-1/2 ×18-1/2" border strips to remaining edges to complete pillow top. Press all seams toward border. The pillow top should be 18-1/2" square including seam allowances.

1) Layer pillow top, batting, and muslin square; baste. Quilt as desired.

2) Trim batting and muslin even with pillow top edges.

3) Embellish quilted pillow top with buttons for ornaments.

4) Turn one long edge of each blue print 11-3/4 ×18-1/2" rectangle under 1/4"; press. Turn under 1/4" again. Stitch in place to make hemmed pillow back pieces. Each hemmed pillow back piece should be 11-1/4×18-1/2" including seam allowances.

5) Referring to Pillow Back Assembly Diagram, overlap hemmed edges of pillow back pieces by 4" to make an 18-1/2" square. Stitch across overlaps to make pillow back.

6) Layer pillow top and pillow back with wrong sides together. Stitch a scant 1/4" inside outer edges to make pillow cover.

7) Bind pillow cover with blue print binding strips. Insert pillow form through opening to complete pillow.