Turn Any Block into a Pillow Case – Tutorial

This blog post will help you turn any 18 ½” x 18 ½” unfinished block into a pillow case. Enjoy!

If you need a block to work with, download my free Bubble Bounce Block here.

Materials
Backing Fabric: (1) 22″ x 22″ square (this piece will not be visible because it will end up inside the pillow. Use of stash fabric is recommended.
Batting: (1) 22″ x 22″ square
Backing Pieces: (2) 14″ x 18 ½” rectangles
Binding Strips: (2) 2 ½” WOF strips
(1) 18″ x 18″ Pillow Insert

Pillow Top
1. Make a quilt sandwich by layering from bottom to top: backing wrong-side up, batting, and pillow block right-side up.

2. Baste and quilt the sandwich as desired.

I basted this block with basting pins. Underneath the batting is the backing fabric, which is not currently visible.

3. Trim the excess backing and batting.

Pillow Back
Gather the (2) Backing Pieces.

My two backing pieces measure 14″ x 18 ½” each.

1. Lay one piece wrong-side up and fold over one long edge by ½”. Press on the fold and stitch it in place. Repeat this step for the other Backing Piece.

2. Align the backing pieces right sides up so that the hemmed edges overlap by 6 ½”.

One piece lines up at the 6″ mark while the other piece overlaps it and lines up with the 12″ mark. Both folded edges are the edges that are overlapping and facing the center of the pillow.

3. Pin the pieces together in the overlap area and sew ⅛” seam away from the overlap edges.

On the left and right side, I have sewn the 6″ of the overlapped units together.

Pillow Assembly
1. Layer from bottom to top, the Pillow Back right-side up and the Pillow Top wrong-side up.

The pillow is essentially inside-out.

2. Sew ¼ʺ seam away from the edge of the inverted pillow.

The pillow is inside out and ready to be trimmed at the edges.

3. Trim away any excess Pillow Back fabric.

Trim fabric from the pillow corners without cutting past the ¼ʺ seam.

4. Turn the pillow cover right-side out.

The pillow is lying flat on my table. You can see that the optical illusion of the patttern makes it look like it is already filled and ready to use!

Binding
1. Sew all binding 2 ½” WOF strips together by joining the end of each strip on the diagonal, creating one continuous strip.

2. Trim the excess triangles created from the diagonal sewing, leaving a ¼” seam allowance.

3. Fold the binding in half lengthwise with wrong sides facing together, then press.

4. Align the raw edges of the binding strip along the edge of the pillow back, with folded edge facing the middle of the pillow. Sew together with a ¼” seam allowance.

5. Fold the binding over to the front and sew by hand or machine.

6. Insert an 18″ pillow form and enjoy!

Turn Any Block into a Pillow Case – Tutorial

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