Mini Charm Pack Tutorial: On Point Pillow with Olive’s Flower Market

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The wait is over . . . Olive’s Flower Market by Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics is finally arriving at stores! Hooray! This lovely collection made its debut at Spring Quilt Market, and I was fortunate to get enough sample yardage to design a new layer cake pattern, Window Garden, which I shared with you in September.

To celebrate the arrival of Olive’s Flower Market, I broke open a mini charm pack and came up with a pretty little pillow to coordinate with my Window Garden quilt. Actually, my daughter has adopted the Window Garden quilt, so I\’m guessing this pillow will belong to her too! 

 

On Point Pillow 
When mini charm squares are set on point, it adds visual interest, and yet the construction is still so simple. For this project, I used a mini charm pack, Bella Solids Bleached White and Weathered Teak, and Olive’s Flower Market Blackboard 5034 14.  I’ve included a tutorial with pictures and instructions at the bottom of this post.


 I am really tickled with how this pillow turned out.  As many of you know, straight line machine quilting is the only quilting trick I have up my sleeve.  But I think it\’s very effective on a piece like this.  

 


 I did go a bit out of my comfort zone and used a darker thread.  I think it gives the piece a very warm and earthy feeling.  My husband actually said, “Ooooh, I really like the colors on this one!”  Maybe men don’t notice the pink if we throw in a lot of charcoal and brown. 😉 


Window Garden Quilt Kits
I\’m happy to see that my Window Garden pattern is popping up on social media by quilters using different fabric collections, and they have all been just beautiful. But if you are interested in a Window Garden kit using Olive\’s Flower Market, several of my blog sponsors have kits available:

Lou Lou’s Fabric Shop
Stitches ‘N Giggles
My Timeless Day
Quilts on Broadway
Stash Addict Quilts
(Note: Stash Addict Quilts will also be offering a kit package that includes long-arm quilting services by the talented Star of Starlit Quilts!)

The Window Garden pattern is also available from Fat Quarter Shop and Country Road Kits. You may also purchase from me directly, but I encourage you to shop locally or through one of my terrific sponsors whenever possible.


Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today!  I hope you enjoy this tutorial! Now go and get carried away quilting!

~Taunja


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On Point Pillow Tutorial
Size: 16\” x 16\”

Please read all instructions before beginning.  All seam allowances are 1/4”unless otherwise indicated.  With the exception of precuts, fabric is assumed to be 42” wide, unwashed. 

Materials Needed: 

  • (1) mini charm pack or (32) 2 1/2” squares
  • (14) white 2 1/2” squares
  • (2) strips 1 1/2” x 16 1/2” (inner border)
  • (2) strips 3 1/4” x 16 1/2” (outer border)
  • (2) strips 2 1/4” x width of fabric (pieced together for binding) ~ You may use 2 1/2\” strips for binding if that is your preferred width.
  • (2) pieces that are 10 1/2\” wide by 16 1/2\” tall (backing)
  • (1) 20” x 20” piece of batting
  • (1) 20” x 20” piece of scrap muslin
  • buttons ~ optional
  • (1) 16\” x 16\” pillow form

 

Step 1.
Lay out the colored and white 2 1/2” squares on point with the inner and outer borders so you have a nice mix of color and pattern. Take a picture of your layout and refer back to it when completing the following steps. 
Step 2.
First sew the (4) longest strips.
Sew (4) strips that include (5) colored 2 1/2” squares and (2) white 2 1/2” squares.  Press each strip in alternating directions so you can nest them later. (Note: I pressed a few seams open when a very dark fabric was next to a very light fabric.)

 

Step 3.
Next sew the remaining smaller strips that are on each side of the strips you just pieced in Step 2. (I have them pictured below along with the (2) lone white 2 1/2\” squares that will be used in step 4.)
Sew (2) strips that include (4) colored 2 1/2” squares and (1) white 2 1/2” square.
Sew (2) strips that include (2) colored 2 1/2” squares and (1) white 2 1/2” square.
Press these strips in the direction that will allow you to nest them with adjacent strips later.

Step 4.
Lay out all of the strips you have sewn and the remaining (2) white 2 1/2” squares. Nest seams, pin and sew units together from left to right.  Press all seams open.  (If you plan to stitch in the ditch when quilting, then press seams to one direction.)

 

Step 5.
Trim this pieced unit to 16 1/2” x 9”.  Follow these tips:

 

We want this trimmed unit to be centered, so first find the center. (See where my Purple Thang is pointing in the picture.)

Trim the left and right sides first. Align your ruler so that you are trimming 8 1/4\” to the left of center and 8 1/4\” to the right of the center.

 

Then trim the top and bottom 4 1/2\” away from center. Make sure you stay 1/4\” away from the mini charm points. If necessary, move your ruler slightly and then trim.  It is more important to be 1/4\” away from the mini charm points than to be exactly 4 1/2\” away from center.  It\’s a pillow.  We have a little room for \”negotiating\”! 🙂

 

Step 6.
Pin the inner border to the top and bottom. Sew with the back of the pieced unit facing you so that you can see and “catch” all points with your stitched line!  Press to the border.
Step 7.
Pin and sew the outer border to the top and bottom.  Press to the border.
Step 8.
Layer your pillow top, batting, and muslin (scrap backing) using your preferred method of pinning, thread or spray basting.  Since this is such a small piece, I found that fabric adhesive was enough to keep my pieces in place and flat during quilting.  I kept my quilting simple, using a pleasing grid design and allowing the fabric to be the star of the show.  When you have finished the quilting, trim the backing and batting.

 

Step 9.
Add buttons if desired. The pillow top is now complete.
Step 10.
Using your two backing pieces, sew a 1/2\” seam on the right edge of one piece and a 1/2\” seam on the left edge of the other piece.  These two pieces will overlap in the middle and need finished edges.

Step 11.
Lay the pillow top right side down on your cutting mat. Then lay down the two backing pieces right side up.  Overlap the two backing pieces so that when overlapped, the backing measures 16 1/2\” wide.  Adjust the backing pieces slightly to make sure all outside edges line up nicely.
Pin around all four sides. Using a 1/8” seam allowance, sew a basting stitch around all four sides. This will keep everything in place for binding.

Step 12.
Bind your pillow as you would normally bind a small quilt.
Step 13.
Insert your pillow form, and you are done!

Please share your version on Instagram using the hashtag #onpointpillow and be sure to tag me @taunjalynn so I see your creation!

 

 

43 thoughts on “Mini Charm Pack Tutorial: On Point Pillow with Olive’s Flower Market”

  2. Eeeep… another winner! So simple but soooooo pretty!! I totally think this one is doable, even before the Christmas vacay! 😉 Thank you for that free tutorial, what a treat!! xoxo

    Reply

  10. I love your pillow. The tutorial was fantastic, so glad I had it to follow. I didn't have the same fabric so I used left over Strawberry Fields Revisited from a kit. Can't wait to make another one.

    Reply

  13. I sure thank you for this pillow pattern!! I bought your quilt pattern and I'm working on getting the yardage. I already have the FQ bundle. Thanks again

    Reply

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