Mini Charm Pack Pillow Tutorial: On Point Pillow

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. 

See original blog post for more photos.

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!