how to make a pillow {part 3}

Last week we looked at making a pillow with a simple envelope closure, and this week we're going to do the same - but we're going to try making the envelope back in a slightly different way, and add binding too.

First up go get your quilted pillow top, and cut 2 pieces of fabric that are each about an inch wider than the pillow top, and 1.5 x the height. That's right - 1.5 x the height. Both of them. It does seem to use a lot of fabric, but what you are doing is making a fully lined envelope back, and if you think of it that way it's far less painful! I use a lot of extra wide backing fabrics in my quilts, and the leftovers from making a quilt get used this way.

Fold each of these pieces in half, down the length, wrong sides together and press the fold well.

With the pillow top face down, lay the first of your folded envelope back pieces with the folded edge (hem) pointing towards the top edge of the pillow

And then lay the second folded back pieces on top, with the fold (hem) pointing towards the bottom edge of the pillow.

Pop a pin either side of the sandwich, in the folded edge/hem and then flip over and pin well all the way around

Using a walking foot or even feed foot sew all the way around the perimeter of the pillow using an ever so slightly scant 1/4"seam allowance.

Trim off the excess fabric.

Now add your binding. Just like you would if you were making a quilt. I have a tutorial here for really simple binding that's perfect if you're new to this binding business, and you can find an even better tutorial on my friend Julie's blog (she has a heap of binding tutorials, from straight cut right through to binding angles - well worth bookmarking for future reference). And if you want to try machine binding check out Pat's tutorial or Rita's. Both are excellent. I always hand stitch my binding to the back of my quilt or pillow. Always. I just prefer it that way.

Here's my finished pillows hanging out with their matching quilt. I realised I haven't shown this quilt properly, despite it being finished since October last year. It went on a little trip for a photoshoot to be included in a book, you can find in progress pics in the granny squares flickr set here. The pillows were leftover blocks that I sent to Jane for quilting. She did an amazing job. If you are Aussie based consider contacting her for long arm quilting, she's really very talented and great to work with.

Click below for previous posts;

Part 1 of how to make a pillow {introduction}
Part 2 of how to make a pillow {envelope opening}

Next week we'll look at one final way to make an envelope opening before moving on to zippers.