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If you're new here, hello! I'm Laura! I design quilt patterns, and I'm a self-proclaimed deal hunter! Be sure to join the popular Quilting & Sewing Deals Facebook group where I post sales, deals, and coupon codes from all around the web!
Early in November, a customer messaged me through Etsy to ask if I could make two Christmas cathedral window pillows. After a bit of discussion to pick out fabrics, etc, the plan was set in motion!
I ordered a layer cake of Little Tree fabric from here and got the pattern from here (it's no longer available). Once my order came, I cut the layer cake into fourths, pulled out my bolt of Kona white, and chose 50wt Aurifil #2024 White to sew with.
Have you ever made a cathedral window quilt? The design is so clever!!
You start by cutting a bajillion squares from the background fabric. (Which actually goes super fast when you cut several layers of fabric at once.) Then you press 2/3 of the squares in half along the diagonal.
After laying two of the folded squares on top of a third square, you sew all the way around the square using 1/8" seam. This holds it all in place so it doesn't shift when you sew them together.
First you sew the "blocks" into rows...
...then you sew the rows together!
I pressed all the seams open since there are lots of layers already!
And this pattern makes two at the same time! (Aren't the backs so pretty?!?)
Then it was time to add COLOR! I laid out the print fabrics as randomly as possible - a job so much harder than it sounds!
Once satisfied, I trimmed up the 5" squares to fit on the pillow. For this pattern, each one got trimmed to 4 1/2" square, but the ones around the edge were just cut along the diagonal once or twice (I didn't trim them to be smaller).
And then the magic happened!
I seriously enjoyed sewing these so much! I love the technique, I love the fabrics...it really was a fun project to sew!
Once the pillow tops were done, I added an envelope style back to each one using the same Kona White fabric.
The December Aurifil Artisan challenge was to make a holiday themed project, and I planned to make two more of the pillows for me to keep! But after the customer received her pillows, she ordered two more! So my December Aurifil project was the same - it just had a different recipient!
I was happy to get to sew with the same beautiful fabric again!
So there are now a set of four cathedral window pillows!
I still have a bit of fabric left over from that layer cake, and I'm thinking now I might be able to make myself one! I have a whole year to work on it before next Christmas! ;)
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Great pillows and I do love the magic of the cathedral window!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I first did a Cathedral Window pillow by hand 40 years ago. Then 12 years or so ago I did 4 or 5 using the "Machine Stitched Cathedral Windows" and "Machine Stitched Cathedral Stars" books by Shelly Swanland that I had purchased years before. They were interesting but complex. I may try this technique next.
ReplyDeleteCathedral Windows always look so complicated until you see it done. I haven't made any, but there's one on my never-ending list of quilts I want to make!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the pattern for these beautiful pillows!!! I have always loved cathedral windows, but could not quite figure out how they were done. Seeing how you did it makes it look like something I could do!!
ReplyDeleteThey turned out so pretty, I can see why you wanted to make some for yourself!
ReplyDeleteThey turned out so pretty, I can see why you wanted to make some for yourself!
ReplyDeleteCathedral Windows do always look magical. These are beautiful! And I love the fabrics.
ReplyDeleteWow. I've never made one. I'll have to download the pattern.
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