Thursday, August 28, 2014

Blenders Blog Hop Day 3: Blush Pillows


Welcome to Day 3 of our Blenders Blog Hop! Today we're featuring tutorials for two pillows made by the Benartex Blog Design Team using the gorgeous Blush collection. These almost solids have a rich depth from subtle shading, giving them a little extra sparkle than a basic solid fabric. Don't miss the information for entering the giveaway to win a bundle of Blush at the end of this post!

Here's the palette we chose to use (though Blush comes in 55 different colors, so there are plenty to choose from!):


And our finished pillows, one with a scrappy pieced look and one highlighting the simplicity of a monochromatic pillow, enhanced with three-dimensional texture:


To Make the Strippy Pillow

Materials:
1/4 yard each of 8 Blush fabrics
1/2 yard backing fabric
20" square batting
18" square pillow insert

Cutting:
From each 1/4 yard, cut two 1-1/2" x 42" strips
From the backing fabric, cut two 13" x 18-1/2" pieces

Step 1: Cut the 1-1/2" strips into 7" lengths. (You'll need at least 60.)


Step 2: Sew the 1-1/2" x 7" strips together lengthwise into pairs. 

Step 3: Sew pairs together to create three units of 20 strips each. Note: You can sew colored strips together randomly or plan out color placement in advance--your choice! Trim units to measure 6-1/2" wide. Lay out the units together until you like how they look. The units are longer than needed so you can shift as desired and as you see below. We chose to have the units line up randomly rather than matching seams--again, your choice.

Step 4: Use pins to mark the placement of the three units in relation to each other. Layer the middle unit centered on the 20" batting square. Layer a side unit on top, matching the pins for alignment. Pin the raw edges you'll be sewing together to each other and the batting to create a quilt as you go pillow top. Sew using a 1/4" seam allowance and press open.

Step 5: Sew the remaining side unit on in the same manner. 

Step 6: Trim and square up the pillow top and batting to measure 18-1/2" square. 
Step 7: Fold and press one long edge of each 13" x 18-1/2" backing piece over 1/4" and 1/4" again to create a nice finished hemmed edge. Topstitch. 
Step 8: Layer the pillow top right side up and layer the two backing pieces on top right side down, matching raw edges. The long hemmed edges will overlap in the middle of the pillow. Pin layers together and sew around the outer edge using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 9: Turn right side out and stuff with the pillow insert.


To Make the Pleated Pillow
Materials:
3/4 yard teal fabric (includes backing)
14" square pillow insert
Fabric marking pen or pencil

Cutting:
From the teal fabric, cut one 15" x 24" piece and two 10" x 14-1/2" pieces

Step 1: Starting 1-1/2" from a short end of the 15" x 24" teal piece, begin marking lines. Mark a second line 1" from the first line. Mark a third line 2" from the second line. Continue marking lines, alternating between 1" and 2" apart as you see in the photo. Mark 7 pairs of lines. 

Step 2: Mark a line centered between each pair of lines that were previously marked 1" apart. To create each pleat, fold the fabric wrong sides together so the 1" lines meet up and the fold line is on the newly drawn centered line. This will create 1/2" pleats.

Step 3: Sew along the 1" chalk lines to create each pleat.

Step 4: Sew all the pleats.

Step 5: Trim pleated piece to measure 14-1/2" square. Draw a chalk line down the center of the pleated square, perpendicular to the pleats. 

Step 6: Stitch along the marked line with all pleats folded in the same direction. Measure and draw lines 3" out from the center line and stitch, making sure pleats are folded in the opposite direction from the center line. 

Step 7: Repeat on each side, 3" out from the second set of lines, folding the pleats in the same direction as for the center line. 

Step 8: Create two hemmed back pieces just like for the Strippy Pillow using the two 10" x 14-1/2" teal pieces. Assemble the pillow in the same manner. 

Voila! Two new pillows to freshen up your couch!

Would you like to win a fat quarter bundle of the Blush line? It’s easy! Simply sign up to follow our blog and leave a comment on this post letting us know that you did.  For a second chance to win, follow Benartex’s Sew Interesting page on Facebook and leave another comment here letting us know you did.  The giveaway is open through Monday, September 1 at 11:59 pm EST and the winner’s name will be randomly selected and announced here next week!

Be sure to check out the other tutorials we'll be featuring all week long!


Blenders Blog Hop:Tuesday 8/26: Christina from Sometimes Crafter featuring Burlap
Wednesday 8/27Caila from Caila Made featuring Burlap
Thursday 8/28: Benartex Blog Design Team featuring Blush
Friday 8/29: Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts featuring Fleurish
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105 comments:

  1. I love the look of the pleated pillow. I follow with GFC

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  2. i joined sew interesting on facebook

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  3. The blush fabrics are perfect for these great pillows! I follow via GFC and email.

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  4. I love the blush fabrics. Thanks for showing how to make the pleated pillow. I happily follow with GFC and email.

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  5. I am also following the Sew Interesting page on Facebook.

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  6. I follow on FB as Stitching Happily.

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  7. I follow here via email laura84watt(at)gmail.com Really love both pillows.
    Thanks for the great tutorials. I might have to try the pleated pillow for sure.

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  8. The colorful pillow got the Fall colors, love it.I follow by email!!

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  9. I follow Benartex’s on Facebook.Thanks

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  10. Lovin' the pillows! I follow Sew Interesting on Bloglovin and email updates. kthurn@bektel.com

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  11. Love the pleated pillow. I follow via e-mail.

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  12. Gayle Pulley paintedquiltsAugust 28, 2014 at 11:10 AM

    Pretty pillows! I follow on email.

    illusions@rainierconnect.com

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  13. I follow Sew Interesting on FB. Thanks for the chance.

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  14. Beautiful pillows. I follow via GFC.

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  15. I already follow Sew Interesting on Facebook. kthurn@bektel.com

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  16. HI,I follow Benartex’s Sew Interesting page on Facebook.
    Thanks for a great giveaway!

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  17. HAPPY TO FOLLOW YOU ON BLOG LOVIN'+FB !

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  18. I am a Bloglovin follower! Beautiful pillows!

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  19. wow I love this blush line. Thanks for sharing this tutorial. I follow by email

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  20. I like the Sew Interesting facebook

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  21. I follow you already through your email newsletter. Rcomfort@outlook.com

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  22. I follow on Facebook and via email. Love both of the pillows.

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  23. Your pillows are just so pretty. Thank you for sharing this tutorials with all of us. It really does help to have such an easy tutorials to follow and to understand how to make this. Sometimes, some of us just needs a little help.I love Benartex so much and enjoy my time learning and creating. I follow faithfully thru emails.

    Sandi Timmons
    sandit1@sbcglobal.net

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  24. I joined the sew interesting group on facebook

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  25. I am a seasoned follower of your blog via email.

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  26. I'm a follower via email. I love the pillows, especially the pleated one!

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  27. Hi, I follow your blog on FB and by email and bloglovin.

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  28. I also follow the Sew Interesting FB page

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  29. Farm Quilting requested to join Benartex's Sew Interesting page on fb.

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  30. Following the blog. Pretty fabrics. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  31. I already follow the blog. Sorry, I don't do FB.

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  32. I love the pillows you made with this fabric. It is very rich and elegant. The pleated pillow is gorgeous. Thank you for the giveaway. I follow with GFC.

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  33. I follow on bloglovin. I really like the strippy pattern. It often seems that the simple patterns can have big impact

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  34. I follow Benartex’s Sew Interesting page on Facebook.

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  35. Beautiful pillows! I follow Sew in Love with Fabric on Bloglovin. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  36. Follow you on bloglovin'! Thanks for the pleated pillow tutorial-- would love to use this design in my daughter's room! Sarah: crjandsbj(at)netzero(dot)com

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  37. I love the strippy cushion!
    I follow you via email

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  38. I follow you on facebook too !

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  39. Love the pleated pillow! I follow via e-mail

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  40. What great pillows! Thanks for the tutorials. I follow with bloglovin. :-)

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  41. I follow your blog by email!

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  42. I joined Benartex Facebook page!

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  43. I am a follower of the blog. Enjoy reading all the posts.

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  44. I signed on as a follower on Facebook.

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  45. I follow and receive your posts via email.

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  46. I follow Benartex on facebook.

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  47. Awesome pillows. Love the pleated one the best. I've been following Benartex blog for quite some time now via email!

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  48. Really neat pillows. Thanks for the tutorial. I follow the blog.

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  49. I love the pleated effect! I follow by email.

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  50. I also follow Sew Interesting on Facebook.

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  51. I follow via email and I love the striped pillow.

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  52. I already like Benartex's Facebook page.

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  53. I subscribe to Sew in Love with Fabric via email. Thanks! Notwendy gmail

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  54. I follow/like Benartex' Sew Interesting page on Facebook. Thanks! Notwendy gmail

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  55. Beautiful pillows! I follow via email.

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  56. I already follow you through Blog Lovin!

    Sandy A

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  57. And I "like" the Facebook page!

    The pleated pillow is wonderful!

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  58. I follow you via email. These pillows make a great pairing.

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  59. Following on Bloglovin.
    OMG that pleated pillow is gorgeous. Thank you for the tutorial

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  60. Following Sew Interesting's FB page

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  61. I love this fabric! I follow your blog on GFC.

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  62. I'm a steady follower on bloglovin :)

    I think I'm not a no-reply, but just in case: jhunsberger (at) gmail (d0t) c0m

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  63. Beautiful pillows! I follow this blog.

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  64. I love the pleated pillow, you made it so easy to achieve the effect.
    I follow on bloglovin'.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  65. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  66. What Amazing pillows!! My Daughter would love the stripey one...my Heart goes to the Pleated one!!! Gorgeous!!

    Forgot to say I am already a Follower, thru Email & Bloglovin ( & I don't do FB)

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  67. Great tutorial, I follow with GFC.

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  68. Thanks for the tutorial! I love how this fabric glows! I follow Sew in Love with Fabric via Bloglovin.

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  69. I follow the Sew Interesting page on Facebook. Thanks again!

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  70. I follow your blog with bloglovin. I love that striped pillow! sarah@forrussia.org

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  71. Gorgeous pillows. I'm following via bloglovin

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  72. Thank you for the tutorial on the pleated pillow! (and for the giveaway!) I follow!

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  73. I follow this blog and I love it!! My favorite is the strippy pillow, kinda out of my usual style but maybe it's the eye catching fabrics that I just love

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  74. I am a member of Sew Interesting's Facebook group

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  75. I love the pillows, the green one looks complex, but step by step, I can do it. cdahlgren at live dot com

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  76. I follow your blog by email and bloglovin. cdahlgren at live dot com

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  77. I've already followed you on Facebook. cdahlgren at live dot com

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  78. The pleated pillow is absolutely gorgeous!
    I follow via Bloglovin.

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  79. Bloglovin follower: Nicole Sender
    I plan to make these pillow are awesome!

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  80. Signed up to follow Benartex’s Sew Interesting page on Facebook.

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  81. I really like the pillow. Very nice. Yes I am a follower.

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  82. I follow Benartex’s Sew Interesting page on Facebook

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