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 8/27: Caila 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