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How to make Accent Pillows from the Barn Quilts Placemat Panel
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The Barn Quilts Placemat Panel is not just for placemats! They are quick and easy to cut apart and turn into rectangular accent pillows – perfect for farmhouse decor.
Each panel has 6 barn scenes that each measure 18″ x 11″. (fig. 1)
CUT apart with 1/4″ – 1/2″ border all the way around, depending on your preferred seam allowance.
CUT a backing fabric the same size as the placemat fabric. (I literally lay the placemat piece on top of backing fabric and use it as a pattern.) (fig. 2)
Right sides together, CLIP & SEW around all 4 sides, leaving a 3-4″ opening on the bottom to turn and stuff. (fig 3)
TURN right side out and use a tool to gently turn the corners. (fig 4) (I like the Flamingo Stiletto Turning Tool by Bev McCullough from Riley Blake Designs) https://amzn.to/37LK4uV
STUFF with polyester fiber to the firmness of your liking. (fig. 5) (I used Fairfield PF16B Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber)
HAND-STITCH closed.
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HOW I MADE AN 18″ PILLOW TO MATCH THE BARN QUILT BLOCK FROM THE ART
I decided to take my pillow making a step further and made a large quilt block pillow with the block in the painting on the barn – in this case, the Martha Washington Star Quilt Block. (fig. 6)
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Make a 12″ Martha Washington Quilt Block. (Click here for Quilt Block sewing instructions)
Cut (4) 3 3/4″ wide strips WOF (width of fabric), out of the border fabric of your choice (I used brown).
You will need:
- (1) 12 1/2″ long
- (2) 16″ long and
- (1) 20″ long
SEW them to the block as shown in the diagram, trimming to square after each strip is added. (The strips are a little long so you can trim them to be perfect and they don’t end up too short – this gives you your most professional results and is worth a wasted 1/4″ or so!) (fig. 7)
TRIM to square to 19″. (I use a 1/2″ seam for pillows to make them a little more sturdy when taking them on and off!)
Turn the block into a pillow in the same way you turned the placemat into a pillow above.
If you make pillows or anything else from my fabrics I’d love to see!
Tag me on Instagram: @artisttarareed
Share it on Pinterest: pinterest.com/artisttarareed
– Tara Reed
P.S. Click Here to see more Barn Quilts Fabric projects>
P.P.S. If you love video tutorials, click here to see my sewing tutorials on YouTube – don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss a thing!
