QUILTsocial Fall 2014 Issue | Page 54

Measure and trim There are just a few more steps to do and then the sewing will be finished. The first thing that we need to do is to measure the quilted pillow top. For mine, the quilting has shrunk the top slightly and it is now 18½” square. Next we need to trim the excess batting and backing from the pillow top. Make the backing pieces Cut the backing fabric into two rectangles 15" x width of the pillow. On each of these rectangles fold over ½” along the long edge of one side. Press, then fold the raw edge under the first fold and press again. Topstitch along this edge. Measure pillow top and trim off excess batting and lining. Pin the backings to the pillow front Lay pillow top on a hard surface with right side up. Place one of the backing rectangles right side down, aligning the raw edges with the edge of the pillow top. Sewing the backings to the pillow front Lay second backing on top, right side down, overlapping the two topstitched edges and aligning the raw edges with the pillow front. Pin along all of the raw edges. Sew ½” in along all of the edges of the pillow. Clip the corners and then turn the pillow right side out. Press. Fold over long edge of pillow backs and topstitch. The finishing touch Use the Spagetti thread to topstitch ½” in along all of the edges of the pillow. Insert your pillow form and your pillow is complete. z Layer the front and backs with right sides together. Topstitch 1⁄2" from the edges of the finished pillow. Finished edges of pillow backs are overlapped and then pinned along all outside edges. 54 QUILTsocial Photos courtesy of Christine Baker. .com ● fall 2014