Patriotic Stars Pillow Cover Tutorial

May 22, 2017 by saraashleynoda 22 Comments

 

I love making big quilts! I think I like working on big quilts because I have a serious fabric addiction so the more fabric I get to handle, the better! I also like to intermix small projects into my weekly sewing to get that sense of accomplishment in completing something in a few hours start to finish.

Pillow covers are my absolute favorite thing to make because they take up little space when not being used and the cover can be changed seasonally to spruce up up any room. They are also a great scrap buster project!

Patriotic Star Block

Finished Block Size 18″

American Flag Center
Blue – 2.75″ square
Red Stripes – (2) 1.25″ x 2.75″ and (1) 1.25″ x 5″
White Stripes – (1) 1.25″ x 2.75″ and (2) 1.25 x 5″

Middle Blue Star Points
Blue – (8) 2.75″ squares
White – (4) 2.75″ x 5″ and (4) 2.75″ squares

Red Outer Star Points
*If you choose to do scrappy star points like I did (4 different red colors), you will need 2 – 5″ squares per red fabric*
Red – (8) 5″ squares total
White – (4) 5″ x 9.5″ and (4) 5″ square

Making the American Flag Center Block

• Sew the shorter (2 red and 1 white) 1.25″ x 2.75 strips together

• Sew the longer (1 red and 2 white) 2.75″ x 5″ strips together

• Press all seams open

• Attach the shorter section to the blue 2.75″ square

• Attach the longer section to the bottom

• The block should measure 5″

  

Making the Red and Blue Star Points (Flying Geese Blocks)

• Draw a line on the back of all the blue 2.75″ and red 5″ squares

  

• Lay a blue square on top of the white 2.75″ x 5″ rectangle. Stitch on the line, trim 1/4″ away from the line and press. Repeat the process for the red squares by laying a red 5″ square on top of the white 5″ x 9.5″ rectangle

• Sew the second half of the block by placing the blue 2.75″ on top of the white rectangle, sewing on the marked line, trim and press. Repeat the process for the red 5″ squares.

• Repeat the process until you have 4 blue units measuring 2.75″ x 5″ and 4 red units measuring 5″ x 9.5″

  

When sewing the flying geese block, I always start at the marked line that is in the center of the block and stitch outwards to the edge. If you start sewing from the edge, sometimes the fabric will get bunched up under the needleplate and not give an accurate angle

Constructing the Block

• Start by taking two of the blue flying geese blocks made previously and sewing a 2.75″ square to both sides of the flying geese units

• Repeat the process for two of the red flying geese blocks by taking a 5″ white square and sewing it to the end of the blocks.

• Sew a blue flying geese unit to both sides of the American Flag block

  

• Sew the blue flying geese units with added white squares to the ends to the top and bottom of the block

• Block will measure 9.5″ square

• Sew the red flying geese units to the sides of the block

• Finish by sewing the red flying geese units that the white square was added to the ends, to the top and bottom of the block

  

• Block will measure 18.5″ square

You can finish this block to make it a pillow cover using a zipper or envelope backing enclosure.  I have already started a quilt using this block with a fun sashing technique that I hope to share with you very soon!

 

I hope you enjoyed my first tutorial! There are a lot more to come 🙂 Happy Monday to all and have a great week!

-Sara