Step 1

From pink fabric cut:3½” square (22)4” square (6)4½” square (1)

Step 2

From low volume fabric cut:3½” square (6)4½” square (1)7” x 4” (3)

Step 3

From Cushion back fabric cut:18½” x 9” (2) 18½” x 6” (1)

Step 4

Pair one pink 4½” square and one low volume 4½” square right sides together. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of one square and sew ¼” either side of the drawn line.

Step 5

Cut along the drawn line to make two half square triangles and press the seams.

Step 6

Trim both half square triangles to 3½” square. Set aside.

Step 7

Take one low volume 7” x 4” rectangle and two pink 4” squares.

Step 8

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of both squares.

Step 9

Pin one pink square to the left edge of the low volume rectangle (right sides together) with the drawn line running bottom left to top right.

Step 10

Sew just to the outside of the drawn line and the trim away the excess fabric leaving a ¼” seam allowance.

Step 11

Press the corner into place then press the seam open.

Step 12

Now pin the second pin square to the right edge of the low volume rectangle (right sides together) with the drawn line running top left to bottom right.

Step 13

Sew just to the outside of the drawn line and the trim away the excess fabric leaving a ¼” seam allowance. Then press the corner into place and press the seam open.

Step 14

Now trim the flying geese unit to 6½” x 3½”. Be careful to trim evenly around all four edges making sure the centre point stays in the centre with a ¼” seam allowance above it, and the diagonal seams run right into the bottom two corners.

Step 15

Repeat steps 4 to 11 to make two more flying geese units. You should have three in total.

Step 16

Use a ¼” seam allowance.

Step 17

The pillow front is made in six rows. I recommend laying out all the rows first to check that your colours are evenly spread and everything is in the correct position before you start to sew the rows together.

Step 18

The six rows are positioned as follows:
Row One – six pink 3½” squares
Row Two – one pink 3½” square, two flying geese (both with the central point at the top edge), and one pink 3½” square
Row Three – one pink 3½” square, four low volume 3½” squares, and one pink 3½” square.
Row Four – one pink 3½” square, half square triangle (with pink at the bottom left), two low volume 3½” squares, half square triangle (with pink at the bottom right), and one pink 3½” square.
Row Five – two pink 3½” squares, one flying geese (with the central point at the bottom edge), and two pink 3½” squares.
Row Six – six pink 3½” squares

Step 19

Sew the six rows together and press well.

Step 20

Now it’s time to make a quilt sandwich. Place your light backing square (right side facing down) with your batting on top, then add the patchwork pillow front with the right side facing towards you. Make sure all the layers are smooth and flat then baste the layers together using your preferred method.

Step 21

Quilt as desired.
I have used straight line quilting at 1” spacing echoing the heart shape on the pink background areas of the pillow front plus free motion quilting inside the heart.

Step 22

Other quilting ideas: diagonal straight lines across the whole pillow front or all-over free motion quilting with different motifs for inside the heart and the pink background.

Step 23

Once you have finished quilting, trim off excess backing fabric and batting and square up your pillow block if required.

Step 24

Take one cushion back 18½” x 9” rectangle and hem one long edge by pressing the raw edge to the wrong side by ¼” then again by another ¼”. Press well and sew. Then repeat for the second cushion back 18½” x 9” rectangle.

Step 25

Now take the cushion back 18½” x 6” rectangle and pin it with its right side to the wrong side of one of the hemmed cushion back pieces from step 19, lining up the long raw edge to upper hemmed edge of the larger cushion back piece. Sew in place following the line of stitches on the already-hemmed edge.

Step 26

Press the raw edge of smaller cushion back piece to the wrong side by ¼” then again by another ¼”. Press well and sew.

Step 27

Pin or clip the cushion back pieces to the quilted block, right sides together, all around the four side. Make sure the two-tone, longer cushion back piece is underneath the second back piece.

Step 28

Sew around all four edges using a ¼” seam allowance, securing the start and finish with some back-stitching.

Step 29

Trim the corners, turn the pillow cover the right way out, carefully poke out the four corners and then press.

Step 30

Stuff with an 18” pad and enjoy your new Patchwork Heart pillow!