By Janome Maker: Sandy S.
Who says you have to wait until December to enjoy a little holiday sewing? With Christmas in July in full swing, it’s the perfect time to dig into your scrap bin and make something festive.
Hi There! It’s Sandy from Thai Charm LLC here, and I’m so excited to share a quick and cozy project that brings a bit of seasonal cheer to your sewing space, even in the middle of summer. This Evergreen Pine Pillow comes together with simple Half-Square Triangles (HSTs), and the envelope back makes it an easy, no-zipper finish. It’s scrappy, satisfying, and a fun way to get a head start on handmade holiday decor.
Fabrics and notions required
– (1) Fat quarter for background
– (12) 5” squares for tree (assorted green)
– (1) 5” square for tree trunk (brown)
– 3/4 yard for interior backing
– 1/2 yard for envelope pillow backing for non-directional fabric
– Cotton batting
– Basic quilting supplies
– Clear View 1/4″ Seam Foot
– Even Feed Foot
Cutting
From background (BG), cut:
BG1 – (4) 4” x 4”
BG2 – (2) 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”
BG3 – (2) 3 1/2” x 9 1/2”
BG4 – (2) 3 1/2” x 8 1/2”
BG5 – (2) 2” x 18 1/2”
From assorted green squares, cut:
B – (12) 4” x 4” (Select 4 squares to pair with background fabric (BG), and pair the remaining 8 squares with each other)
From brown fabric, cut:
C – (1) 3 1/2” x 2 1/2”
From interior backing + batting, cut:
(1) 26” x 26”
From envelope backing, cut:
(2) 18” x 13”
Instructions
Half-Square Triangles (HSTs) 2-At-A-Time Method
1. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all BG1 squares from one corner to the opposite corner. Stack BG1 and B squares, right sides together. Sew a 1/4″ seam on both sides from the drawn line. Cut along the drawn line, press the seams open, and trim each unit to 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”. Repeat with all BG1 squares to make a total of (8) BG1/B HSTs.
2. Use the same method as in Step 1 to pair the remaining (8) B squares together to make (8) B/B HSTs.
Block Assembly
3. Lay out the units as shown. Sew the units into rows first, then press the seams in alternating directions (for example, press Rows 1 and 3 to the right, and Rows 2 and 4 to the left). Then sew all the rows together and press the seams open.
4. For side strips, sew (1) BG1/B HST to the bottom of (1) BG3 strip, and press the seam toward BG3. Repeat to make a second unit. Pay close attention to the orientation of the HSTs, the strip on the right should mirror the one on the left as shown in the image above. Sew the side strips to the center and press the seams open.
5. For the tree trunk, sew (2) BG4 strips to both sides of the C rectangle. Press the seams toward C. This unit will form the bottom row of your tree block. Sew it to the bottom of the tree and press the seam away from the tree.
6. Finally, sew (2) BG5 strips to the top and the bottom of the block and press the seams towards BG5. The Evergreen Pine Block measures 18 1/2” x 18 1/2”.
Baste and Quilt your Evergreen Pine Top
7. Make the quilt sandwich by placing the interior backing fabric right side down, then the batting right side up, and finally the Evergreen Pine top right side up. Baste the layers together and quilt as desired. Trim the excess batting and backing, then square up your pillow top to 18” x 18”.
I used my Even Feed Foot to stitch gentle lines about 3/8” apart, using the edge of my presser foot as a guide to keep things even (and also to avoid marking the lines:)). To add a bit of extra whimsy and texture, I also hand quilted parts of the tree using Aurifil 8wt and 12wt floss in playful colors. The combination of machine and hand quilting really brings the design to life and adds a cozy, homespun feel.
Envelope Pillow Back
8. To create the envelope backing, fold one long edge of the backing piece under by 1/2″, then fold it under again by 1/2″ to enclose the raw edge. Press and topstitch along the fold with a 1/8″ seam using your Clear View 1/4″ Seam Foot for a neat finish. Repeat with the second backing piece.
9. Place the quilted Evergreen Pine Pillow Top right side up. Layer the backing pieces on top, right sides down, with the hemmed edges overlapping in the center. If you’re using directional fabric, make sure the orientation is correct before sewing. Align the outer edges and clip in place. Sew around all 4 sides using a 1/4” seam allowance.
10. To finish the raw edges, you can use pinking shears to help prevent fraying, or sew a simple zigzag stitch around the perimeter. Every machine is a little different, so you may need to adjust your settings. On my Janome Continental M8, I lowered the stitch length to 1 and increased the width to 6. That covered the 1/4” raw edge perfectly and secured everything in place.
11. Trim the corners to reduce bulk, then turn the pillow cover right side out. Use a point turner or a chopstick to gently push out the corners. Give the pillow a good press, and you’re ready to insert the pillow form.
Whether you’re getting ahead on holiday sewing or simply finding joy in quiet, creative moments, this Evergreen Pine Pillow is a lovely way to bring a bit of handmade comfort into your home. It’s a simple project with room for personal touches, like scrappy greens, playful stitching, or whatever makes it feel like yours.
And just like that, fa la la, you’re done! High five! I hope you enjoy making this Evergreen Pine Pillow as much as I do! Be sure to tag me when you share your creations on Instagram @thaicharmllc and use the hashtags #thaicharmpatterns and #janomemakes. We love seeing what you make!