Whole Cloth Quilted Pillow Cover Tutorial

Whole-cloth quilted pillows made using your Janome sewing machine is a wonderful and easy way to bring heirloom-quality style into your home, freshen up your decor, and enjoy favorite fabrics year-round, using just a few simple steps! In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to use two different built-in stitches on your machine to quilt the pillow fronts and how to finish the pillow with an envelope style back in SIX different sizes. Let’s get started!

Materials List:

Janome Sewing Machine (Horizon Quilt Maker Memory Craft 15000)

walking foot for your sewing machine (optional)

fabric depending on the pillow size (Plaid of My Dreams by Maureen Cracknell for AGF)

batting (Hobbs Tuscany Supreme 100% Unbleached Cotton)

pillow insert or pillow you’d like to cover (Hobbs Pillow Pals)

scissors or rotary cutter/mat

hera marker or disappearing fabric marker to premark the quilting lines (optional)

iron

Size 12″ x 12″ square: one 12.5″ x 12.5″ square for main fabric, one 14″ x 14″ square of batting, two pieces of fabric measuring 11.5″ x 12.5″ for backing fabrics, two pieces of batting 13″ x 14″ for backing batting

Size 14″ x 14″ square: one 14.5″ x 14.5″ square for main fabric, one 16″ x 16″ square of batting, two pieces of fabric measuring 12.5″ x 14.5″ for backing fabrics, two pieces of batting 14″ x 16″ for backing batting

Size 16″ x 16″ square: one 16.5″ x 16.5″ square for main fabric, one 18″ x 18″ square of batting, two pieces of fabric measuring 13.5″ x 16.5″ for backing fabrics, two pieces of batting 15″ x 18″ for backing batting

Size 18″ x 18″ square: one 18.5″ x 18.5″ square for main fabric, one 20″ x 20″ square of batting, two pieces of fabric measuring 14.5″ x 18.5″ for backing fabrics, two pieces of batting 16″ x 20″ for backing batting

Size 20″ x 20″ square: one 20.5″ x 20.5″ square for main fabric, one 22″ x 22″ square of batting, two pieces of fabric measuring 15.5″ x 20.5″ for backing fabrics, two pieces of batting 17″ x 22″ for backing batting

Size 24″ x 24″ square: one 24.5″ x 24.5″ square for main fabric, one 26″ x 26″ square of batting, two pieces of fabric measuring 17.5″ x 24.5″ for backing fabrics, two pieces of batting 19″ x 26″ for backing batting

Step 1. Quilting the pillow top pillow: Layer the batting with the pillow front fabric on top facing right side up on a flat surface. Pin or use a spray to baste these two layers together.

The first pillow example is quilted using the built-in straight quilting stitch #1 on my Janome set at a stitch width of 4.5 and stitch length of 4.0.

Following the plaid pattern of the fabric I created a grid-like quilting design. If using a different fabric to achieve this similar quilting pattern premark the quilting lines using a hera or disappearing ink marker before quilting.

The second pillow example is quilted using the built-in wavy quilting stitch #8 on my Janome set at a stitch width of 9.0 and stitch length of 4.0. Adding the wavy quilting both horizontally and vertically created a really fun pattern here that really pops!

Once quilting is complete trim away access fabric and batting to the desired pillow size. The first pillow example (beige/white gingham) is trimmed to 14″ square for a 14″ pillow insert. The second pillow example (black/buffalo plaid) is trimmed to 16″ square for a 16″ pillow insert.

Step 2. Quilting Pillow Back Pieces: Just as you did for the pillow front, layer each backing piece of batting with the pillow back piece of fabric on top facing right side up on a flat surface. Pin or use spray to baste these two layers together for both backing pieces. Mark quilting line again if needed and quilt the same as you did for the pillow front.

To hem, fold over one long edge of the top back piece about 1/4 inch and then again. Pin and sew along the folded edge and outer edge to create a double seam finish. Repeat these steps for the bottom backing piece, as well.

Step 3. Sew Together Pillow Pieces: Lay the quilted pillow front right side up on a flat surface, then layer the top quilted pillow backing piece with the right side facing the pillow front onto the pillow front, then the bottom backing piece.

Pin or clip all three layers together.

Sew using a 1/4 inch seam all the way around the pillow attaching all three layers to create the pillow cover, removing pins or clips as you go.

For extra durability I then use the zig zag stitch on my machine to sew around the entire pillow again staying close to the raw edge to reinforce the seams.

For nice pointed pillow corners, I then sew a small diagonal stitch on the outside of each corner and clip away each of the four corners as shown below.

Turn the pillow cover right side out and press to make it nice and smooth before adding the pillow insert.

Carefully stuff the pillow insert inside the pillow cover. making sure to work the corners of the insert into the corners of the pillow cover. Now you’re ready to admire and enjoy your handmade quilted pillow!

Care and Maintenance: Remove insert and machine wash cover in cold water; gentle cycle. Lay flat to air dry or tumble dry on the lowest heat setting; remove promptly. Use a warm iron as needed to smooth out any wrinkles before reinserted the pillow insert.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!