Use Your Adelaide's Cabin Scraps to Make a Matching Throw Pillow!

Looking for a large throw pillow? I've got you covered. The Adelaide's Cabin Quilt Pattern makes the perfect size blocks to make a large throw pillow, and it's cute if I do say so myself. 😊

There are two different ways to make this pattern. You can make it all with scraps. In this case, you wouldn't need to buy any fabric to make the pillow. Just dive into those scraps bins and start pulling fabrics.

The pattern includes a section with all the pieces listed to make just one block. This way you can easily organize your fabrics while making a scrappy quilt or while making just one block for a project like a pillow. 

You can also make the Adelaide's Cabin Quilt using fat quarters or 1/2 yards. This is a bit of a faster method because the pattern includes strip piecing when making this version. This reduces the number of small pieces of fabric sewn together. You will have some extra fabric left when using fat quarters and 1/2 yards. Which is perfect to make an extra block with. 

And after making so many blocks for your quilt, one extra block for a pillow doesn't seem like so many. 

Read more about the two different ways to sew Adelaide's Cabin here. 

In order to make this specific pillow you need a copy of the Adelaide's Cabin Quilt Pattern. Find your copy here. 

However, you can use these directions to make any quilted envelope pillow. Just adjust the measurements. 

First, let's talk about pillow size. I used a 22 in. x 22 in. pillow insert. However, I could have gone larger because my pillow is a bit loose. If I make another one I think I would use 24 in. x 24 in. which would give the pillow a bit more fluff. 

Materials needed to make your pillow: 

• (1) pillow insert
• (1) Adelaide's Cabin quilt block
• (1) 24 in. x 24 in. piece of batting
• (1) 24 in. x 24 in. piece of fabric for quilting
• Fabric for the back or envelope part of the pillow (stay tuned)

*Notice my piece of batting and piece of fabric for quilting are both a bit larger than the actual quilt block. But it doesn't have to be exactly 24 in. x 24 in. 

1. Lay piece of fabric for the quilting right side down. Place batting on top.  Place pressed quilt block right side up on top of the fabric and batting. 

2. Baste with your preferred method. I used pins for this project. 

3. Quilt your preferred design. I quilted diagonal lines 1 inch apart both directions across mine. 

4. Trim off excess around edge of quilt block. 

5. Now it's time to prep the fabric for the back of the pillow. I used another neutral fabric I had lying around from the same fabric line. 

To figure out how much fabric you need for the back of the pillow:

The first measurement will be the width of the unfinished pillow.

The second measurement will be the height of the unfinished pillow divided 2 + however many inches you want the fabric to overlap + 1/2 inch for hemming. 

That sounds confusing. So let me show you for this project.

22 inches/2 + 3 inches for overlap + 1/2 inch for turning down the hem

So my 2 pieces of fabric for the envelope backing were 22 inches x 14 1/2 inches.

Envelope pillows are very forgiving! You can choose how much you want your fabrics to overlap on the back. Sometimes I just eyeball it and make sure they generally overlap a couple inches. The larger the pillow the larger the overlap you would want. 

6. On one of the 22 inch sides of each piece of fabric fold the fabric over twice and press to hem. You can fold over 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch. I was doing mine fast and didn't measure. I just eyeballed it. Then, sew along the fold. 

7. Lay both pieces of fabric on top of the quilted block (right sides together). The wrong side of backing fabric will be up. Pin around the edge. 

8. Sew all the way around the edge using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. When sewing the corners you will want to stop the machine and with the needle down and turn the fabric to get a clean 90 degree angle in your seam. After I'm done sewing I like to go back and trim any bulk from the corners. Sometimes it's only a tiny bit. But it helps when turning the pillow inside out and getting crisp corners. 

9. Have a buddy help you turn the pillowcase inside out and put the pillow insert inside. Kidding, you don't need a buddy. I just had one.

I have to say I am really in love with this pillow! The colors are so bright and cheerful. Most of all I love how the log cabin center gives a swirl illusion, while the edges of the block make a star. 

Get your copy of the Adelaide's Cabin Quilt Pattern and turn those scraps into a cute throw pillow! Don't forget to share on Instagram: @thenomadicquilter

Most of all, have fun!