New Old Glory {Quilted Pillows}

"....with liberty and justice for all."

I am so delighted with these pillow covers!

And better yet?  I love this time of the year because I can put my patriotic decorations up from Memorial Day through the Fourth of the July...and there is Flag Day in between!

I did not use a pattern for these, but will admit I was inspired by the many flag blocks I've seen from Thimbleblossoms Stars and Stripes pattern.  Mine is based on the size of my pillow inserts.  I used the dimensions to be able to fit four red stripes, 3 white, a rectangle of aqua, and a border for them to stand out. 

I know, I know...the "star" rectangle is supposed to be blue.  But sometimes I feel like a quilter can take a little artistic license and bend the rules. 

I had fun doing the crosshatch quilting.  

And I'm so happy with my plan to use linen for both the background and the binding.

For the pillow backs, I made hidden zippers again.  There are some dark chocolate zippers under that flap, and no one needs to know!  And in accordance with my Sew My Stash goal, I used some duck canvas in a coordinating color I had hanging around.

Quilt Pillow Stats:

Measure: 13" x 20"

Pattern: Inspired by Thimbleblossoms Stars and Stripes pattern

Fabric: Scraps of red and aqua, Kona Snow, Robert Kaufman Linen in Natural, and Joann's Duck Canvas

Quilted: Crosshatch quilting on Babylock Symphony

There are some more patriotic pillow covers in the works....stay tuned!!

Red, White, and Blue {Floor Cushions}

This project is the first one that I loved as soon as I dreamed it in my mind.  I loved it as I made all the tops.  I loved it as I was quilting it.  I loved it while I was constructing it.  I loved it when they were all finished. 

RARELY ever happens to me.  I usually hit a bump in the road at some point!  I envisioned these quilted bean bag floor cushions to complement the Stars and Stripes Quilt  I made for the boys' game room last year.  

Want to hear the BEST part?  

Entirely made of scraps and stash!!

(NOTE:  I am TOTALLY aware that I took this photo of an upside down Texas flag!  I apologize all you Texans.  I was concentrated more on lighting than the actual cushion!!)

The first cushion was in honor of our home the last 11 years.  I thought it was perfect considering the large quilt is the US quilt!

I used heavy home dec fabrics and denim from old projects.  Because the piecing was actually rather simple and boring, I tried to have fun on my longarm with the quilting.  On the red, I played with my 90 degree angle ruler and made various sized chevrons.  I wanted to play with movement.

On the white, I just free motion quilted squiggly lines.

 Meandering in the blue stripe and tiny echoes on the raw appliqué denim star.  I didn't pick up the needle and just kept spiraling into the center. 

Diamond Quilting on the denim sides.  

Do you just love the white and red ticking as the binding as much as I do?

All three cushions are constructed the same. The bottoms are heavy home dec material or denim with a zipper a few inches away from one side. I decided to treat the entire cushion like a quilt.  I quilted all the parts and washed them before sewing the sides to the top and bottom. I decided to do a binding instead of piping so I didn't have to turn a lot of bulk, inside-out.  Inside, I made an entire lining in the same size to hold the bean bags with some old sheets.  That way, I can wash the cushion shell.  Boys are dirty, after all!

The second cushion was leftover strips from other projects and stash.  I pieced a few of the strips and then cut 60 degree angles to make the triangles.  I added the gray to break up all the red, white and blue.

It seemed to beg for the solid red binding for some pop.  The cushion sides were a home dec fabric that just didn't work out for my bedroom window treatments.  Waste not, want not. 

The third cushion?  Last, but certainly not least. Actually?  My FAVORITE! This five point star was so fun to make.  I was very random with my scraps and stash and I just love how it turned out!  I love the straight line star quilting. It crinkled so beautifully!

Another home dec red stripe fabric for the sides and a solid blue binding. I did not want to take away from the top!

Perfect, right?