Finished pillow size
18" x 18" (46 x 46 cm)

Fabrics
  • Approximately 11⁄2 yards (1.4 m) cotton quilting-fabric scraps
  • 3⁄4 yard (69 cm) cotton fabric for the back, in coordinating color

Supplies
  • Iron
  • All-purpose thread in a neutral color or color that coordinates with all your fabric scraps
  • Sewing machine with zipper foot
  • Yardstick or tape measure
  • Scissors
  • 3⁄4 yard (69 cm) iron-on interfacing (optional, but recommended for thinner fabrics)
  • 16" (40 cm) all-purpose zipper
  • Straight pins
  • Seam ripper
  • 18" x 18" (46 x 46 cm) pillow form

Notes:
Preshrink fabric by washing, drying, and pressing both the scraps and pillow back before you start.

This pillow is all about choosing your own design — after all, your scraps are not going to be the same sizes and shapes as mine. The pillow top will be created first, then trimmed square and attached to the back and zipper.

You'll need your iron frequently while sewing this pillow, so keep it close to your work area.

All seams are 1/2" (1.25 cm) unless otherwise stated. A 1/2" (1.25 cm) seam allowance isincluded in all cutting measurements.

STEP 1: Sew the patchwork front.
A: Press all scraps and arrange them into the pattern you want to sew.

B: Place two scraps together, right sides touching, and sew along the long side. Press the seam open and flat.

C: Sew your next piece on in the opposite direction. Again, open up the seams and press. You are building up the pattern from the center. You may want to make four separate, smaller panels and then connect them all together at the end. Otherwise, the piece-in-progress, with all its loose threads and opened-up seams, might get a little unwieldy to handle.

D: When you are satisfied with your piece's appearance, and it is at least 3" (8 cm) larger than the finished size (in this case, at least 21" [53 cm] wide), trim the piece so it is perfectly square.

E: If desired, cut a piece of iron-on interfacing and press it to the back of the patchwork. Trim any overhang.

STEP 2: Make the cover.
A: Cut a piece of your backing fabric the same size as your finished front.

B: Put the front and back together, right sides facing. Sew the pieces together along one edge, using an extra-wide basting stitch, to create a temporary seam. Press the seam open.

C: With both the fabric and zipper's wrong sides up, pin or hand-baste the closed zipper into place, centered along the temporary seam. Using your machine's zipper foot, attach the zipper (see Basic Techniques). Take out the first inch of the temporary seam on the zipper-pull end and unzip the zipper enough to get your finger in (about 1/2" [1.25 cm]). Leave the rest of the basting in and the zipper zipped for now.

D: Pin the remaining edges together with straight pins, and place several pins throughout the center of the piece.

E: Sew around the remaining three edges of the pillow, ensuring that your seam allowances do not make the finished size less than 18" x 18" (46 x 46 cm). Because of the many open seams and other hazards you'll be stitching over, go slowly. It's easy to distort the shape of the patchwork piece if you're not careful.

STEP 3: Finish up.
A: Unzip the zipper from the inside, using the space you created when removing the first inch of basting stitches. Turn the pillow right-side out. Gently remove the rest of the machine basting with a seam ripper and pull out any leftover thread.

B: Place the pillow form inside the cover and zip.

Excerpted from "The Pillow Book" by Shannon Okey. Photography by Gemma Comas. Copyright © 2008. Reprinted by permission of Chronicle Books LLC.