Have you ever made a mini pillow? Or even better, a hand-quilted mini pillow?

This tutorial will teach you how to make a mini pillow using only batting and fabric strips (this is also a good scrap buster project!!)

by sewing “as you go”. I will also teach you how to do a “Clamshell” hand quilting pattern!!

I’ve partnered with Mettler to bring this fun beginner patchwork and hand quilting tutorial for you!!

Click in the button above to be redirected to Mettler’s website to check all the thread options available!!

In this tutorial, I will be using SILK-FINISH COTTON 28.

At the end of this tutorial, you will find a button to direct you to search Mettler thread distributors near you.

This pillow measures 7″ x 10″ and the patchwork size is 14″ x 21″.

You will need:

*Jelly roll strips or strips of fabric scraps enough to cover the batting;

*15″ x 29″ approximately size of quilt batting – any batting works;

*needle threader (I got mine here);

*thimble or finger protector (these are the ones I use);

*thread for hand quilting, Mettler SILK-FINISH COTTON 28 is highly recommended;

*heat erasable pen (here’s what I often use);

*needle #9, I use this one but recommended sizes go from 7 to 9;

*6oz Poly-Fil (you can find it here);

To start with the”as you go” method, simply cut the first two pieces of fabric the same size and facing right sides together, sew them on the batting (note that in this project we will close the pillow filled with Poly-Fil, so no backing fabric is necessary).

Open it up and press with your finger to lay it open on the batting.

Next pieces will follow the extension previously sewn, you can choose to sew in any direction as long as it covers the whole extension of the work being sewn.

At any time you can add pre-joined pieces like the picture below shows. You can join as you go as well, set the batting part aside, sew the fabric’s right sides together, cut to the desired extension, and face right sides together on the patchwork and sew it.

Keep working on the patchwork until you cover the whole batting.

Once you’ve covered the entire batting, sew across the entire extension with a 1/8th seam allowance to secure the edges.

Trim it to 14″ x 21″.

Now it’s time to decide which quilting pattern you will use. In this case, I will use clamshells, and to do the markings I use a recycled ice cream top that lives in my sewing room, it’s a nice template for various projects, and to help me guide my tracing I taped a painter’s tape across the center of my template.

I started on the left corner at the bottom marking half circles and overlapping them.

I did this for the whole extension of the quilt using a heat erasable pen that at the end of the project will come off after pressing.

So let’s start hand quilting!

First I measured the extent I was going to hand-quilt and cut the thread 5 inches bigger, simply place the thread on top of the line you will sew and measure.

If you are using different colors of thread as I am, for each row repeat the measure and cut process, if you are using the same thread for the entire work it is up to you to work on rows, or specific parts of the pattern, such as one side first then the other, and then cut your thread size accordingly.

After measuring my first row, using my first thread, which was red, I made a knot at the end of the thread without double-lacing it. Then, I started sewing from the back to the front, note that one tail of the thread will be shorter and hanging.

The movement is simple, up and down through the fabric and batting, sewing in and out following the pattern marked on the fabric.

At the end of each row, I simply tied a knot under the batting to hide it from the pretty side of the work.

Press the entire work to erase the markings. Now it’s time to turn it into a pillow!!!

First, fold the patchwork right sides together and sew the sides on the batting, keep sewing up to 1/3 of the open-top extension on each side, and backstitch at the end on both sides, so when you stuff the pillow it won’t rip the opening.

Second, before turning the pillow inside out trim the 4 ears, be careful not to cut the seams.

Third and last, stuff your pillow using Poly-fil or even scrap fabric, and close it with an invisible stitch.

TA-DA!!!!!

You now have a cute, traditional patchwork and hand-quilted mini pillow!!!

If you’d like to shop Mettler thread, click on the button to find a store near you!!!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!!

Please tag me on Instagram @daisitoegel if you make it, I would love to see it!!

Daisi Toegel