May 14, 2007

How To Make A Quillow




Quillow: Etymological Note: quilt + pillow

Why make a quillow and not just a quilt?
With high school or college graduations quickly approaching, or for an unexpected birthday or even a great Christmas gift....what better gift to give from the heart than a quickly made 'quillow'? 

A cross between a quilt and a pillow, it can be as simple as sewing two pieces of 45" x 72" fabric together and adding a pillow section of 18" -20" square......or as complicated as any scrap or quilt pattern pieced design you might choose for the quilt top and pillow portions. Reverse the pocket opening to the top, add straps and you have a wonderful baby quillow for a gift. You can even add extra outside pockets for baby supplies, and use it as a changing pad or play mat!

I was needing a quick gift for a great nephew who graduates from high school in a few weeks, and I was fortunate to have some scraps of soft flannel which a focus fabric featuring cars. Many of the designs in this fabric are vintage Mustangs, one of which this young man owns and drives as a cherished possession.


Using a 'Turning Twenty" pattern, I was able to quickly piece a basic quilt top and add a simply pieced back section and pieced pillow and in very little time, I was then ready to machine stitch in the ditch, flip and turn it into itself for the magic quillow.

Quillow Instructions and Tutorial:
For those of you, who have never had the opportunity to make a quillow, I am including my own version of instructions, and then directions on how to fold it back up into a pillow, again.


Please note: 

The appearing side of the pillow case on the back of the quilt will be the 'inside back' of the Pillow, itself by the very end of tucking in the quilt into the 'pillow' section.

So the 'right' side of the pillow is on the other side of this ivory section..inside the opening where you can't see it from this photo. As you turn it right side out it pops out to the pretty 'right' side! 

And the opening for folding and stuffing the 'quilt' inside that is at the very edge of the quilt here at the bottom of the quilt photo.

Leave this open! Do not sew it down in anyway as you attach the pillow section to the quilt body!

Basics:


Materials needed

4-5 yards total of assorted fabrics for piecing
or 2 yds. for quilt top and 2 yds. for quilt back
1/2 yd. for pillow pocket
thin batting of your choice ( a twin batt, 72" x 90" will make 2 quillows)

Step 1: Cutting Directions

For the "pillow pocket" cut as follows:
(1) 18 " to 20" fabric square or pieced square in color 1 for top
(1) 18 " to 20" fabric square or pieced square in color 2 for bottom
(1) 18 " to 20" fabric square of thin batting
For the "quilt" cut as follows:
(1) 45" x 72" piece (or pieced into blocks) of fabric for top of quilt
(1) 45" x 72" piece (or pieced into blocks) of fabric for back of quilt
(1) 45" x 72" piece of thin batting
*For a baby quillow, down size as desired, making pillow section 1/3 of total width of quilt

Step 2: Sewing the Pillow Pocket Together
Oh 
1. Place batting on flat surface.
2. Place bottom fabric on batt, right side up.
3. Place top fabric piece on top of backing, right side down.
4. Pin together, stitch closed with 1/2", leaving an 8" opening.
5. Reaching into opening, pull out to turn pillow, shape corners and hand stitch opening closed.
6. Machine stitch a simple quilting pattern or hand tie to secure into a now flat pillow piece.

Step 3: Sewing the Quilt Body Together 

1. Place batting on flat surface.
2. Place bottom fabric right side up on top of batting.
3. Place top fabric right side down on backing.
4. Pin, then sew closed with a 1/2" seam, leaving a 10" opening on one side.
5. Reaching into opening, pull right sides out, shape corners, hand stitch opening closed.

Step 4: Sew the Pillow Pocket to the Quilt Body

1. Lay quilt body, back side up.

2. Center the pillow pocket, flushed edges together, positioning at the center section of quilt,
wrong side of pillow pocket up, design nap pointing up towards outside edge. *pillow pocket final opening will be at the bottom of the pillow top, facing towards center of the quilt body as you look down at the backing. 

3. Sew only three sides of pillow down flat to quilt body, leaving lower pillow edge open (facing the center of the quilt, not the outside of quilt edge) to form pocket.

4. Secure the quilt layers together by either hand tieing or machine quilting every 9" apart.










Step 5: Folding the Quilt into the Pillow:
1. Place quilt with pillow pocket down on your flat surface.
2. Fold the quilt body into thirds. (the long way)















3. Fold this long section in half, and half again.

4. Pull the bottom of the pillow pocket up and over this folded section,
turning pillow pocket 'inside out', over the body of the quilt.

5. Turn and pull into a nice pillow shape,pulling out corners completely.







My tag along verse: 

"Use me as a pillow, until you get cold.
Then pull me out and gently unfold.
I'm a lap quilt now, from head to feet...
Then tuck me back in, all nice and neat!"








*Please Note: 
If you borrow my directions and copy this down, make it or use my verse, I would appreciate a link back for all of my hard work in creating and sharing. Thank you! 

Free Quillow Pattern and Tutorial Photos

And of interest: A quillow shaped to just fit a person in a wheelchair. 


For another version of a quillow that is more recently created, check out:

Making a Quillow


No time for a quilt? Make a Flillow!.......a Fleece Blanket + Pillow ;)


Want a really quick quilt look quillow?

Use a printed panel of any kind!


  

 


Quillow: Etymological Note: quilt + pillow


After posting a photo of my 14 quilting projects...on two walls, in umpteen baskets, and on my design floor just a few days ago, I was reminded that a Great-Niece was graduating from High School and being honored with a family barbeque.

Here I am, 14 projects already started and none of them is either appropriate or can be quilted/finished in time for the party. I ended up with only 3 days to get the gifts figured out, designed, and sewed.

I have always given quilts to every child in our family -- nieces and nephews or at least their babies when the had them, and now great-nieces and great-nephews and several times I have given 'quillows' and they have been big hits! So...a quillow was decided upon.

My original tutorial on How To Make A Quillow shows one of her cousins' quilt/pillow being made. But I decided to take photos as I went along for a second photo tutorial then maybe I could just made the next one on automatic pilot!

I used a simple quilt panel for my quick quilt, added some 5 1/2" borders all the way around, some co-coordinating fabric for the back panel and some stitch in the ditching for quilting. 

I was delighted to discover that my panel was designed by Diane Phalen, who once lived in Banks, Oregon. 

She also made lovely quilting art cards and prints that many of us still treasure! So, it was great fun finding this favorite panel among my supplies! But if you have a nice quilt top all finished try using that for a wonderfully easy to finish quillow!


Materials Needed:

4-5 yards total of assorted fabrics for piecing
or 2 yds. for quilt top and 2 yds. for quilt back
1/2 yd. for pillow pocket (pocket needs to be 1/3 of width of finished quilt)
thin batting of your choice ( a twin batt, 72" x 90" will make 2 quillows)

Step 1: Cutting Directions
For the "pillow pocket" :
Cut as follows or pieces that measure 1/3 of width of finished quilt top:
(1) approx.18 " to 20" fabric square or pieced square in color 1 for top
(1) 18 " to 20" fabric square or pieced square in color 2 (or the same) for bottom
(1) 18 " to 20" fabric square of thin batting

For the "quilt" cut as follows:
(1) 45" x 72" piece (or pieced into blocks) of fabric for top of quilt
(1) 45" x 72" piece (or pieced into blocks) of fabric for back of quilt
(1) 45" x 72" piece of thin batting

*For a baby quillow, down size as desired, making pillow section 1/3 of total width of quilt

Step 2: Sewing the Pillow Pocket Together

1. Place batting on flat surface.

2. Place bottom fabric on batt, right side up.

3. Place top fabric piece on top of backing, right side down.

4. Pin together, stitch closed with 1/2", leaving an 8" opening.

5. Reaching into opening, pull out to turn pillow, shape corners and hand stitch opening closed.

6. Machine stitch a simple quilting pattern or hand tie to secure into a now flat pillow piece.

Step 3: Sewing the Quilt Body Together
1. Place batting on flat surface.

2. Place bottom fabric right side up on top of batting.

3. Place top fabric right side down on backing.

4. Pin, then sew closed with a 1/2" seam, leaving a 10" opening on one side.

5. Reaching into opening, pull right sides out, shape corners, hand stitch opening closed.


   

   


Step 4: Sew the Pillow Pocket to the Quilt Body (if quilting or tying is needed under it do that before attaching pillow to quilt!

1. Lay quilt body, back side up.

2. Center the pillow pocket, flushed edges together, positioning at the center section of quilt, wrong side of pillow pocket up, design nap pointing up towards outside edge. *pillow pocket final opening will be at the bottom of the pillow top, facing towards center of the quilt body as you look down at the backing. The 'right' side of the finished pillow is 'inside' and does not show on top at this point!

3. Sew only three sides of pillow down flat to quilt body, leaving lower pillow edge open (facing the center of the quilt, not the outside of quilt edge) to form pocket.

4. Secure the quilt layers together by either hand tieing or machine quilting every 9" apart.

Do NOT sew over the pocket!!! If need be quilt under it before getting to this stage!

You should now have a lovely finished quilt, with a pillow section on the back. This is a quillow. A quilt+a pillow=a quillow.

How to make it look like a pillow, you ask;) It's pure magic!!!

Folding the quilt into the pillow shape to create the quillow in 10 steps:


1. Take the quilt,laying it flat as shown above.



2. Fold over 1/3 using back pillow edge as guide line.



3. Fold over another 1/3 using back pillow other side as guide line.



4. Fold down 1/3 using top of back pillow as guide line.




5. Fold down again creating a square shape.You can see my elastic loops at the bottom edge.Using these with buttons on the other side of the pocket opening is a closure option.



5.Using your hand, open up the inside of what will become the pillow section. You hold onto this edge as you reach within to pull the folded quilt sections into the inside of it and then inside out...like pulling through a case inside out.



6.Here it is beginning to emerge from the inside to the outside. The bright yellow strippy square is on the quilt front, you see as you pull it into the pillow.



7. And here the final step of pulling it out. Now you see the pink blocks that become the front of the little pillow form.



8. Almost a pillow!



9. Now if you want buttons and loops, as you might see here, I added mine at this last stage by hand and just tacked them down. 

Sew 2 bottons and two pieces of tied black elastic made into little button loops.

   

Button those elastic loops around your optional buttons hand sewn to the outside of the pillow bottom for closure..or you can just leave the pillow opening open, no buttons and loops, or use velcro tabs whatever you want!
 
As the pillow 'sits' on a surface, it is on top of this opening and it doesn't really show very much, anyway! But I added this last step as the gift was part of the quillow directions test I put into my hand made Graduation card for even more fun.


10. My quillow -- a little quilt that turns into a pillow!

Quicker and easier than it even sounds! I made the quilt, the pillow, and a cute bag with pockets, and and ID tag in less than three days. And yes, you can be that crazy productive, too ;)



Free Bag Pattern and ID tag tutorial

No time for a quilt? Make a Flillow! A Fleece Blanket + Pillow ;)

Make a Fleece Blanket or a Quilt that you Already Have into a Quillow!


Remember! 

Any quilt or fleece blanket can be made into a pillow quilt by simply creating a pocket on the back. 

For pocket: Cut out two pieces of fabric (or fleece) and one piece of batting about 18 1/2” square.  It can be smaller if your blanket is smaller as your pocket should be about 1/3 of the width of the quilt or blanket you are using.

Now, place the  fabric right sides together and place batting on top of fabric. 

Sew all the way around (with batting on bottom), leaving an opening of 4” - 5” on one side to turn - this is the same method used for making quilts envelope style. Some quilters call this birthing a quilt or make a envelope style quilt.

Trim corners of the pocket and turn right side out. Stitch opening closed.

Place pocket at end of blanket and then stitch to blanket on three sides, leaving the top of the pocket open and not stitched for packing the blanket into it when you turn it into a 

More ideas! 



What else is similar?



My own shopping bag design: pocket pouched!!!'

 Make a Re-useable Shopping Bag: Pocket Pouched!





Michele Bilyeu Creates With Heart and Hands as she shares her imaginative, magical, and healing journey from Alaska to Oregon. Creating, designing, sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting... from my heart and with my hands.

42 comments:

May Britt said...

Thanks for this tutorial. I might try it soon.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

I'm saving this tutorial. I love quillows! I sent off a packet of VT blocks today... thank you!! ;)

SuBee said...

How cool - I've always wanted to know how to do these....
My DIL has one hand quilted from Hawaii, with Hawaiian applique on the front, I keep threatening to steal it, but now I can make one!

Paula, the quilter said...

When all the nieces and nephews graduated, this is what I made. Great tutorial, BTW.

Shelina said...

I've always said I would make a quillow, but I haven't taken the step to actually turn one of quilts into a quillow. Thanks for the tutorial.

Hedgehog said...

Thanks for a great tutorial!!

Cathi said...

Your directions are the first I've read on making quillows that actually made sense to me! Thanks!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your generosity. I am making a lap quilt for a friend and your instructions for this finishing touch is just great:)
Virginia

Anonymous said...

Howdy,
Thank you for putting together a concise,instruction tutorial, years ago my first quilt was a qwillow that I made with my mom, now I am hoping to make one with my daughter.Thank you for your refresher course. I look forward to many qwillows ahead.

Lydia.

misslyn said...

Your instructions were the easiest I found, thank you so much! And especially thank you for the "tag a long" it's perfect for gifts!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS IN SHARING!!!

Anonymous said...

I have been searching for this pattern. thank you for sharing .
carol

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the instructions. I am about to make the first one for each of my 6 grandchildren. I was surprised that I was unable to find instructions at my local patchwork shops in England.

Anonymous said...

Thank you soooo much for these easy-to-follow instructions! This is the best I have ever seen and this is going to be my next project, hopefully.

Bless you,

Juliette

Anonymous said...

These are GREAT instructions! Thanks for making them so understandable. I will be making a quillow for the first time this weekend.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the wonderful photo tutorial on how to fold up a quillow as well as how to make one!

Bee Quilter said...

What a wonderful tutorial. I can't wait to make one of these for my grandson!

joyce sampsell said...

Thanks for all your wonderful instructions but was wondering if I understand it right you make the pillow and just sew it to the back of the finished quilt right. I would think to keep the stitiching from showing on your quilted body you would sew the pocket to the right side of the backing before you sew the body together am I wrong about this of course the right side of pillow would be next to right side of backing sorry I'm so dense but would like to know which way is right j.sampsell@mchsi.com

Thanks for understanding I'm excited about tring to make one.

Anonymous said...

Joyce,
Muito obrigada por dividir seu talento e sua criatividade.
Lindo o seu trabalho e farei referencia sim a você na peça que pretendo fazer, serei sua seguidora e espero merecer seus ensinamentos.
Lúcia Machado
Thank you for sharing your talent and your creativity.
Beautiful your work. I will make reference to you. I'll be your follower.
Lúcia Machado

Anonymous said...

Catherine C and/or Mrs. "C" as my daughter in laws call me. Thank you, explained very nicely and simply language. I have made these in the past and almost forgot how to fold. Sharing is a wonderful gift that comes back to you two fold.

Maryanne said...

Thank you so much for the wonderful directions. Ever since my niece visited the Amish in middle school she has wanted a quillow. She will be 21 in February and now I can surprise her with her very own Quillow. Thank you again for your instructions.
Maryanne from Pittsburg, CA

Anonymous said...

Years ago the ladies in our church got together & made quillows. I misplaced my pattern and I've been wanting to make one for my grandson. Thank you so much for the clear and easy to follow instructions!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for the great directions. I made two and they came out great the directions were awsome. Thanks!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Love IT!! I have been looking everywhere for an actual pattern and directions. Thank you. =)

Anonymous said...

Your directions look simple enough. I hope to make one for my "grand niece" in a princess motif.

Pam said...

Thank you for the directions. I would like to make my grandchildren each one for Christmas. I don't have the time or space to make bed quilts but I thought they might each like a lap quilt from Gramma. Now just to get them each made...

Anonymous said...

thank you for the pattern! You made it really easy to follow. I appreciate it a lot!

Candi said...

I had been looking for a long time an easy step by step say to make a quillow. I appreciate you sharing this one. I'm just a biginner at quilting and I would love to learn more. I love all your quilts. you are very talented.

Jennifer said...

Michele,

I realize you posted this blog about the quillow several years ago; however, about 19 years ago my grandmother made one for my oldest daughter upon her arrival. We have loved it all these years. Recently my grandmother passed away and as I was in her home during the days which shortly followed. I looked through a few of her patterns hoping to find this one, and could not. I asked my grandfather to please make me a copy if he found it or just forward it to me. He said he would, but as we live in Portland, TN (just north of Nashville) and he lives in Portland, OR and is elderly himself the chances I will see it are slim. So I was so elated to see your pattern on your blog and am eager to share it with others. *I will of course reference your link. Thank you for helping me in keeping the tradition of the quillows alive in our family.

Jennifer Parker
Portland, TN

Anonymous said...

Hi, Have just "borrowed" your Quillow instructions, so easy to follow. Thanks a million will now get to work............
Betty from England Aug.2011

Anonymous said...

hi have just made my little niece a cat quillow using your instructions for her christmas presents and one for my sister in law thank you

Rosemary from Wyoming said...

Thank you so much for the easy instructions. I have made several quillows in past years but misplaced the directions. Thanks to you I am making them again! Your verse was very nice too and I'm using it too.
Rosemary

Nel Walsh said...

These "quillo's" are great! Last Christmas I made one for each of the Soldier's in my daughter's Army unit. When she was on deployment in Iraq...46 in all! I made them in different colors,mailed them to her in flat rate box's for her to hand out to everyone!..They loved them!

Anonymous said...

My mother in law lost her quillow pattern, thanks to you i can give her this one. just one thing. when she made ours, we used the pillow pouch to keep our feet warm. :-)

Anonymous said...

Our women's missions group at church are making these for a women's shelter. When the women leave, they get to take their quillow. I can barely sew a straight seam, but with these directions maybe I can even make one!

Bella's Caring Products said...

I also would like to thank you! I've been looking through tons of patterns and keep coming back to yours!
I'm hoping to make one in time to take it with me when I fly to Germany for my sisters wedding. I'm hoping it'll help me with my homesickness for my fiancé and dog. :)
Thank you again!

Ministry Mom said...

Many, many thanks. Living in Lancaster County, PA, I was introduced to quillows a few years ago. Thanks to your blog and these instructions this is now my go-to wedding present! I appreciate your post and especially the poem. - Sally

Laurie said...

I have been wondering what I could make this year for Christmas gifts. You have given me the answer. Thanks for printing the instructions!

Cloudy Stitches said...

Thankyou so very much. I've be looking for a tute for a quillow for many years.

Kathi F said...

Thank you these are the best directions I have seen......

Liza said...

many thanks. Today I will try to do for the present.

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I bought my daughter a quillow at a thrift store when she was young. In the meantime, it was ruined and I've wanted to make another one for many years. Now I can make one for her daughter, who is almost as old as she was when I bought the one. Thank you again.

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I bought my daughter a quillow at a thrift store when she was 6 yrs old. In the meantime, it was ruined and I've wanted to make another one. Now I can make one for her daughter who is almost as old as she was when I bought hers.