Quilt as You Go Pillow Cover

Quilt as You Go Pillow Cover

I love to use the quilt as you go method when I am creating quilted projects. It is a method that works well with using scraps or just winging it in general. I like the method when I am wanting a fun random finished project. This is a great method for those of us who just aren’t that concerned with perfection!

Quilt as You Go Pillow Cover

This post was sponsored by JOANN. All ideas and opinions are my own.

What is Quilt as You Go?

Quilt as you go, also written QAYG, is a method for creating quilted pieces. This method is a quicker and easier way to create quilted pieces. The fabric is sewn directly to the batting as you are piecing the block together. This means once the block is completely pieced it is also quilted and ready to attach to make your quilt. You can also quilt as you go to make smaller projects such as pillows, wall hangings, and totes (plus much more.)

Quilt as you go batting:

You can use pretty much any batting that you would use for regular quilting to quilt as you go. However I like to use a fusible batting so that it stays nice and flat and doesn’t create any wrinkles in the block. This Fusible Fleece is my go to for these projects. It comes in small packages so it is easy to work with. The fusible fleece is also great for piecing together small scraps because it so easily fuses to your project and so the small scrap pieces don’t move around and cause chaos.

How to quilt as you go:

For this project we will create a small throw pillow. This is a great starter project that will help you to get the hang of quilting as you go on a small scale.

What you need:

Fusible Fleece

Fabric – I like to find remnant fabric at JOANN, the smaller end of bolt cuts are great for practicing quilt as you go and they are also a great price!

Walking Foot

Backing Fabric – I recommend a muslin for this project. You won’t see the fabric on the finished project and so the lightweight cheap muslin option is perfect for our needs.

To start cut a square of muslin that measures the size of your pillow (we are going to make a pocket pillow like THIS so start there if you aren’t sure what size.) Then cut a square of fusible fleece to the same size and press the fleece to the square.

Grab your first scrap or strip of fabric. You can make straight lines or go on the diagonal as I have done. Line the first piece of fabric up and trim it to fit the corner. Next grab your second scrap of fabric and place it next to the first fabric, with a slight overlap. Trim this piece so that it overlaps the area you want it to cover on all sides. Now flip the second piece of fabric right side down onto the first piece of fabric.

TIP: Place a pin along the seam you are going to sew. Then flip the fabric over and make sure that it will fit the area that you intend for it to cover.

Sew the seam in place. Trim any excess fabric along the seam, leaving 1/4″ of fabric. Then flip the fabric over and press the seam.

Continue adding fabric until you have covered your entire square.

You can add more quilting to the top. If you don’t want to do a lot of quilting I recommend simply stitching in the ditch, which means stitching just where the fabrics meet each other along the length of the seam.

You can also do free motion quilting or straight quilting depending on your personal preference.

Square your block. You can use the muslin square as a guide as long as it has not been stretched or warped.

Then complete the pillow using THIS pocket pillow tutorial.