Embroidered Christmas Dresden Pillow {Tutorial}

You may remember my dresden pillow from a couple weeks ago, well, several people asked for a tutorial, and Quilt Story’s Holiday Tutorial Series seemed like the perfect place to share.

So let’s get started and with Quilted Dresden Pillow with an Embroidered center for your home or for a gift.

Note: Read all directions before beginning, all seam allowances are 1/4″ unless otherwise noted:

Supplies:

• Download the template and embroidery pattern here
• 20 – 2 1/2″ x 4″ rectangles for blades
• 32 – 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ squares for scrappy border
• 14 1/2″ x 14 1/2″ square white background fabric
• 9″ x 9″ white square for the embroidered center
• 9″ x 9″ fusible interfacing
• #8 Perle Cotton (I used Finca #4059 – aqua, and Finca #1166 – red)
• 2 – 2 1/2″ x wof strips for binding
• 2/3 yard for pillow back
• 18″ pillow form

Let’s Get Started:

Using the template, cut 2o blades. Fold the top points together, right sides together, and then sew them together as shown. Chain sewing is easiest and quickest.

Trim the corner at the fold, press seam open, turn and give each blade a final pressing.

Turn the blades right sides together and sew 1 /4″ seam allowance along the long sides. Sewing them together in sections makes it easier.

After all the blades are sewn together, press the seam allowances in one direction.

Sew 7 squares together for both sides and sew onto white block. Now sew 9 squares together to sew onto the top and the bottom.

Center the dresden onto the top with the borders. Pin and stitch in place, going around each blade.

Prepare your fabric for embroidery by fusing interfacing to the back of the 9″ fabric piece and tracing the design onto the center piece with a water soluble pen (or any method you prefer). Just be sure that if you use a water soluble pen you spray with water before pressing or you will set the pen in the fabric and may not be able to remove it. I used red and aqua floss but you could use any color that you like that goes best with your fabric choice.

When you have stitched the design, trim the center circle to the size of the template. Center it in the dresden and stitch in place, I used a blanket stitch on my machine. But you could turn and appliqué or hand sew if you like.

After you have stitched your center onto your pillow front turn it over and cut through the backing fabric to remove the excess fabric from your dresden, it will show through to the front if you used white and there are any darker colors in your blades. I like the way it turns out best by doing this.

Now layer the top and batting, (a little larger than your 18 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ top) with a white or light fabric under the batting just like a quilt sandwich for a quilt. Quilt as desired and then trim the batting to the size of your finished pillow top.

Make the pillow back by cutting two pieces of fabric, 1 half will be 18 1/2″ x 15 1/4″, the second half will be 18 1/2″ x 10 1/4″. Turn under 1″ on both top and bottom pieces to hem. Lay the back pieces on the back of the pillow front overlapping the larger piece on top and pin in place. Sew around all four sides using a 1/4″ seam allowance. This will create an envelope for your pillow.

Add binding to the front in the same way you would for a quilt. Turn and hand stitch in place on the back.

Put your pillow form in your pillow case and enjoy. I have had a few people email me about doing more embroidery and some more difficult pieces. I recently had the pleasure of visiting a place I have heard very good things about, Madison custom embroidery. While I was there I did get some new more intricate patterns, so I will be going through them and we will start some of them soon.