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Friday, December 11, 2015

Day 4: Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the fourth day of our Home for the Holidays blog hop! 
This week, our focus will be on throw pillows--a fun and often overlooked way to add some holiday joy to your home! Next week we'll have a variety of small sewing decor projects, so be sure to stop by each day!

We think you'll enjoy the tutorials this week--including possibly new-to-you techniques. One of the great things about pillows is that by creating envelope-style or zipper pillows (we'll show you both methods), you can switch them out with your regular throw pillow covers for a quick and easy holiday decoration (and they don't require much storage space the rest of the year!).




Today's tutorial, the O Christmas Tree pillow, uses a variety of green prints from Season's Greetings, plus improv piecing techniques to create a modern-looking tree. Assemble the pillow top with reverse applique, and then quilt it and voila, your pillow is complete!





Materials

1/4 yard (or fat quarter) each of 4 green prints
1/2 yard of cream tree print
15" square of muslin
15" square fusible web
15" square fusible batting
12" zipper in coordinating color
Fabric marking pen
14" square pillow insert



Cutting
Green prints:

Cut a strip from each ranging in width from 2" to 4"

Cream tree print:
One 15" square and one 14-1/2" square

Make the Pillow
Download the tree template here.
Step 1: Fold the 15" muslin square in half and mark the center line. Cut out the half tree template, position it on the center line and trace. Flip template over and trace to complete the tree shape.

Note: Our muslin isn't quite 15" square--do as we say, not as we did! :)
Step 2: Trim two strips to slightly longer than width of tree shape bottom. Position one strip covering the bottom of the tree on a slight angle, right side up, and place a second strip on top, right side down. Pin and then stitch in place using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 3: Flip strip open and press. 

Step 4: Continue adding strips in the same manner. Angle the strips to created added interest. If your strips overlap a lot, fold the muslin foundation back and trim excess strip only (not foundation). You can also trim strip widths before adding to the tree. 




Step 5: Continue adding strips and pressing them open, trimming when needed. Strips only need to cover the tree outline, not the entire muslin square, so trim strip lengths as you work your way up. 
The finished pieced tree:

Step 6: Find the center of the 15" fusible web square and mark it. Trace the tree shape onto the fusible web. 

Step 7: Following manufacturer's directions, fuse to the wrong side of a 15" cream tree square. Cut out the tree shape, reserving the square with the negative shape and discarding the center tree shape. 

Step 8: Fuse the cream tree square onto the pieced green foundation piece. 

Step 9: Applique tree edges with a decorative stitch if you like. Fuse the 15" square of fusible web to the back of the pillow front. Quilt pillow front as desired (we used a 1" wide crosshatch). 

Step 10: Trim pillow top to measure 14-1/2" square. Use the remaining 14-1/2" cream tree square and 12" zipper to finish the pillow. Refer to the Present Pillow tutorial for steps. Stuff with pillow insert and enjoy!


For a chance to win a bundle of Season's Greetings prints, leave a comment letting us know that you follow the blog (if you don't already, sign up in the sidebar at right using the email or blog reader option). In your comment, also let us know: live tree or artificial? Giveaway is open through Friday, December 18th at 11:59 pm EST.

See the entire Season's Greetings collection here.

Check out each day of our Home for the Holidays Hop!
Day 1: The Ho Ho Ho Pillow
Day 2: The Present Pillow
Day 3: Snowflake Pillow
Day 5: Peace on Earth Table Runner
Day 6: Snowflake Table Topper
Day 7Let It Snow Applique Quilt
Day 8: Cinnamon Scented Coasters








52 comments:

  1. HI,a neat little project! Love the fragrance of the Live Christmas Trees! Thanks for sharing! msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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    1. follow via blog lovin' - lindadouglas.35

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  2. I follow via GFC. When our son was growing we got real trees each year -- it was a fun family outing to get it and then spend the evening decorating it. Now that he has grown and moved out on his own we have switched to artificial. A bit less fun, but a lot less mess.

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  3. Cute! I follow via Bloglovin. I always use an artificial tree--easy to put up without all the fuss.

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  4. I follow via Bloglovin. Real or fake - whatever makes you happy! Personally, I have a fake Charlie Brown Christmas tree. It even has the one red bauble.

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  5. I follow on bloglovin and email. Real trees all the way!

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  6. I follow via email. I like artificial trees because they are easier to take care of.

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  7. Artificial tree but it's pretty! I follow on email. Thanks for the giveaway. I like the pillow, nice fabrics!

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  8. Yes follow. Love real, but these days artificial is more practical. Especially when the trees arrive in town on Halloween. Dried out by the time you buy it on the lot.

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  9. We get a live tree every year. I follow by email and bloglovin'.

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  10. I follow via Bloglovin. Always a live tree. Love the smell!

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  11. I follow by e mail ,and we have a artificial Tree.

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  12. I follow by Email, Bloglovin & Pinterest! :) We have a 9ft artificial tree...but when our Family is finished...this tree will go out there & the Living Room will get a real one! :) Thanks for chance to win your Give-a-way! Love the Tree Pillow! Thanks too...for Tutorial!

    MERRY CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS!!!

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  13. I follow via email. I prefer a live tree, because it smells so good! But I'll be with my parents, and they have an artificial tree.

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  14. Follow via e-mail and often catch you on Facebook first. Since my husband had his stroke, we have had to go with an artificial tree, as tramping through the tree farm to cut our own is no longer an option.

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  15. True story - we have always had a real tree, but last year my mom broke her foot watering it. So this year we have our first artificial tree!
    I follow by email!

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  16. I follow by email and have a small, artificial tree. Miss the evergreen scent, though!

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  17. I follow on bloglovin' and we always have a real tree.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  18. Live tree, all the way! I follow via email: wordygirl at earthlink dot net.

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  19. I follow via Bloglovin and have an artificial tree.

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  20. Artificial tree because I'm afraid of the fire risk of a real tree. I follow via Google Friends Connect. Thank you for the tutorial.

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  21. Love this project! I'm going to dig through my stash to see if I have enough green fabrics to make one! Here in my house, it's an artificial tree...a big 9 footer! Real trees scare me with the risk of fire, but they are so pretty and smell good too!

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    1. Ooops...I'm a follower of yours on G+ and Bloglovin'!

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  22. I follow on BL. Nice tree, would be fun to make.

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  23. I love the happy little tree project! I am a follower and we have an artificial tree (because of allergies:( Thank you!

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  24. I am following via blog lovin. We have 2 Xmas trees and both are artificial. I fancied a real tree this year but we are away over new year and the hubby thought there would just be a big mess when we got home!
    Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

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  25. I follow the blog, have 2 artificial trees.

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  26. Following on bloglovin. We have a live tree. It is saturated with ornaments this year. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

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  27. Love the movement of the tree on the pillow. I follow via e-mail. We have a live tree which we transplant after the holidays. Happy Holidays.

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  28. I follow via bloglovin. I use a tabletop live Norfolk Pine for our tree each year. It was gifted to me about 5 years ago and I've managed to keep it alive ever since . . . and I do not have a green thumb! I move it from my living room to the family room each Christmas.

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  29. I follow via bloglovin. Our is tree is artificial.

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  30. I follow on gfc and bloglovin. Our tree is usually artificial. Not sure we have room to put one up this year.

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  31. Following on Bloglovin'. Artificial trees. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  32. I follow on Bloglovin (delliott1000). Due to allergies, I have to have an artificial tree. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  33. Following with bloglovin. We have a prelit artificial tree.

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  34. Live please!
    I follow you by emails. i'm going to have to try the reverse applique! It looks so easy with the fusible!

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  35. I follow through GFC (Determined Debby) and Bloglovin.

    debbygrawn at yahoo dot com

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  36. Very cute table runner _ I follow on bloglovin! (and sadly five artificial trees in our home!)

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  37. I love that shape! I follow on blogger. Live tree for us. We wouldn't miss the tree hunt for the world.

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  38. Adorable runner. Thanks for sharing the pattern!

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  39. Merry Christmas...real trees and e-mail....thank you!

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  40. we have a man-made tree. i follow on blog lovin'.

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  41. I really loved the christmas tree pillow. I do follow you on e-mail. I really love live trees, but I won't be having one this year. Thanks again.

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  42. I have an artificial tree; it lasts longer. Bloglovin follower: Nicole Sender.
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  43. I do follow you on blog lovin. Live tree it is! Love the smell of pine!

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  44. i will find the time to make this pillow this season. i really like it.i follow by email

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  45. I follow on feedly and definitely a real tree

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  46. Love the pillow!! I am a loyal follower via e-mail. We have a real tree that smells wonderful. :)
    craftyccain@gmail.com

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  47. I adore the fabric of the Christmas tree on the pillow.
    This year our Christmas tree will be the ceramic one my sister made as space is limited. Merry Christmas . I follow via email .

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  48. I follow you on Blglovin. We have an artificial tree.

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