Dresden Pillow Tutorial

Today I am sharing a tutorial for a Dresden-inspired circle pillow “poof” using Bari J.’s gorgeous new Bijoux collection for Art Gallery Fabrics. This tutorial will create a 16″ cushion.

The fabric requirements for this project are:

•  10 fat quarters (I chose that many because I wanted the variety of prints, but you could use as few or as many as you want.)
• one regular 1/4 of a yard for the pillow side (I used Essential Ovals Elements Mustard)
• two 6″ squares of solid (I used Pure Elements Honey)
• pillow stuffing
• one Dresden wedge ruler

I used the EZ quilt Dresden wedge ruler by Simplicity (an 18 degree wedge) – it’s widely available in the notions department of chain sewing stores, as well as independent quilt shops.  This ruler is available at large chain sewing outlets, as well as lots of independent quilt shops. I’ve used this ruler on projects before including a traditional Dresden block as well as my Peppermint Pinwheels quilt tutorial. This wedge is an 18 degree wedge and requires 20 wedges to complete the circle. (There are other wedge rulers at different widths that will use a different number of wedges to create the circle.)

If you are using 10 different prints, cut a 7″ x 9 1/2″ rectangle of each print. Use the Dresden Wedge ruler to cut 4 wedges 7″ long from each print.  You will need a total of 40 wedges for this project.

Layout wedges to get the color and design placement you want. Match-up wedges into pairs, right sides together, and sew one edge using a scant 1/4″ seam. Press seam to one side.

After sewing pairs together, sew four of the sets into groups of four, and then into two groups of 10 wedges. Sew the final two halves together to create the Dresden circle. Repeat the process to create a coordinating back.

To create the center circle, trace and cut out a 4″ template. (Cereal box weight cardboard is perfect.) Then cut out a 6″ circle of fabric (it doesn’t have to be a perfect circle).  Run a large basting stitch around the edge of the circle, place the template in the center and gather your fabric around the circle. Press the edges well with the template still in place.  Remove the template and press again. Starch will help you get a nice crisp circle.  Then fold the fabric circle into fourths and lightly press to create lines above.

Use pressed lines as guides to find the center of the larger pieced circle by lining up pressed lines with the lines of the pieced wedges. There should be 5 wedges between each quadrant of the center circle. Pin circle and sew in place using coordinating thread. Remove pins and press.Repeat with second side.

Cut and sew a 3 1/2″ x 52 1/2″ strip for pillow side. Sew strip ends together to create a continuous circle. Fold in half and lightly press to mark 4 equal quadrants on the strip. Using the pressed lines as guides, pin marked quadrants on the strip in place every 5 wedges to keep strip equally distributed. Then carefully pin strip equally all the way around the sides. Sew in place using a 1/4″ seam.

Repeat the process, pinning the back side to the strip and sew edges, leaving a 5″ opening to stuff the pillow. Turn pillow right-sides out and stuff with batting. Hand-stitch opening to finish pillow.

And there you go! A beautiful pillow, showcasing lots of pretty fabric, and so much simpler than it looks. I’d love to see what you make using this tutorial. Be sure to add it to the AGF Flicker group!

And finally, some out-takes from the pillow photo-shoot last week before I left. My trusty assistant wanted to show-off his Vanna White skills. They may be goofballs, but they’re MY goofballs and I’m so happy to be home with them.