Fabrics needed for both the Scrappy and/or the Fat Quarter version:

• One Blue piece of fabric measuring 6.5” x 5.5”
• 1 Backing fabric measuring 20.5” x 12.5”

Only for Scrappy Version Red/White Fabrics cut one each of: 

• 3 Red strips measuring 1.5” x 14.5”
• 2 White strips measuring 1.5” x 14.5”
• 3 Red strips measuring 1.5” x 20.5”
• 4 White strips measuring 1.5” 20.5”

If making this project from all the same Red and White Fabrics you will need: 

• 1 Red Fat Quarter*
• 1 White Fat Quarter*

*Note: when cutting a fat quarter make sure you cut your larger 20.5” pieces first or you will not have a sufficient amount for your longer strips). Your Fat Quarters should measure at least 18” x 21” prior to cutting.

Only for Fat Quarter Version cut:

• 3 Red strips measuring 1.5” x 20.5”
• 4 White strips measuring 1.5” 20.5”

• 3 Red strips measuring 1.5” x 14.5”
• 2 White strips measuring 1.5” x 14.5”

Optional Lace: 

• Various lace pieces at least 21” long (I recommend you do NOT use anything wider than 1.25”)

RST: Right Sides Together

TRIM OFF THE LACE

Step 3: Trim off excess lace.

STITCH RST STRIPS

Step 4: Stitch RST your Red and White 1.5” x 14.5” strips starting with a Red strip and using a ¼” seam. To keep your pieces from shifting you can pin your pieces as you go. Once all 1.5” x 14.5” pieces are sewn it should measure 5.5” x 14.5”. I will refer to this as Strip Set “A”. Set aside. Also: Your Strip set “A” should have a Red strip at the Top and at the Bottom of this set. Note: if you have sewn lace to any of your pieces, before stitching your strips together, carefully pin the lace out of the way of the strips so the bottom edge of your lace does not get caught in the seam.

PRESS THE SEAMS

Step 5: Press your seams towards the Red/dark fabric as you stitch the strips together.

STITCH THE REMAINING STRIPS

Step 6: Stitch the remaining Red and White 1.5” x 20.5” strips making sure you start with a White strip on top using a ¼” seam. This piece should measure 7.5” x 20.5”. I will refer to this as Strip Set “B” and should start and end with a White strip. Set aside.

STITCH THE LEFT SIDE

Step 7: Take your Blue 6.5” x 5.5” piece and stitch it to the left side of your 5.5” x 14.5” Red and White Strip Set “A” stitching along the 5.5” side of the Blue piece and matching it to the 5.5” side of Strip Set “A”. This piece should now measure 5.5” x 20.5”. Note: if you have pinned any lace out of the way of piecing your strips, unpin it PRIOR to sewing your Strip Set “A” to the 6.5” x 5.5” Blue Piece so that it lays correctly when completed. 

STITCH SETS TOGETHER

Step 8: Stitch Strip Set “A” and Strip Set “B” together with Strip Set “A” being on the top. Note: once all your Strip Sets are sewn unpin any remaining pieces of lace that were pinned out of the way so that it lays correctly when completed.

Step 9: Trim your edges so your piece should measure 12.5” x 20.5”. Note: it’s ok if your piece is a little short, we can adjust for this. You want nice clean edges on each side prior to attaching your Backing piece.

TAKE YOUR BACKING

Step 10: Take your Backing 20.5” x 12.5” piece of fabric and lay them RST. If your top flag piece is a little smaller, you can trim a little off your backing piece.

SEW A SEAM

Step 11: Sew a ¼” seam all around your project leaving about a 4” opening on one side. Be sure to put a couple anchoring stitches when you start and stop stitching. This will help your piece from pulling open when you stuff it. 

CLIP YOUR CORNERS

Step 12: Clip your corners before turning your project right side out. Note: be careful not to cut into your stitches.

USE YOUR POINT TURNER

Step 13: Take your point turner and carefully push the corners out. You don’t want to use too much force or you’ll push through the fabric:

FIRST LOOK

Step 14: Your project should look something like this prior to stuffing.

STUFFING

Step 15: You should have an opening sufficient to get your hand in for stuffing.

Step 16: Stuff firmly with polyfil.

CLOSE THE OPENING 

Step 17: Once stuffed, using a light colored thread use a Ladder or Whip Stitch to close the opening.

SEW ON THE BUTTONS

Step 18: Now it’s time to sew on the buttons! Get an assortment of white (and if you prefer some clear) buttons.

STITCH THE BUTTONS

Step 19: Using a 12 weight light colored threat stitch the buttons on the Blue fabric. I stitched about 6 to 8 buttons at a time. This way you’re not working with too long of a piece of thread, and also if a button is pulled off you won’t have to resew every button. I hid the knots under the larger white buttons as I went along. Have fun with placement of the buttons and varying of the size and style of buttons. 

And you’re done! Congratulations on making the Patriotic Pillow!