How to Create an Interchangeable Seasonal Pillow: Step-by-Step Instructions

STEP 1:  Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Autumn Top.

STEP 2: Stitch the placement line for the batting.

STEP 3: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 4: Use tack-down line of batting for placement of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

STEP 5: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the center of the block.

STEP 6: Now we are going to do the applique for the block.

The first stitch is the placement line for the stem.

STEP 7: Cover placement line with stem fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 8: Stitch placement line for the pumpkin.

STEP 9: Cover placement line with pumpkin fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 10: The next few stitching steps are the decorative and satin stitches for this block.

STEP 11: Remove the block from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 12: Trim the edges of the block so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

STEP 13: Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Autumn Bottom.

STEP 14: Stitch the placement line for the batting.

STEP 15: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 16: Use tack-down line of batting for placement of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

STEP 17: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the center of the block.

STEP 18: Now we are going to do the applique for the block.

The first stitch is the placement line for the pumpkin.

STEP 19: Cover placement line with pumpkin fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 20: Stitch placement line for the sign.

STEP 21: Cover placement line with sign fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 22: Stitch placement line for the flowers.

STEP 23: Cover placement line with flowers fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 24: The next few stitching steps are the decorative and satin stitches for the block.

STEP 25: Remove the block from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 26: Trim the edges of the block so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

STEP 27: We will now sew together the Autumn Top and Autumn Bottom blocks.

STEP 28: Flip the top block over onto the bottom block, right sides together.

Line up the stitching lines on both blocks.

Pin or clip together.

STEP 29: Sew the blocks together, sewing just barely inside the stitching line.

STEP 30: Press open seam.

STEP 31: Now we will add the elastic, folded over to make a loop, on all four corners of the sewn-together block.

Place the elastic approximately 1/4" over the corner stitching line.

Tape or pin in place.

STEP 32: The final step is to add the back.

Position the folded pieces of fabric so the fold is in the center of the block.

STEP 33: The folded pieces of fabric should overlap slightly, each piece approximately 1/8" to 1/4" beyond the center.

Be sure the fabric is centered and the sides extend well past outside edges.

STEP 34: Pin or clip around the edges to secure backing in place.

STEP 35: Sew barely inside the stitching line all the way around the pillow add-on.

STEP 36: Trim 1/4" around all borders and then clip the corners at an angle.

STEP 37: Turn your pillow add-on right side out.

If preferred, the overlap can be secured with something like Stitch Witchery® fusible bonding web.

STEP 38: Once turned, the add-on should look as shown.

STEP 39: Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Spring Top.

STEP 40: Stitch the placement line for the batting.

STEP 41: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 42: Use tack-down line of batting for placement of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

STEP 43: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the center of the block.

STEP 44: Now we are going to do the applique for the block.

The first stitch is the placement line for the birdhouse.

STEP 45: Cover placement line with birdhouse fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 46: Stitch placement line for the roof.

STEP 47: Cover placement line with roof fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 48: Stitch placement line for bird.

STEP 49: Cover placement line with bird fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 50: Stitch placement line for the birdhouse opening.

STEP 51: Cover placement line with opening fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 52: The next few stitching steps are the decorative stitches for this block.

STEP 53: Remove the block from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 54: Trim the edges of the block so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

STEP 55: Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Spring Bottom.

STEP 56: Stitch the placement line for the batting.

STEP 57: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 58: Use tack-down line of batting for placement of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

STEP 59: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the center of the block.

STEP 60: Now we are going to do the applique for the block.

The first stitch is the placement line for the birdhouse.

STEP 61: Cover placement line with birdhouse fabric, making sure all sides are covered,

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 62: Stitch placement line for the sign.

STEP 63: Cover placement line with sign fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 64: The next few stitching steps are the decorative stitches for this block.

STEP 65: Remove the block from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 66: Trim the edges of the block so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

STEP 67: We will now be sewing together the Spring Top and Spring Bottom blocks.

STEP 68: Flip the top block over onto the bottom block, right sides together.

Line up the stitching lines on both blocks. Pin or clip together.

Sew the blocks together, sewing just barely inside the stitching line.

STEP 69: Press open seam.

STEP 70: Now we will add the elastic, folded over to make a loop, on all four corners of the sewn-together block.

Place the elastic approximately 1/4" over the corner stitching line. Tape or pin in place.

STEP 71: The final step is to add the back.

Position the folded pieces of fabric so the fold is in the center of the block.

STEP 72: The folded pieces of fabric should overlap slightly, each piece approximately 1/8" to 1/4" beyond the center.

Be sure the fabric is centered and the sides extend well past outside edges.

STEP 73: Pin or clip around the edges to secure backing in place.

STEP 74: Sew barely inside the stitching line all the way around the pillow add-on.

STEP 75: Trim 1/4" around all borders and then clip the corners at an angle.

STEP 76: Turn your pillow add-on right side out.

If preferred, the overlap can be secured with something like Stitch Witchery.

STEP 77: Once turned, the pillow add-on should look as shown.

STEP 78: Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Summer Top.

STEP 79: Stitch the placement line for the batting.

STEP 80: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 81: Use tack-down line of batting for placement of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

STEP 82: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the center of the block.

STEP 83: Now are are going to do the applique for the block.

The first stitch is the placement line for the beehive.

STEP 84: Cover placement line with beehive fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 85: The next few stitching steps are the decorative and satin stitches for this block.

STEP 86: Remove the block from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 87: Trim the edges of the block so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

STEP 88: Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Summer Bottom.

STEP 89: Stitch the placement line for the batting.

STEP 90: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 91: Use tack-down line of batting for placement of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

STEP 92: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the center of the block.

STEP 93: Now we are going to do the applique for the block.

The first stitch is the placement line for the beehive.

STEP 94: Cover placement line with beehive fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 95: Stitch placement line for the door.

STEP 96: Cover placement line with door fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 97: Stitch placement line for the sign.

STEP 98: Cover placement line with sign fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 99: Stitch placement lines for the flowers.

STEP 100: Cover placement lines with flower fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down lines.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 101: The next few stitching steps are the decorative and satin stitches for this block.

STEP 102: Remove the block from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 103: Trim the edges of the block so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

STEP 104: We will now sew together the Summer Top and Summer Bottom blocks.

STEP 105: Flip the top block over onto the bottom block, right sides together.

Line up stitching lines on both blocks. Pin or clip together.

Sew the blocks together, sewing just barely inside the stitching line on the block.

STEP 106: Press open seam.

STEP 107: Now we will add the elastic, folded over to make a loop, on all four corners of the sewn-together block.

Place the elastic approximately 1/4" over the corner stitching line. Tape or pin in place.

STEP 108: The final step is to add the back.

Position the folded pieces of fabric so the fold is in the center of the block.

STEP 109: The folded pieces of fabric should overlap slightly, each piece approximately 1/8" to 1/4" beyond the center.

Be sure the fabric is centered and the sides extend well past the outside edges.

STEP 110: Pin or clip around the edges to secure backing in place.

STEP 111: Sew barely inside the stitching line all the way around the pillow add-on.

STEP 112: Trim 1/4" around all sides and then clip the corners at an angle.

STEP 113: Turn your pillow add-on right side out.

If preferred, the overlap can be secured with something like Stitch Witchery.

STEP 114: Once turned, the pillow should look as shown.

STEP 115: Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Winter Top.

STEP 116: Stitch the placement line for the batting.

STEP 117: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 118: Use tack-down line of batting for the placement line of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

STEP 119: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the center of the block.

STEP 120: Now we are going to do the applique for the block.

The first stitch is the placement line for the main body of the bird.

STEP 121: Cover placement line with main body fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 122: Stitch placement line for the nape.

STEP 123: Cover placement line with nape fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 124: Stitch placement line for the bird's face.

STEP 125: Cover placement line with face fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 126: The next few stitching steps are the decorative and satin stitches for this block.

STEP 127: Remove the block from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 128: Trim the edges of the block so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

STEP 129: Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Winter Bottom.

STEP 130: Stitch the placement line for the batting.

STEP 131: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 132: Use tack-down line of batting for placement of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

STEP 133: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the center of the block.

STEP 134: Now we are going to do the applique for the block.

The first stitch is the placement line for the main body of the bird.

STEP 135: Cover placement line with the main body fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 136: Stitch placement line for the sign.

STEP 137: Cover placement line with sign fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 138: Stitch placement line for the pine cones.

STEP 139: Cover placement line with pine cone fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim around stitches as shown.

STEP 140: The next few stitching steps are the decorative and satin stitches for this block.

STEP 141: Remove the block from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 142: Trim the edges of the block so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

STEP 143: We will now sew together the Winter Top and Winter Bottom blocks.

STEP 144: Flip the top block over onto the bottom block, right sides together.

Line up stitching lines on both blocks. Pin or clip together.

Sew the blocks together, sewing just barely inside the stitching line on the blocks.

STEP 145: Press open seam.

STEP 146: Now we will add the elastic, folded over to make a loop, on all four corners of the sewn-together block.

STEP 147: The final step is to add the back.

Position the folded pieces of fabric so the fold is in the center of the block.

STEP 148: The folded pieces of fabric should overlap slightly, each piece approximately 1/8" to 1/4" beyond the center.

Be sure the fabric is centered and the sides extend well past outside edges.

STEP 149: Pin or clip around the edges to secure backing in place.

STEP 150: Sew barely inside the stitching line all the way around the pillow add-on.

STEP 151: Trim 1/4" around all borders and then clip the corners at an angle.

STEP 152: Turn your pillow add-on right side out.

If preferred, the overlap can be secured with something like Stitch Witchery.

STEP 153: Once turned, the add-on should look as shown.

STEP 154: All of the four seasonal pillow add-ons are now complete and should look as shown.

Set aside, and we will now construct the pillow.

STEP 155: Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Center.

STEP 156: Stitch the placement line for the batting.

STEP 157: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 158: Use tack-down line of batting for placement of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

STEP 159: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the center of the block.

STEP 160: Remove the block from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 161: Trim the edges of the block so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

Repeat steps 155–161 so you have two center blocks.

STEP 162: Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Corner.

STEP 163: Stitch the placement line for the first block's batting.

STEP 164: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 165: Use tack-down line of batting for placement of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

STEP 166: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the block.

STEP 167: Fold up fabric and tape in place, so it wont' be in the way of the next block you stitch in this hooping.

STEP 168: Repeat steps 163–166 to complete the other block stitched in this hooping.

When complete, they should look as shown.

STEP 169: Remove the blocks from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 170: Trim the edges of the blocks so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

Repeat steps 162–171 once more so you have four corner blocks.

STEP 171: Hoop a piece of stabilizer.

Load the design file labeled Side.

STEP 172: Stitch the placement line for the first block's batting.

STEP 173: Cover placement line with batting, making sure all sides are completely covered.

Stitch tack-down line.

Trim the batting as shown.

STEP 174: Use tack-down line of batting for placement of background fabric.

Cover tack-down line with background fabric, making sure all sides are covered.

STEP 175: Next, stitch the quilt motif on the center of the block.

STEP 176: remove the block from the hoop and trim away excess stabilizer.

STEP 177: Trim the edges of the block so each side is 1/2" from the outer stitching line.

Repeat steps 171–177 three more times so you have four side blocks.

STEP 178: Lay out the blocks to form the front of the pillow.

STEP 179: We will be working from left to right, sewing blocks to make long strips.

The first blocks we will sew together are two of the corner blocks to a side block.

STEP 180: Flip corner blocks onto the side block.

Line up the stitching lines on outer edges of blocks

Pin or clip together.

STEP 181: Sew the blocks together, sewing just barely inside the stitching line.

STEP 182: Press open seams.

STEP 183: Now we work on the middle strip starting with the top two side blocks and the two center blocks.

STEP 184: Flip center block up, right side down onto side block.

Line up the stitching lines on both blocks.

Pin or clip together and sew.

STEP 185: Press open seams.

STEP 186: Now we work on the bottom of the center strip.

STEP 187: Flip side block up, right side down onto center block.

Line up the stitching lines on both blocks.

Pin or clip together and sew.

STEP 188: Press open seams.

STEP 189: We will now sew together the two sewn middle pieces.

STEP 190: Flip top blocks down onto bottom blocks.

Line up the stitching lines on both blocks.

Pin or clip together and sew.

STEP 191: Press open seam.

STEP 192: We will now sew together the two strips previous sewn.

STEP 193: Flip side column of blocks over onto center column of blocks.

Line up the stitching lines on both columns.

Pin or clip together and sew.

STEP 194: Press open seam.

STEP 195: Repeat steps 178–194 to sew together the last strip and attach to the front of the pillow.

When assembled, the pillow front should look as shown.

STEP 196: Attach chosen buttons to the corners of the center blocks as shown.

STEP 197: The final step is to add the back.

Position the folded pieces of fabric so the fold is in the center of the block.

STEP 198: The folded pieces of fabric should overlap, each piece approximately 1" beyond the center.

Be sure the fabric is centered and the sides extend well past outside edges.

STEP 199: Pin or clip around the edges to secure backing in place.

STEP 200: Sew barely inside the stitching line all the way around the pillow.

STEP 201: Clip the corners at an angle.

STEP 202: Turn your pillow cover right side out.

Your pillow cover is complete!