Christmas Heart Pillow

Christmas is coming! This pillow will make you warm and cozy, made of gray wool and with a Nordic Christmas color scheme. It is easy to make, just follow the instructions.

What you need:

•  24” (60cm) Gray wool fabric 55” (140cm) width
• Embroidery file (click here or on image for link)

• Embroidery thread in red and white color
• Cut away stabilizer or waste fabric (this will only be shown on the inside of the finished pillow)
• Zipper 18” (45cm) long
• Thread in matching color
• 200mm x 200mm embroidery hoop

Cutting chart for the gray wool:

• Four squares 9 ½ x 9 ½ ” ( 24x24cm) A
• Four strips 24 x 9½”(60x9)cm B
• Pillow back 1 square20½” x 20½” (52x52cm) C
• One strip 20½” x 2” ( 52x5cm) for lower edge of pillow D

Make the embroidered blocks

The embroidered blocks for this pillow are originally constructed as applique blocks, but for this project we will use the same fabric for the whole block, just follow the instructions below.

Put  cut-away stabilizer or waste fabric in the hoop. This will only be shown on the inside of the pillow case. Pace the wool fabric square centered in the hoop and use the  fix/baste function to secure it in the hoop.

Stitch out the embroidery, unhoop and cut out wit a ⅝” (1cm) seam allowance

Make a total of four blocks. Sew the blocks together to a square, sew just inside the edge stitching on the blocks.

Adding the mitered border

Sew the border strips to two opposite sides of the pieced squares. Stop and start the stitch line ⅜“ (1cm) from the edge

Fold away the sewn strips in the corners and sew the remaining border strips to the two other side of the pieced square stop and start ⅜” (1cm) from the edge

Fold the pieced square diagonally and fold out the strips in the corner.

Repeat for the remaining three corners, press and stitch close to the border edge with a triple stitch in gray. The finished result will look like this:

The front size should be 20½2 x 20½” (52x52cm), adjust if necessary. Put aside and make the back of the pillow

Making the pillow

Sew the large and small back pieces together with a ⅜” (1cm) seam allowance. Stop sewing 1 ½” (4cm) in from each side, leaving an opening for the zipper. Press the seam open.

Turn right side up,  place the zipper under the opening and stitch in place

Measure the back, and cut it to the same size as the front piece. Open the zipper halfways.This is important because it is through this opening you will turn the pillow case right side out after sewing it together. Pin the front and back right sides together, then sew around the edges using a ⅜” (1cm) seam allowance. Turn right side out, press.