How to Make Quilt Flower Pillows

Old quilts are a wonderful medium to craft and sew with, but if you get hives just thinking about cutting up someone's family heirloom, choose a cutter quilt. This is a quilt that has over time accrued stains, rips, tears and other signs of wear. If Grandma's heirloom quilt has seen better days, it might be time to make quilt flower pillows for all of her grandchildren.

Things You'll Need

• Old cutter quilt
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Hand-sewing needle
• Stuffing
• Newspaper
• Compass
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Pins

Instructions

1. Using the compass, draw a 16" circle on newspaper. Following the line of the circle, draw a long, wavy line to give the impression of flower petals.

2. Draw one 4" circle on the newspaper (for the center of the flower).

3. Fold the quilt in two layers with the right sides facing. Pin the large 16" newspaper pattern piece to the quilt layers and cut out.

4. Sew around the flower using a 1/2" seam allowance. Leave 4" open for turning.

5. Turn right-side out.

6. Cut one piece of the quilt using the 4" newspaper circle pattern.

7. Position the 4" circle in the center of the larger flower shape and pin in place through all layers.

8. Sew a zig-zag stitch around the edge of the 4" circle.

9. Stuff the outer petal area of the quilt flower petal firmly.

10. Sew the opening closed.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have a big enough quilt to make a pillow for all the grandkids, use fabric from your stash for the back of the pillow instead.

• This pattern can also be followed using Grandpa's old wool suits.