free tutorial

Last summer I posted a scrappy American flag pillow on Instagram and had an overwhelming response asking how to make it.

If you’d like to make one of these cuties to add to your summer decor ….. grab some of your favorite red, white & blue scraps and let’s get started.

Fabric Cutting:

1 - 5½” navy charm square

3 - 1¼” x 7″ red strips

3 - 1¼” x 7″ white strips

3 - 1¼” x 11½” red strips

2 - 1¼” x 11½” white strips

Step One:
Sew your six short strips together ….. alternating …. red & white. {Press} Then stitch them to the right side of your navy charm square.

Step Two:
Sew your five long strips together the same way you did the short, alternating red & white. {Press} Then attach them to the top flag unit.

Step Three:
Square up your edges. No need for a perfect measurement, just be sure your edges are straight.

Step Four:
Cut your backing piece the same size as the flag unit you just made.

Step Five:
Baste a piece of quilt batting to your flag unit, quilt & add white buttons.

For a sweet look ……. top stitch some white lace over the top of a few white strips.

Finish:
Pin together your flag unit & backing piece, right sides together. Stitch a 1/4″ seam all the way around leaving an opening for stuffing.

ENJOY your cute little flag pillow! Now wasn’t that fun?

Don’t forget to stop by the Emily Ann’s Kloset etsy shop so I can make you some personalized fabric labels for your quilty fun projects.

It’s nearing the end of another season and before you know it we will be decking our houses out with Holiday cheer.

But since there is a little more fall left to enjoy I gathered Woodland Spring and Fancy & Fabulous for a quick & easy quilt tutorial. Two of my favorite Riley Blake Designs fabrics.

The disappearing nine- patch: a fun design with a big wow factor.

What you need: an entire fat quarter bundle of Woodland Spring. You may not use it all for this quilt - but I promise you will want leftover fabric to play with. It’s that cute.

128 - 5″ charm squares from prints

4 - 5″ squares navy solid

4 - 5″ squares orange solid

4 - 5″ squares teal solid

4 - 5″ squares light orange solid

quilt batting

2 ¾ yards fabric for backing

6 - 2½” x WOF strips for binding

The Plan:

For this quilt we are going to make 16 nine-patch units.

Once you learn how to make one them …. you can have some fun and make your quilt whatever size you like.

This tutorial is just to give you a guideline & direction.

Lay out 9 of your 5″ squares and stitch them together.

Keep in mind that the outer 4 corners { numbers 1, 3, 7 and 9} will not be cut so you may want to put your favorite prints in those spots. The very middle square will become 4 smaller squares.

Then we are going to take our ruler and cut down the middle of your nine-patch unit vertically.

Repeat horizontally.

Four seperate blocks. Pretty neat right?

Now you can have some fun and turn them whichever direction you like.

Helpful tip:

You can make a disappearing nine patch quilt with any size squares. I’ve made a low volume nine patch quilt with 10″ squares.

But remember that when you use a smaller 5″ square sometimes the prints can make your quilt look a little busy.

Adding some solids to help break up the patterns a little.

After you finish making your nine patch squares …. you will end up with 64 blocks to play with.

My quilt is 8 blocks across and 8 down.

This pattern gives you a lot of freedom to do what you want. Maybe you want a huge quilt, maybe a small one.

Be creative!

Be a Maker!

After stitching all of your blocks together row by row…. it’s quilting & binding time.

Now you can cuddle up and work on your planner for the week ….. or snuggle up with a cup of hot cocoa and watch the Thanksgiving day parade.

Whatever your day holds ….. homemade quilts add a touch of love to your home.

Happy Fall friends!

mini flag pillow DIY

disappearing nine-patch | free tutorial