Bryan House Quilts

QAYG Applique Pillow Tutorial

Tutorial

Today I’m finally sharing a fun tutorial with you all (ya’ll!). (Download the PDF of the tutorial here.) My idea for quilt-as-you-go (QAYG) applique has been floating around in my head for over a year. So when asked to join in on the Christmas in July Blog Hop with Gina Martin’s new fabric line, Folk Christmas, I knew I finally had a chance to play around with this idea.

QAYG_Applique


I, perhaps like you, heard about QAYG a few years ago from the online quilting community. It is such a fun and versatile technique. Lending the QAYG technique to applique just seems like a great use of QAYG, let alone all those extra batting scraps lying around my house. 
Before getting to the tutorial, I want to let you know I am giving away a jelly roll (well Gina is giving away a jelly roll). If you want a chance to win (international entries welcomed), leave a comment telling me about your favorite Christmas cookie (mine is Gingerbread… mmmmm….) Winners announced July 31st. This giveaway is now closed, but I’m leaving comments open just in case there are questions about the tutorial. 
And there are more prizes to be won on the blog hop. Here’s the schedule: 
Ok, if you are here for the tutorial… let’s get started. 
QAYG Appliqué Tutorial

Materials

To make 1 pillow cover you will need: 
2 squares of batting at least 17” (or at least 1” larger than your pillow form) 
(I use Warm and White batting)
4 Fat Quarters (or 1/4 yard cuts) red fabrics
3 Fat Quarters (or 1/4 yard cuts) green fabrics
1/2 yard to make the backing envelope
1 pillow form, 16” square
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial

Cut

* From red and green fabrics cut strips of fabric varying in width 1 1/2” to 3 1/2”. Specifically from each fabric I cut a 1 1/2” strip, a 2 1/2” strip, and a 3 1/2” strip. (Note: if you cut from 1/4 yard cuts, sub cut the strips in half. They should be around 20”.)
* From the 1/2 yard backing fabric cut 2 pieces 16 1/2” x 19”.

Make the QAYG Panels

Step 1 

Place a green strip right side up along the center of the batting square. Then using your walking foot, run several lines of straight line quilting along the strip. When quilting, I increased my stitch length to 3.5. My quilting lines are roughly 1/4” apart. 
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial

Step 2 

Place a second green strip on top of the quilted strip so that right sides are together and the raw edges are aligned. Using a 1/4” seam allowance, sew the strips together. Note: you will be sewing through the batting too. 
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial

Step 3 

Then press the second strip to the side. Quilt the second strip as desired. I chose to continue the same straight line quilting.

QAYG Appliqué Tutorial

Step 4

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to finish add green strips to the batting square. 

Step 5 

Make a second QAYG panel in red by repeating the process. Then square the background (mine is the red) square 10 16 1/2”.  
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial

Add the Applique

Now, you will cut a shape from one of the panels to applique onto the second panel. I chose to cut out a tree shape from my green panel to applique onto the red panel. 

Step 1

Using freezer paper or copy paper, draft and cut your desired shape. I drew a tree. 
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial
In these pictures, you can see a bit of my process. I’m using the red panel to gauge how large I want my tree. (I wished I’d made it a bit smaller, but que sera!) In the picture below, I’m satisfied with the shape and size of my tree. 
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial

Step 2

Once you’ve settled on shape and size of your object, pin the paper to the panel to be appliqued (in my case the green). You can also trace the pattern using a washable fabric pen. 
Some things to think about as you place your pattern: Which way do you want the quilting or pieces to be oriented? You also may want to be sure you aren’t getting a tiny piece on the very edges of the pattern. I made sure the top of my tree was well into the strip and not just barely. A small piece will likely be problematic. These are not deal breakers by any means, but some things to consider. 
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial

Step 3

Carefully cut out the pattern.

QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial

Step 4

Baste the green pattern piece to the red panel. I pin basted but I hear glue basting is all the rage. 😉

Things to think about: How do you want your background quilting and strips oriented? I oriented mine so that the quilting is perpendicular. Do you want it centered? And remember you will lose a bit off the sides in the pillow seam allowances and from pillow puff. 
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial

Step 5

Applique the piece to the background panel. I used a blanket stitch on my machine. Loved it! 
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial
And done! 
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial

Make Pillow

And now to finish that lovely up into a pillow! 

Step 1

Make the back envelope pieces by pressing a raw edge under by 1/2”. Fold it under again by 1/2” and press. Then top stitch to secure. Do this to both halves.
QAYG Appliqué Tutorial

Step 2

Lay out the pillow top, right side up. Then lay one side of the envelop back right side down on top of the pillow top. Align the raw edges with the raw edges of the pillow. 
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial

Step 3

Lay the second half of the envelop back right side down and aligning the raw edges to the other side of the pillow top. 
QAYG Appliqué Tutorial

Step 4

Pin well all around the outer edges. 
QAYG Appliqué Tutorial

Step 5

Stitch all around the outer edges using a 1/4” seam allowance. Backstitch when starting and stopping and also backstitch when stitching over where the backing pieces overlap, for extra security. 

Step 6

Clip the corners and turn the pillow right side out. Then shove (daintily mind you!) on a pillow form and show your friends. (Especially me!)  
QAYG Appliqué Tutorial
QAYQ Appliqué Tutorial
But seriously, this technique is so versatile. I think one could have a lot of fun with it. I’m thinking letters, puppy dog shapes, birds. You name it. Go wild! And please please do show me! 
Thanks for stopping by!

Download the PDF of the tutorial here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Allison says

    Love the pillow! My favorite Christmas cookie is my grandmother's French Cookies. They're really fried dough rolled in powdered sugar. No calories there!

  3. Stacy says

    Great tutorial! My favorite Christmas cookies are Molasses Sugar cookies. Thanks for the generous giveaway!

  4. Becky S. says

    Cute pillows–thanks for the tutorial! My favorite Christmas cookie is a Mexican wedding cookie-
    we call them snowball cookies.

  5. Stephanie says

    I LOVE quilt as you go projects and these pillows are ADORABLE!!! My favorite Christmas Cookies are frosted and decorated cut out Christmas cookies. Too pretty to eat but you do anyway!!!

  8. Ramona says

    Love your pillows. I love this method of quilting. My favorite christmas cookie is cream de menth e bars. They are so delicious.

  10. Deb Kienow says

    This is a very cute pillow! I can see this with other holidays or for a child room. So many ideas and so little time! Now for my favorite Christmas cookies. I actually have 3 that I have made for 41 years that Christmas isn't Christmas without them. My cut-out iced cookies, peanut butter kisses and Mexican Wedding cakes. I have wonderful go to recipes for each one. My family requests them every year as well.

  13. Kelly Parker says

    Gorgeous pillows! Thank you for the tutorial! My favorite Christmas cookie is the Stained Glass Cookie. A basic sugar cookie dough that you shape and put crushed hard candies or suckers in the center and bake. My boys used to have so much fun making little stockings and star shapes when they were younger and now that they are in their 20's they still ask to make them every year!

  14. Janarama says

    Spectacular pillow! Thank you for the great tutorial. My favorite Christmas cookie is a raspberry kolacky sprinkled with powdered sugar.

  18. Susie'sfun2 says

    My favorite cookie comes from my Great Grandmother. It is her Molasses cookie. My mom made them every year and I learned from her. I make them every year and they are a favorite of my family. Cookies carry a history and a story of their origins, making warm memories to share along with the recipes.
    Thank you for the fun and informative tutorial. I'm going to try and make this.

  21. Abbigail says

    I love these pillows! The pattern would work well for placemats too! My favorite cookie for Christmas has to be the chocolate chip with pecans! good all year!

  22. Margaret says

    I love those pillows I am definitely going to have to make these. Thank you for the great tutorial. I love sugar cookies with icing.

  27. Crafty Coffin says

    Adorable pillow! My favorite Christmas cookie isn't really a "Christmas" cookie, but it is a 3 layer called either a Venetian or Rainbow cookie – since they're so complicated to make I only do it at Christmas when I have the time to devote a day or two to baking.

  31. MaryBeth says

    My favorite Christmas cookie is one my MIL taught me to make — Hungarian nut cookies. They're lightly sweet with a meringue nut filling — yummy!!

  32. Rachell says

    How fun! I need to learn more QAYG techniques, since I have a small machine. I love Christmas cookies. My hubby loves butter spritz cookies, and I found a recipe to make gingerbread spritz cookies–make us both happy! I also love toffee bars and fudge.
    reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com

  35. Cecilia says

    My favorite cookie is the sugar cookie. I have used the same recipe for the past 14 years. Your tree pillow is very cute, thanks for sharing.

  36. Adtski31 says

    I love my moms thumbprint cookies. They are like a shortbread cookies with a small amount of strawberry jelly in the well made from her thumbprint into the cookie.

  40. Jami Siddiqui says

    My favorite cookies are the thumb drop Hershey kiss cookies. I love this tutorial so much and plan on purchasing some in the near future. Thanks!

  42. Susan Kelton says

    Super cute pillows!!! My favorite Christmas cookies are Norwegian Kringla made by my momma and aunties. I'm going to have to bake some now – Christmas in July. : ) Thank you for the giveaway!

  45. Paula says

    Thank you for the great tutorial! You make it look so easy I have to try it 🙂
    My favorite cookies (not only at Christmas time) are chocolate chips cookies.
    Thank you for the chance!
    ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

  47. delaineelliott says

    I love your pillows – so cute and the look quick and easy. My favorite Christmas cookie is shortbread with white chocolate chunks and dried cranberries. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email address.

  50. Mrs Quinn says

    My favorite christmas cookie are the peanut butter blossoms. Thank you for this tutorial. Love this pillow and love this line. Ive always wanted to QAYG and now I have a project to try.

  51. Linsey says

    What a beautiful pillow! Sure to brighten any holiday home and thanks so much for the really great tutorial! Super inspiring!!
    My favorite holiday cookie is good old fashioned Sugar Cookies!! I make the best too, hehe 😉

  53. Helen says

    Cute Christmas pillows! My favorite Christmas cookie is a really thin crisp sugar cookie with a thin layer of icing.

  55. Jen Barnard says

    I love the snowflake cushion in the first photo. My favourite christmas biscuit is shortbread.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

  58. Kelly Wilson says

    Nice tutorial! My mom loves to decorate for the holidays – bonus! For me, the plain old sugar cookie can't be beat. Thanks! notwendy gmail

  60. OhioLori says

    LOOOOOVE your Pillows!!! Thanks for the Tutorial too!!

    We always make Cut-out Christmas cookies & ice them & SPRINKLES of course!! Yummy!!!

  63. PK Sews says

    Beautiful pillows! Thanks for the tutorial, and for the chance to win this lovely fabric. I love sugar cookies in Christmas shapes with frosting and sprinkles.

  64. Jules says

    I love your technique! I enjoy Mexican wedding cookies during the holidays, so yummy! Thanks for the chancd

  69. Maree in NC ☺ says

    LOVE your pillow and thanks a bunch for the tutorial! Our family always loves M & M cookies at Christmastime. Thanks for the chance to win the giveaway! ☺

    my nana maree @ yahoo . com

  76. Kay says

    Thanks for a great tutorial. I love a ginger and cinnamon cookie that I make with little star cutters. x

  77. Sew Surprising says

    Love your tutorial, this is my favourite way to make cushions, all the straight line sewing is like my zen place, just love it 🙂 and tell my Christmas is way off hahahahaah

  78. SelahMel says

    Just found your website and am excited to try a few of your tutorials! My fav Christmas cookie is my gramma's recipe for a shortbread-type cookie with ground nuts. Yum!

  79. Jess Burns says

    My Gram has a recipe for orange cookies which are basically mini orange chiffon cakes. They are a lot of work, but really delicious so sometimes I make the time.

    jhunsberger (at) gmail (d0t) c0m

  80. Havplenty says

    I make pumpkin muffin cookies with raisins and I just love these. I got the recipe from a coworker's wife some years ago.

    tushay3(at)yahoo(dot)com

  85. Amy says

    Nice technique-I'll have to try it! As for the cookie, thhat would have to be sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles!

  93. Cindy Dahlgren says

    I really need to try QAL technique. It looks so much fun. My favorite Christmas cookie is the humble and underrated sugar cookie without frosting. CDahlgren at live dot com

  94. KathleenD says

    Although I've enjoyed making traditional Spritz cookies for 30+ years, recently added a drop cookie to my Christmas cookie repertoire. It uses Oatmeal, dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. I like it better than the Spritz. They're colorful for the holidays and delicious, too.
    Thanks for the tutorial. I appreciate your QAYG demonstration.

  95. Steph Blair says

    Thats a nice technique! Definitely one to try.

    We don't really go for christmas biscuits in this house, but I did a couple last year when a freind bought the kids a kit. Ginger biscuits with a stained glass shaped cutter and a boiled sweet to go on top a melt into the coloured glass. Very cute and it gives a real crunch when you bite through.

  96. Kirsty says

    Great tutorial, will be putting that onto my Christmas to do list. My favourite Christmas cookies would have to be the basic butter biscuits my mum and my son make and decorate together for Santa each Christmas Eve

  97. Elsa says

    Great pillow tutorial!
    I have to say I do love a good Gingerbread cookie but it has to be really spicy! Second best is a Snickerdoodle!

  99. cjmont says

    i love a cookie my mom used to make called a czechoslovakian cookie. it is a bar cookie with a layer of strawberry jam between layers of a very yummy butter pecan shortbread. yum!

  100. Karen says

    My favorite Christmas cookies are called Sugar Diamonds. They are a rich buttery shortbread with a sugary pecan topping.

  101. Weatherbee ;) says

    Great tutorial. I really had no idea how you did QAYG, now I'm intrigued as to how other projects would go together.

    My favorite Christmas cookie…haystacks!! YUM!

  102. Michelle MMMM4 says

    Thank you for the tutorial! My favorite Christmas cookie is whatever I get to make with my kids. With one in college, one headed there in the fall and one still at home. The time I get to spend with them is what I cherish. Each has her/his favorite, which makes it mine……Candy cane cookies, Gingerbread men/women, and chocolate mint.

  103. Denise says

    I have never tried to make a pillow before but it would be fun for Christmas. My favorite cookie is the one with corn flakes and melted marshmallows (tinted green), formed into a wreath, with red hot candies for holly berries.

  105. Catskill Quilter says

    My favorite cookie is a powdered sugar nut ball. (My Mom used to make them every year – and now I bake big batches and mail them to all of my children.) I love your cute tree pillow!

  106. Lee says

    I love my moms Bird Nest Cookies – they are filled with raspberry jam! thank you! Your tree pillow is lovely!

  113. Michele T says

    Love, love, love your pillow!!! The stitches give it a wonderful texture and it must feel amazing!! My favorite cookie at Christmas is Jam Thumbprints!! Thanks for sharing in the hop!

  114. 4fourTea says

    Your pillows are beautiful! Love the colors and the machine quilting! My favorite Christmas cookie is the sugar cookie with a bit of icing.

  115. Jane P says

    I love spritz cookies, my mom always made Christmas Trees and Wreaths, the trees went first. What great memories

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