Make it Modern Pillows – December 2024 Tutorial & a Giveaway!

It’s Jamie again from Sew Brainy Designs! It’s year 3 of my Make it Modern Pillows series! I’m so excited and I have some fun designs in store for this year! In case you missed 2022 or 2023 pillow fun, you can click the link below. Last year we started a fun Facebook Group so we can all sew along together! Check out my December pillow and read to the end of this post to enter our fun 2024 year end GIVEAWAY!!!

November’s block was a fun little plaid.

December’s block has flying geese that kinda look like little modern trees.

I love all the brights here!

Scraps can work great here too!

I love how the white pops!

I did a 1/2″ grid quilting with Aurifil 50wt. white thread for this fantastic texture!

This month’s pillow features Confetti Cottons™ Solids. The colors I used were Cayenne, Orchid, Super Pink, Orange, Cheddar, Emerald City, Riley Lime, Azure, and Scuba.

So many good colors! And I’m super excited there are more colors on the way in 2025!

Now let’s make a pillow!

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DECEMBER 2024 Pillow Tutorial

Pattern Notes

• Please read through all instructions before beginning.
• Seam allowances are 1/4″ unless specified.
• Press all seams open (or in preferred direction).
• To avoid confusion, there is no FABRIC I.

Material Requirements

For the block (pillow top):

This pattern uses (1) BACKGROUND fabric [FABRIC A] and (9) ACCENT fabrics [FABRICS B-K]. Below are the requirements to make ONE 18″ block.

For the pillow body:

• (1) 22-24″ square piece of muslin or other fabric (for quilting the top)
• (1) 22-24″ square piece of batting (for quilting the top)
• (2) 13½” × 18½” pieces of backing fabric (for the pillow envelope)
• (1) 18″-20″ pillow form (my favorite one to use is the FJÄDRAR from IKEA!). I always use a pillow form that is one size larger than my pillow case to make sure it’s extra full.

Cutting Directions

From BACKGROUND FABRIC A:

– Cut (2) 3½” strips, then subcut:

• (18) 3½” square [A2]
• (2) 2½” square [A1]
• (10) 1½” × 2½” [A3]

– Cut (1) 2½” strip, then subcut:

• (16) 2½” square [A1]

– Cut (1) 1½” Strips, then subcut:

• (9) 1½” × 6½” square [A4]
• (8) 1½” × 2½” [A3]

From ACCENT FABRIC B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, and K:

• (1) 3½” × 6½” [B2/C2/D2/E2/F2/G2/H2/J2/K2]
• (1) 2½” × 4½” [B1/C1/D1/E1/F1/G1/H1/J1/K1]

Piecing Directions

1. Prepare all (18) A1 and (18) A2 squares by using a fabric marking tool to draw a line diagonally on the wrong side from one corner to the opposite corner.

2. Using (2) A2 squares and (1) B2 rectangle, you will make (1) FLYING GOOSE unit using the stitch and flip method. Pair (1) A2 RST to the top left corner of B2 as shown below. Stitch on the diagonal line, trim 1/4″ on the outside of the seam, flip triangle outward, and press the seam.

3. Pair (1) A2 RST to the top right corner of the unit as shown below. Stitch on the diagonal line, trim 1/4″ on the outside of the seam, flip triangle outward, and press seam. Trim to 3½″ × 6½” if needed. This is the LARGE FLYING GOOSE unit.

4. Repeat STEPS 2-3 with the remaining A2 and C2, D2, E2, F2, G2, H2, J2, and K2 pieces to make a total of (9) LARGE FLYING GEESE units.

5. Lay out the FABRIC B LARGE FLYING GOOSE unit with (1) A4 strip as shown below. Sew together so the A4 strip is at the bottom of the unit and press the seam.

6. Repeat STEP 5 with the remaining A4 and (8) FABRIC C-K FLYING GEESE units. Set aside for STEP 11.

7. Using (2) A1 squares and (1) B1 rectangle, make a FLYING GOOSE unit using the stitch and flip method using the same method shown in STEPS 2-3. Trim to 2½″ × 4½” if needed. This is the SMALL FLYING GOOSE unit.

8. Repeat STEP 7 with the remaining A2 and C2, D2, E2, F2, G2, H2, J2, and K2 to make a total of (9) SMALL FLYING GEESE units.

9. Lay out the FABRIC B SMALL FLYING GOOSE unit with (1) A3 strip on both the left and right side as shown below. Sew together and press the seams.

10. Repeat STEP 9 with the remaining A3 and (8) FABRIC C-K SMALL FLYING GEESE units.

11. Lay out the FABRIC B blocks from STEP 5 and 9 as shown below. Sew together and press the seam. This is the DOUBLE TRIANGLE BLOCK.

12. Repeat STEP 11 with the remaining (8) FABRIC C-K FLYING GOOSE units so that you have (9) completed DOUBLE TRIANGLE BLOCKS.

13. Lay out all NINE DOUBLE TRIANGLE BLOCKS as shown below. Sew the THREE blocks in each row together. Press the seams.

14. Sew the THREE rows together. Press the seams.

15. Your pillow top is now complete!

16. Layer the completed block on top of the 22-24″ batting and muslin squares and quilt the pillow top as desired. When you are done, trim the block to 18½”.

Note – if you add dense quilting, your top may shrink a bit in size. Just trim it to the largest square that you can. You can trim the width of envelope backing fabric a bit in the next step if needed in order to match your actual top size.

17. Create a finished edge on the long side of each of the (2) 13½″ × 18½” pieces of envelope backing by folding 1/2″ of fabric over the wrong side TWICE. Stitch a seam near the edge to secure it.

18. With the square top facing up, layer the envelope pieces RST on top of it as shown below and sew a 3/8″ seam around the edge of the pillow top.

19. Trim the edges of the corners a bit to reduce bulk. Turn the pillow case inside out and insert your pillow form. Your pillow is now done! Enjoy your fun modern make!

I can’t wait to see all the beautiful pillows everyone makes! They can be very addicting! Be sure to share them on social media! #makeitmodernpillows #iloverileyblake #sewbrainydesigns.

If you check out my blog, I have some more color mockups and some freebie coloring pages you can download. Plus a sneak peek of a companion quilt pattern for this block that’s coming soon!

I’ll see you in January with YEAR #4 of Make it Modern Pillows! Don’t forget to join us in the Facebook Group!

Enter to WIN!!

To celebrate the end of another fun year of Make it Modern tutorials, Riley Blake Designs and I are doing a giveaway!! Enter below to win a beautiful bundle of assorted RBD Basics 1/2 yard cuts and a pattern bundle from yours truly! This giveaway is open worldwide and will close on the 23rd of this month. The winner will be contacted via email!

Until later, happy quilting!

Jamie