Applique Batik Flower Pillow

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A quilted applique pillow is always fun to make, this is just a simple flower design with a neutral strip pieced background. The other day I shared several applique quilt projects that I wanted to finish up.

Applique Flower Pillow

Here is the first one! This is an oldie from my stash that was stuffed in a box of quilt blocks. The best way to use up UFOs (unfinished quilt projects) is to turn them into pillows, table toppers or mug rugs. You’ll find many tutorials for quilt projects like this on my site, just click on the tutorials tab at the top.

Applique flower pillow by tree trunk

Can you see the different fabrics in the background of the pillow? I cut strips of two different neutral fabrics to make a strip pieced block similar to the way I made my 45 degree angle strip tube blocks. The only thing I did differently was to use 1½-inch and 2½-inch strips.

Appliqued batik quilted pillow

I still love using my vintage 15-91 Singer sewing machine for all of my piecing and quilting. Even though it is only a straight stitch sewing machine, I was able to do a type of free-motion zig-zag to applique my flower. This sewing machine is 69 years old and I have been using it for 29 years after buying it at a farm auction. This workhorse can go through everything!

Vintage Singer sewing machine for quilting

Normally I use a 50 wt thread for my quilting but I decided to try a 28 wt Aurifil thread that I received when I was an Aurifil ambassador. It is a thicker thread and the stitches really show up.

If you use it for quilting, be sure and switch back to your regular weight thread before piecing as this is too thick for your seams.

Closer photo of quilting on sewing machine

It is always so much fun to reach this step! The block is all quilted and trimmed. Now it is ready for a backing. I’ve been moving things around in my quilt room again.

Flannel Design Wall

Have you ever used a flannel backed tablecloth for a design wall? It works great! I first bought a cheap picnic tablecloth that said it was flannel backed from Walmart but it was too thin. You’ll want to buy a heavy-duty flannel backed vinyl tablecloth. Mine had been folded up for some time so I dampened a wash cloth and then put it and the table cloth in my dryer on a low heat for a few minutes to get the folds out of it.

Quilt studio working on pillow

Pillow Backing

It isn’t always necessary to use the same fabric on the back of your pillow. I have this gold/silver print in my stash and like the way it coordinates with the neutral strips on the front of my pillow. I happened to have an old mustard gold zipper and used that.

Back of the pillow with zipper

Here is a better photo of the free-motion applique that I did on the flower. I originally planned on doing some straight line quilting on the background but I forgot and started doing a stipple design.

After I was all done I realized that you could barely see the strips of fabric in the background so I tried stitching around each strips. I went around two times but it really doesn’t show up that well.

Closeup of the appliqued flower design

Accuquilt Flower

I made this block for a contest that Accuquilt had one year. I didn’t win but had fun making the block using my Accuquilt dies. I used the GO! Round Flower die and the GO! Flower Bunch die for the applique. the background was made using the GO! Strip Cutter die that cuts 1-inch, 1½-inch, and 2-inch strips at once.

Finished quilted applique pillow

I still think this Morning Glory pillow is too plain, I think a free-motion stitched flower using teal thread would look great, what do you think?

Quilted pillows by tree

I now have another pillow to add to my collection. I can now mark this project done and will be choosing another one of my applique quilt projects to work on.

Appliqued flower pillow on couch

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5 Comments

  1. Your appliqued flower looks so pretty and cheerful! It reminds me of my Stitcher’s Garden that I’m working on! Yes, those vintage machines are fabulous work horses!

  2. Kathleen Scargle McCormick says:

    The flower and pillow are terrific. I love the subtle 2 colors surrounding the flower, and the backing too. Just perfect.

  3. Kathe of Montana says:

    Connie, I agree, the teal pillow needs a little something. If it were me, I’d put a purple coneflower on it. So sorry to hear about your sweet doggie. One of mine, a Schnauzer/terrier mix, with legs only about the length of my hand, tore a tendon in one of her back legs and had to have surgery earlier this summer. She’s great now, but I was a mess over it.

  4. Brenda Ackerman says:

    Hello Connie, I adore your applique flower pillow and everything about it! The fabric that you used for the back of the pillow is beautiful and a splendid idea. That way you have two decorative pillows to show off, at least that is the way I would handle it. I have set my feet firmly down and have decided it is time to finish each one of my UFO’s and am actually enjoying the whole process! Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful day!

  5. Vicki in MN says:

    Connie your pillow is spectacular, great idea to use those pieces up. So sorry to hear Sadie isn’t doing well. Hugs to you.