AccuQuilt HST Pillow Tutorial

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I always enjoy making a fast and easy design that can be used for a pillow. This would be the perfect gift and takes no time at all to make!

Half Square Applique Quilt Pillow

I made this pillow using my AccuQuilt GO Me, the 3″ finished Half Square Triangle die and the Feather die.

Half Square Triangles with AccuQuilt die

Take a look at the next photo to see how I lined up my fabric on the die. This is the right way to cut to get the correct grain.

Half Square Triangles with AccuQuilt die

I cut strips of fabric about 4″ wide and you can see that there is very little waste.

Half Square Triangles with AccuQuilt die

I usually cut 4 layers at a time. I think the AccuQuilt GO! Baby 3″ finished Half Square Triangle die is my favorite one for basic quilting and was the first one I bought. The corners are dog-eared so it is fast and easy to match your seams.

Half Square Triangles with AccuQuilt die

I couldn’t believe how fast I could make the Half Square Triangles (HST). If you don’t have a GO! Baby you can make 3″ finished size HST’s using another method and still follow the tutorial.

Easy to make Half Square Triangles

I made quite a few HST’s and changed my mind on what I was going to make so you will see a sunflower fabric instead of the rust print when I am showing how to put the block together. Don’t worry, I’ll have a couple more things to show you using the rest of the HST’s soon.

Now to make the 18″ pillow tutorial

HST pillow by the river

If you would like to rotary cut your pieces, just cut 3 7/8″ squares and cut each one diagonally to get your HST pieces.

Make:

  • 4 – brown/creme HST blocks
  • 4 – green/creme HST blocks
  • 8 – rust/creme HST blocks (photo shows the Sunflower print, sorry)
  • Arrange the blocks as shown below
Blocks arranged for pillow

Sew the blocks together as shown. Making it in 4 sections works better for me instead of sewing long rows.

Four sections of the pillow

Now sew these 2 sections together.

Pillow block in two sections

Completed 12″ block in the correct colors.

pieced block in correct colors

Add a 3.5-inch strip to each side.

Piecing the HST block

Now we’ll make the feathers.

adding the appliqued flowers to the block

I cut my fabric just a little bigger than the size of the curved feathers and then cut pieces of Heat & Bond Lite just a hair smaller. Then fuse the Heat & Bond Lite to the wrong side of the fabric.

Use Heat & Bond fusible for the fabrics

I want feathers curving in two different directions so I lay one piece of fabric on the die with the Heat & Bond Lite side down and the next fabric piece with the Heat & Bond Lite facing up. Follow the directions on the package for the heating time.

You will need a total of 8 curved feathers with 4 being reversed. It is easier to cut your fabric to fit 3 feathers and have the leftovers for something else.

Heat & Bond Lite on fabric

Again you see very little wasted fabric.

Cuting the green AccuQuilt feathers with no waste

Next, do the same thing and cut 2 strips of the straight feathers. You will only use 4.

Cutting the feather applique shapes

Remove the paper backing and fuse your pieces to the pillow top. I overlapped the green feathers just a little.

Pieced applique hst pillow

Now cut a piece of batting and inside backing a little bigger than your block.

NOTE: I am using an old sheet that I pieced for my backing as it will be inside the pillow and not seen. I like a backing because I wash my pillow covers and don’t want to worry about the batting. Save your matching fabric for the actual back of your pillow.

This pillow was made using my 15-91 Singer sewing machine which is 70 years old and only has a straight stitch.

Sewing the pillow

I did a free-motion applique but you can applique your preferred way. I used a dark brown thread to accent the feather pieces.

Close up of freemotion applique

Next I switched to an ecru thread and stipple quilted my background.

Switch quilting thread color

Trim your pillow to a 19-inch square. Then cut 2 pieces of fabric for the pillow back.

  • 1 piece 13 x 19
  • 1 piece 11 x 19
  • Take each piece and fold one 19 inch side over 1/4″, press and fold over 1/4″ again.
  • Topstitch
  • Have a supervisor make sure you do the next step correctly. Simon loves this job!
Cat supervising the quilting

Have your pillow top lying face up and then lay the 11 x 19 piece face down on your pillow front.

Next put the 13 x 19-inch piece face down on top of the 11 x 19-inch piece. Pin and stitch a 1/2 inch seam around the pillow.  Remove pins, trim the corners and turn right side out.

Finished HST pillow on bench

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Hi, I’m Connie Kresin Campbell, the quilter, writer, and photographer behind Freemotion By the River. I enjoy inspiring others with my quilt tutorials and patterns.

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24 Comments

  1. Lovely pictures of the yard! Inspirational all the work you get done! This pillow looks like my next project! Add to the list! Really need to get your truck pattern started as well to have it done for Christmas. And my niece announced she is expecting and her brother is getting engaged! So an Eye Spy for her and a neck tie quilt for him. He carries the family name, gramps, then his dad then him so he got all the ties. Plus I collected some from other uncles & cousins. Wish me luck! Thanks!

    Reply

  2. I love that pillow. Also that is the block pattern I was looking for to make the quilt you showed in one of the earlier posts.
    Today we have a high heat index warning, so I’m staying indoors as I have asthma. I’ll be working in the basement on my longarm on a large quilt that has been hanging in the closet for over a year. I figured it’s about time I got it quilted.
    Simon is the best kind of supervisor you can have, they don’t get mad if you make a mistake. I have 3 supervisors, Happy, Sparky and Pancake, lucky it is using just one at a time. Have a good day.

    Reply

  6. Beautiful pillow and great tutorial. I may need one of those pillows to go with my Christmas quilt.

    Reply

  14. Great pillow and fabulous tutorial!
    I don't have that HST die yet but see it in my near future. ;o)
    I love my Go! It makes cutting fun. Esp when I have helpers. :o)

    Reply

  15. Conni, I really like this pattern. It seems simple enough. I will keep this pattern in mind also. Once again you have made something so beautiful.

    Have a great day!

    How was the ghost hunt?

    Della

    Reply

  19. This is another great project and tutorial. I don't have the Go! baby, but do have the Sizzix big shot. Do you find you favor one over the other?

    Reply

  20. This is a very good tutorial, thank you! I am hoping Santa will bring me an Accuquilter this Christmas, either Baby Go or the big one, so I am looking at all of the posts using them. I am pretty excited with anticipation!

    Reply

  21. Hi, Connie,
    Wow, that machine really makes things go fast, doesn't it? I guess you really like it, as opposed to hand cutting and piecing?
    I like little lap projects so I do a lot of hand work but I like that cutter!
    The pillow is very pretty, the colors are very good together and the design is really nice.
    It's really nice that you give us the tutorials for your project. My sister said that your leaf candle mat that I had on my blog post is really pretty. She ooh-d and ahh-d!
    Warm Regards,
    Susan

    Reply

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