This Merry + Bright Christmas Pillow Pattern comes together quickly and is so much fun to make! Even a beginning quilter will be successful making this quilted holiday pillow!!
I made my pillow with a red background and vintage Christmas colors for the stars.
This pillow would also be adorable in just red and white, red and green, or blue and white! There are no rules when it comes to choosing fabric colors for this adorable cozy pillow!!
Make one or several to keep for yourself or as quilted holiday gift ideas!!
In just an afternoon or evening you can make this beginner-friendly quilt pillow. Let’s get sewing!!
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Fabric Requirements for the Merry + Bright Christmas Quilt Pillow Pattern
I just pulled fabrics from my stash for this adorable easy pillow pattern! Here are the estimated yardage totals needed.
Red fabric – 1/2 yard
Green fabric – 1/8 yard
Blue fabric – 1/8 yard
Pink fabric – 1/8 yard
Yellow fabric – 1/8 yard
Batting – 22” x 22” piece
Backing for Quilted Top (this can be any scrap piece of fabric, you won’t see it!) – 5/8 yard
Pillow Back fabric – 1/2 yard
Muslin or Scrap Fabric (for pillow insert) – 5/8 yard
Polyester Fiberfill – 1 pound
Cutting Fabric for the Merry + Bright Christmas Quilt Pillow Pattern
Red fabric – Cut (4) 2” x 2”; (4) 2” x 3 1/2″; (5) 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″; and (4) 3 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ pieces.
Green fabric – Cut (2) 2” x 2” and (3) 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2” pieces.
Blue fabric – Cut (2) 2” x 2” and (3) 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2” pieces.
Pink fabric – Cut (2) 2” x 2” and (3) 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2” pieces.
Yellow fabric – Cut (2) 2” x 2” and (3) 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2” pieces.
Backing for Quilted Top – Cut (1) 22” x 22” piece.
Pillow Back fabric – Cut (2) 12 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ pieces.
Muslin or Scrap Fabric – Cut (2) 18 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ pieces.
General Sewing Directions for the Merry + Bright Christmas Pillow Pattern
The directions for this quilt are for rotary cutting, machine piecing, machine quilting, and the binding is hand-stitched to the quilt back.
Accurate cutting and sewing enhances your final product. Pin your pieces together before sewing them to ensure proper seam alignment.
Use a carefully followed 1/4” seam allowance to help you get uniform seams and matching corners!
Follow the directions described below as you press the seams.
Sew the Center Star Block for the Merry + Bright Christmas Quilt Pillow Pattern
This center star is made up of itty bitty flying geese units to make up the points of the little star block. Here’s how they’re made.
Little Bitty Flying Geese for the Merry + Bright Christmas Pillow Pattern
Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the 2” blue, green, pink and yellow squares.
Place a 2” colored square on the right side of a 2” x 3 1/2” red strip, right sides together and diagonal line pointing down to the right corner. Beginning in the middle of the red strip (rather than on the corner) sew on the line down to the corner to connect these two pieces.
Open the colored corner toward the outside corner, matching it to the red corner. Press open. Then trim the two bottom layers (the other colored half and the red corner) of the unit 1/4” from the seam. Repeat for all 4 red strips with the other three colors of 2” squares.
Plan out the arrangement of the other 2” colored squares so two of the same colors aren’t on the same flying geese unit.
Place a different colored 2” square on the left side of one of the half-completed flying geese units. Place it right sides together with the diagonal line pointing down to the left corner this time. Beginning in the middle of the red strip (rather than on the corner) sew on the line down to the right corner to connect these two pieces.
Open the colored corner toward the outside corner, matching it to the red corner. Press open. Then trim the two bottom layers (the other colored half and the red corner) of the unit 1/4” from the seam. Repeat for all 4 flying geese units with the other three colors of 2” squares.
These flying geese units should measure 2” x 3 1/2″.
Finish the Little Star
Lay out the four flying geese units around a 3 1/2″ red square with the points of the flying geese pointing outward to form the shape of a star. Place a 2” red square in each corner.
Sew the 2” red corner squares to each side of the top and the bottom flying geese units. Press seams toward red corner squares. These will be the top and bottom rows of the block.
Sew a flying geese unit to each side of the 3 1/2″ red square center. Press seams toward red center. This is your middle row.
Now that you have the three rows sew them to each other for form the 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ center star of the Merry + Bright Christmas Pillow.
Sew the Larger Flying Geese Units for the Outside Star of the Christmas Pillow Pattern
Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the 3 1/2″ blue, green, pink and yellow squares.
Place a 3 1/2” colored square on the right side of a 3 1/2” x 6 1/2″ red strip, right sides together and diagonal line pointing down to the right corner. Beginning in the middle of the red strip (rather than on the corner) sew on the line down to the corner to connect these two pieces.
Open the colored corner toward the outside corner, matching it to the red corner. Press open. Then trim the two bottom layers (the other colored half and the red corner) of the unit 1/4” from the seam. Repeat for all 4 red strips with the other three colors of 3 1/2” squares.
Plan out the arrangement of the other 3 1/2” colored squares so two of the same colors aren’t on the same flying geese unit.
Place a different colored 3 1/2” square on the left side of one of the half-completed flying geese units. Place it right sides together with the diagonal line pointing down to the left corner this time. Beginning in the middle of the red strip (rather than on the corner) sew on the line down to the right corner to connect these two pieces.
Open the colored corner toward the outside corner, matching it to the red corner. Press open. Then trim the two bottom layers (the other colored half and the red corner) of the unit 1/4” from the seam. Repeat for all 4 flying geese units with the other three colors of 3 1/2” squares.
These flying geese units should measure 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″.
Finish the Star in a Star Block
Lay out the four flying geese units around the 6 1/2″ center star block, with the points of the flying geese pointing outward to form the shape of the outside star.
Place a 3 1/2” red square in each corner.
Sew the 3 1/2” red corner squares to each side of the top and the bottom flying geese units. Press seams toward red corner squares. These will be the top and bottom rows of the block.
Sew a flying geese unit to each side of the 6 1/2″ center star. Press seams toward center star. This is your middle row.
Now that you have the three rows sew them to each other for form the 12 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ star in a star block.
This little starry star in a star 12 1/2″ block for the Merry + Bright Christmas Pillow is so adorable!
Sew the Borders onto the Star in a Star Block for the Merry + Bright Christmas Pillow Pattern
Using the other 3 1/2″ colored squares and the 3 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ red strips let’s sew on the borders!
Sew a 3 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ red strip to the right and left sides of the star in a star block. Press seams toward red fabric.
Next, sew a colored square to each side of the other two 3 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ red strips. Press seams toward red fabric.
Sew these longer strips to the top and bottom of the unit to finish off the pillow top.
Layering the Top, Batting, and Back
I refer to layering the quilt as “sandwiching”. You need to sandwich the top and back with the batting in the middle for the Merry + Bright Christmas Pillow.
Tape the Backing Down
On a hard surface use painter’s tape to tape down the backing fabric. As you tape the back down you’ll want to make sure the fabric is smooth, without wrinkles. Also, make sure the right side of the fabric is facing down!
Add the Batting
Lay the batting on top of the taped-down quilt back, and move your hands across it to smooth it all over. This will get rid of any wrinkles in the batting, and help to adhere it to the backing fabric.
Place the Quilt Top
Once you have the batting placed on top of the quilt back, center the quilt top over the two bottom layers. Right side facing up, of course! The two bottom layers of the quilt (the back and the batting) should extend about 2” all around the outside edges of the quilt top.
Move your hands across the quilt top to smooth it all over, and help remove any wrinkles. This will also help adhere the quilt top to the batting a little bit.
Baste the Layers
You can either spray baste your quilt layers or pin them together with 1 1/2” stainless pins. Place pins around the entire quilt every 4-5 inches so the three layers don’t move around when you’re machine quilting this project. Again, make sure all wrinkles are smoothed out. Adjust basting if needed to remove any wrinkles.
“Quilting” the Pillow Top
Use whatever free-motion stitch you’d like, or use a straight stitch to quilt in the ditches or along the seams. You’ll need a darning foot to free-motion quilt, and you’ll need to either be able to lower the feed dogs on the machine or place a special cover over them. If you’re using a straight stitch to machine quilt you’ll need a walking foot.
Sewing the Quilted Pillow Cover
Once you’ve quilted the pillow top, sew the back pieces on to make it into an envelope pillow cover.
For each of the 2 – 12 1/2” x 18 1/2” pieces, fold one right side of the 18 1/2” side under 1/4” and press. Fold under again 1/4”, press, and stitch along the inside of the folded side to create a 1/4” hem.
Place the “unhemmed” side of each of these two units along the opposite edges of the quilt top, right sides together with the right side of the quilt top, so that the hemmed edges of the backing units overlap each other in the center.
Pin in place all around each edge and stitch 1/4” around all of the outside edges to sew the backing in place, removing pins as you sew up to them.
Trim the bottom two layers (batting and backing) even with the quilt top. Turn the quilted pillow cover right side out. Carefully use the blunt end of a wooden skewer or the end of a small paintbrush to push the corners right side out.
Sewing the Pillow Form Insert
Place the 2 – 18 1/2” squares of muslin together, pin, and stitch around the edges 1/4” removing pins as you come up to them. Leave a 5” opening on one side. Turn the insert right side out. Stuff with about 1 pound of Poly-fil. Turn the opening under and pin edges together. Sew the opening shut using about a 1/4” seam allowance, remove pins as you come to them. Plumb pillow insert to remove lumps. Easy peasy!
Stuff the quilted pillow cover with the 18” pillow form insert.
Enjoy!!
For other fun pillow patterns check out my Trippy Mushroom Pillow or my Pillow Talk Pillow.
