Ballerina Fusion Pillow

These are certainly challenging times for people around the world. I work in an essential service and are working long hours at present. There has been limited time to relax and sew. I have a couple of new patterns in development but really felt like a simple project this weekend when I had a few hours free. The Ballerina Fusion Pillow was the perfect project.

I love the sweet Ballerina Fusion fabric collection by Art Gallery Fabrics. Pretty ballet and blush pinks, and low volume prints with gold accents – such a soothing and lovely palette.

I separated the fabrics into pinks and cream, and paired them.

I cut rectangles measuring 3 x 6 inches, cut the rectangles in half diagonally and sewed them together in pairs. Using a bloc loc half-rectangle triangle ruler set, I trimmed each rectangle to 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches. I arranged the rectangles in 4 rows of 10. The bloc loc rulers really improve accuracy for small blocks.

I added batting to the back of the patchwork pillow panel. I added lines of quilting one inch above and one inch below the horizontal joins. I also quilted in the ditch along diagonal seam lines. This gives the pillow a lovely quilted texture.

I am trying to make do with the supplies I have in order to avoid unnecessary trips to the shop. For the pillow backing, I used two of the low volume prints. I covered the zipper with a placket, and added a small French style tag. My zipper wasn’t quite as long as needed, but I simply added fabric extension pieces to each end, to make it fit.

I love the finished result. The Ballerina Fusion pillow looks pretty against our plain white waffle bed linen.

Hope you are all staying well and keeping safe. If you need inspiration whilst staying home, check out our large range of free sewing tutorials.