What do you call a cross between a quilt and a pillow? You got it . . . it's a quillow! Quillows are quilts that fold up into easy-to-carry pillows. Quillows are made using fabric, batting and thread. There's really no quilting involved, so if you're not a quilter, don't let the name fool you. The project takes approximately two hours to complete and the pillow cavity makes a toasty pocket for warming frosty toes. Easy-to-assemble quillows make great blankets to carry to outdoor sporting events.
Adjust the fabric dimension from the following instructions to make any size quillows.
Materials:
4 yards of 45" wide fabric for the quilt
1 yard of 45" wide fabric for the pillow
thin batting for stuffing both quilt and pillow
Steps:
- Cut two pieces of the pillow fabric into 18" squares. Stack the pieces together with the right sides facing. Top with an 18" square of batting. Stitch around, leaving the bottom edge open. Turn right side out, still leaving the bottom edge open.
- Stack two 45" x 72" lengths of quilt fabric with the right sides together. Top with a sheet of batting cut the same size.
- Position the pillow in between the two layers of fabric comprising the quilt so that the open edge of the pillow rests along the center of the bottom edge of the quilt.
- Stitch along all sides of the quilt, leaving an opening along one edge for turning. Turn the quilt right side out.
- Turn the quilt right side out. Hand sew the open edge closed. Fold the pillow onto the quilt, and stitch it to the quilt along the two sides adjacent to the side already attached to the quilt. Hand sew or machine stitch any desired quilting design. Stitch on a handy carry-along strap if desired.
To fold the quilt into a pillow, place the quilt pocket-side-down. Fold the quilt lengthwise in thirds. Next, fold the quilt crosswise in half, then in half again so that the quilt is the size of the pillow pocket. Turn the folded quilt over, place both hands inside the pocket all the way to the corners, and flip it inside out so that it envelopes the quilt and forms the pillow. Be patient -- it may take two or three attempts to master the quillow fold.
