After recently figuring out how to make a proper quilted pillow, I was on a bit of a pillow roll. I’m going to show them one after another as I get them photographed in a reasonable setting (as in, not in my poorly lit flat)
The SAIL / STARS pillow was a gift to one of my best friends. She is a serious lover of colour, so that was my starting point. I toyed with some ideas and tossed them all before I remembered her love for everything nautical. From there things went quick. After a simple sketch and rough measurements I sewed a sailboat up as a I went. No pattern, little math. Probably not the most economical way when it comes to fabric usage, but it was fun to do it this way.
The rainbow stripe background was decided upon after I remembered Rashida Coleman Hale’s airplane mini quilt. Sailboats, airplanes – just a different form of transportation. I guess that’s why it sprang to my mind.
For the back I pieced some small hourglass blocks and arranged them pretty randomly. After adding all the navy background (c+s match fabric), I found it to look like a constellation of stars in the night sky. Just like I had hoped it would! I’m in love with the little story of the sailboat sailing from sunset into the night.
This sailboat marks another item on my list of things I one day might make into a pattern, if the timing is ever right.
Fabrics I used are mainly from 2014’s Cotton + Steel collections. I loved using up some of the navy match fabric, because I never found it to fit into any of my projects before. The pink is from Tula Pink (how fitting, I know). The mustard is one of my favourite solids ever, I probably overuse it.
The pillow case was made for a 20×20” filling. You can read how I zipper-finish my pillows in this tutorial. I’ve gotten really fast at this and it’s oddly satisfying to have clean and sharp corners.
I hope you all will have a lovely weekend, I will spend it with my siblings ♥
This post is linked up with TGIFF this week at Qhezzetcock Quilts, Finish It Up Friday at crazy mom quilts, Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory, Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts and Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation.
veni vidi vicky 
Lovely pillow! I really love the backing too.
Thank you Izzy, the back totally steals the show, I might be liking it better than the front.
Oh it’s so pretty and bright! And the quilting adds such rich texture!!
Thank you so much Sheri. I love dense quilting but it can make a quilt stiff. Since I don’t use backing fabric when making pillows (each side is just the quilt top and batting, the whole thing still comes out pretty soft =)
Very nice pillow, I really like the texture that the quilting adds.
Thank you Cheryl!
Oh my! There is so much I love about this pillow…the vibrant color, the design, the quilting, and those hourglasses on the back!!! I wish it was going to live at my house. ;)
Aww thank you Amanda. I have plans to incorporate the hourglass constellations into another quilt. It’s one of those projects where I almost prefer the back to the front.
I love sailing, colors and texture. This pillow hits it out of the park. Lucky friend who recieves it. Debbie
You seem to have a lot in common with my friend then ;-) Thank you, Debbie =)
These are really gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your nice comment, it means a lot!
lovely :)
Thank you Frilka!
What a fun pillow! I really love your fabric choices and how you pieced the back.
Thank you for your lovely comment =)
Love your pillow! So bright and cheerful :)
Thank you for your lovely words, Kathy!
Great looking pillow! I have saved your tutorial for the zippered closure.
Yay Anita, let me know how it worked out if you use it. I can’t wait to see what you make =)
A beautiful pillow, and so well made, the quilting is so effective! ‘m sure you’re friend will love it.
Thank you Louisa, I think she was pretty happy to receive it =)
What a strikingly beautiful pillow! I love how you used the backing fabric to make the mast of the sail boat and added the triangles in the water. The hourglass blocks add a fun element to the back, too. And the quilting is such a compliment to this fun design. Your friend is going to love it! Thanks so much for linking up with the Let’s Bee Social this week!
Lorna, thank you so much for all these nice words, here and on instagram. I’ve been admiring how far you’ve come with your quilting and blog this year (pattern designing like a machine!). Your words mean a lot ♥
Wow, the backing is as cute as the front. The quilting was just the thing for your sailboat!
Thank you, Heather! I use straight-line quilting with most of my projects and sometimes it needs a good wash and crinkle to really add to the design.
What a FAB pillow! Love the sail boat, and it reminds me of sailing into the sunset. The back is great too! Thanks for the link to the pillow tutorial.
Heide, thank you so much. I see a bit od sunset in the orang-y colour range, too =)
This pillow is simply delicious! I would love to see a pattern. Thank you for lynking up with me for TIGFF!
Thank you Adrienne. It’s on my to do list =)