Shattered Star Lumbar Pillow | Hand quilted with a metal zipper
I’ve got a fun and quick sew project to share with you today!
With the holidays just around the corner we’re all in need of one of a kind holiday gift ideas and ways to spruce up our homes (especially if you’re still in COVID lockdown, like we are here in Montreal).
Enter quilted pillows.
They’re quick to make.
They’re cute as a button.
They’re the perfect size to give hand quilting a try!
You can customize them to suit your own or your giftee’s taste/home.
They add cheer to any room they’re in!
Who wouldn’t want a quilted pillow made by YOU?
Let me tempt you with the new Shattered Star Lumbar Pillow – pattern is now available in the shop!
*This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
STORY BEHIND SHATTERED STAR PILLOW
When I was originally designing the Shattered Star quilt (read more about the quilt and table runner patterns), I knew I also wanted to include a pillow pattern. I just love having a design that coordinates but isn’t exactly the same as the quilt design. The concept was to offer a trio of designs featuring the Shattered Star motif, but each capturing their own unique twist.
SHATTERED STAR PILLOW PATTERN FEATURES
The Shattered Star pillow is such a quick and easy sew. And features the super friendly half square triangles. Which we’ve already tackled together before!
The pattern also comes packed with all these features to make piecing your pillow at home an easy process:
- Skill level: confident beginner.
- Modern quilted pillow pattern.
- Instant digital download (PDF).
- Step-by-step graphics and detailed instructions for quilty success!
- Includes instructions on how to insert a zipper.
- Active hyperlinks to tutorials for additional tips and tricks.
- Coloring page included with fabric swatches placeholders to design your own.
- Additional colorways included to inspire you.
- Includes labels to keep track of your quilt block pieces.
- Pressing directions so your seams nest and you get perfect points!
- Includes instructions for a lumbar pillow measuring 25" x 15".
Once you have her all pieced, I highly recommend considering adding even more quilty texture with some hand quilting detail. Here’s how this one came about.
WHY HAND QUILTING
This isn’t the first pillow I’ve hand quilted, but it’s been a while since the last time (it was 2016 in case you want specifics 😉) and, to be honest, I was also in need of a good hand quilting session. One that I could work on early in the morning while sipping my coffee watching the day wake up. Pips is right there with me enjoying the quiet and slow start to the day.
So, it was perfect timing that the Aurifil Artisan November challenge focused on all things hand stitched!
What’s nice about a pillow is that it only took me a few mornings to get through hand stitching both the front and back pillow panels. It’s a great project size to give big stitch hand quilting a go without committing to a full-on quilt.
When I originally was planning this project, I had visions of using 12wt Aurifil Thread in *white, but as I grabbed my box of hand quilting thread, I spotted this gorgeous pink in colour 2425 that I just adore (and the proof is that I have it in 50wt, 40wt, 28wt AND 12wt – clearly a fave of mine).
This colour is beyond versatile and I’ve used it in several projects:
After ‘consulting’ the hubz for his opinion on white vs. pink, he chose pink. Well, I should say, he not only chose pink he had opinions about it. As in “there’s no other choice”. Ha – that totally made me laugh! Having seen the pink with the colourful solids, I was all in for the pink too.
The back-pillow panel got the 1” straight line quilting treatment, while the front is custom quilting to enhance the design of the Shattered Star pillow pattern.
Since she’s entirely hand quilted, it makes for a an ultra squishy and soft pillow.
Dare I say my all-time fave I’ve ever made.
ZIPPER DETAIL
Normally I’m all about invisible zippers, but I’ve been wanting to play with some metal zippers and thought this could be a fun chance to do just that.
Instead of going zipper fully exposed, I opted for a partially concealed zipper.
In case you wanted to give it a try at home, I took some pictures along the way to share the process with you. You can read the How to Insert a Metal Zipper Tutorial here.
MAKE YOUR OWN
To make your very own Shattered Star hand quilted pillow at home, here’s all the materials and notions I used to create her:
STYLING IDEAS
What I love about the lumbar style is that it adds a nice dimension and variety to your cushion selection.
It’s not just another square pillow.
Plus, it adds a nice feature on a side chair or bed. Not to mention super comfy for your back.
This is hands down the squishiest, yummiest, coziest pillow I have ever made and I’m seriously digging the metal zipper. This may just spark a new pillow making craze – I’m that in love.
Your turn! Grab the Shattered Star Pillow pattern and make one (or several) as a gift today!
Happy quilting!
xo
Shannon
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