Button Lover’s Club: Joy & Sew Button Monogram Pillows

Day 2 of 5 of projects featuring our Words with Buttons Cheer box. Today we are showing this month’s button monogram pillows. We changed it up a bit from a single letter mini pillow to a 3 letter pillow! We loved making the 3 letter version so much, we had to make two pillows! It is a great way to show how to make a holiday and non-holiday themed project with the same “ingredients”.

Cheer Button Monogram Pillow Supplies:

• Button Lover’s Club: Words with Buttons (Cheer Box)
• Button Block Pattern by Tammy Tutterow Designs
• Fabric (Christmas Figs by Fig Tree & Co. for Moda shown):
• (3) 4″ green print squares (for letters)
• (3) 5″ white print squares (for block backgrounds)
• (2)  2″ x 14” red or green print rectangles (for border)
• (2) 2″ x 8″ red or green print rectangles (for border)
• 8” x 17” rectangle (for backing)
• Sew Lazy Dreamy Fusible Fleece (8″ x 17” rectangle)
• Sew Lazy Fusi-bond Lite
• Wool Roving 8 oz. (for stuffing)
• (optional for SEW pillow) Extra Large Cherry Red Spool Button

Cheer Button Monogram Pillow Instructions:

Cutting notes:

If you’re working with a layer cake of fabric, follow these cutting tips.

1. Cut the three 4” squares from one piece of your layer cake.
2. Cut the three 5” squares from one piece of your layer cake UNLESS you starched or pre-washed your fabric. The shrinkage that occurs will require you to use two matching pieces from your layer cake to cut the three 5” squares.
3. Make the borders by cutting one 10” x 10” piece into five 2” x 10” strips. Use two of the strips for the side borders. For the top and bottom borders, cut the third strip in half to make two 2” x 5” strips. Sew each of the 2” x 5” strips to the two remaining 2” x 10” strips to create two 2” x 14.5” strips for the top and bottom borders.
4. Sew two matching 10” x 10” pieces from your layer cake together along one edge to create the pillow backing. Press the seam open and trim down to 8” x 17”.

Button Monogram Instructions:

1. Trace the letters of your choice from the Button Block Pattern onto Fusi-bond Lite. You will want your letters reversed.
2. Following the package directions on the Fusi-bond Lite, center, then iron the traced letters onto the wrong side of the 4″ green print squares.
3. Cut out the letters on the inside of the traced lines.
4. Center the appliqué letters on the right side of the white 5″ background squares. Fuse in place.
5. Sew the background squares together in the right order to spell the word. Use a 1/4” seam allowance. Press the seams open.
6. Appliqué the letters to the background. We used a straight, machine stitch close to the edge of the shape.
7. Sew the two long border pieces (2″ x 14″) to the top and bottom of the background, with a 1/4” seam allowance. Press your seams toward the border. Trim the border strip ends even with the letter blocks.
8. Then sew the short border pieces (2″ x 8″) to the sides. Press your seams toward the border.
9. Press the block and trim to 8″ x 17”.
10. Fuse block to a 8″ x 17” rectangle of Dreamy Fusible Fleece.
11. Quilt as desired.
12. Lay the 8″ x 17” backing rectangle on top of the block, right sides together and sew all the way around the square.
13. Use our Frankenstitch Finish Technique to turn your pillow right-side-out. Make a 3″ diagonal slit in the middle of the backing fabric ONLY.
14. Turn the pillow right-side-out through the slit.
15. Stuff the pillow with wool roving.
16. Whipstitch the slit closed.
17. Optional: Add an appliqué heart to cover your stitches.
18. Sew buttons to the cover the letters. (See our “Applique with Buttons” post for tips on adding buttons to your letters.

-> Download the Cheer Button Monogram Pillows Project sheet.

If you are making the SEW pillow, be sure to watch our Facebook Live recording to see how Cecile attached the spool button, adding thread and a needle as embellishments!

Helpful links:

• Facebook Live Cheer Projects Reveal
• Facebook Button Lover’s Club Group
• Christmas Figs by Fig Tree & Co for Moda
• Button Block Appliqué Alphabet
• Interfacings by Lazy Girl Designs
• Wool Roving (we suggest about 3 oz per pillow, a 3 panel monogram uses about 9oz)
• Tutorial: Frankenstitch Finish
• Tutorial: Snug-A-Button Technique
• Tutorial: How To Button Appliqué
• Tutorial: Faux Sewing

Not a club member? Click here to join and get next month’s box!