Free Quilted Pillow Sham Sewing Pattern

Pattern Description:

Create a charming quilted pillow sham that fits a standard-size bed pillow (28×21″). Featuring four assorted fabric strips for the center panel, bordered by coordinating flanges, this design combines texture and color beautifully. 

The top is quilted with muslin and batting, and the back includes a simple overlapping closure finished neatly with binding.

Materials Needed & Measurements:

• Prints Nos. 1-4 (Assorted prints, body): ¼ yard each
• Print No. 5 (Flanges): ½ yard
• Print No. 6 (Back): 1 yard
• Print No. 7 (Binding): ½ yard
• Muslin (Lining): ¾ yard
• Batting: 25×32″ piece
• Thread: Quilting-weight or embroidery floss
• Finished Size: 28×21″ (fits standard pillow)

Instructions for Making the Quilted Pillow Sham Sewing Pattern:

1. Cutting Instructions

Begin by preparing all the fabric pieces according to the measurements. Use a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat for accuracy.

• From Prints Nos. 1-4 (Body): Cut one strip from each fabric, measuring 4½” × 23½”. These will form the center panel.
• From Print No. 5 (Flanges): Cut two 2¾” × 28″ strips and two 2¾” × 16½” strips.
• From Print No. 6 (Back): Cut two 18″ × 21″ rectangles.
• From Print No. 7 (Binding): Cut three 4″ × 42″ strips.
• From Muslin (Lining): Cut one 25″ × 32″ rectangle.
• From Batting: Cut one 25″ × 32″ piece.

Press all fabrics before cutting to ensure accuracy and prevent distortion.

2. Assemble the Pillow Sham Top

• Create the Center Panel: Lay out the four assorted print strips horizontally, arranging them in a pleasing order. 

With right sides facing, sew the strips together along the long edges using a ¼” seam allowance. 

Press all seams in one direction. The completed center panel should measure 23½” × 16½”, including seam allowances.

• Attach the Flanges: Next, add the flange strips (Print No. 5). Begin with the short sides, pin and sew the 2¾” × 16½” strips to each short edge of the center panel using a ¼” seam allowance. 

Press seams away from the center. Then, attach the 2¾” × 28″ flange strips to the long edges. Press seams away from the center again.

• Final Top Size: After adding the flanges, your pillow sham top should measure 28″ × 21″, including all seam allowances.

3. Quilt the Pillow Sham Top

• Prepare the Quilt Sandwich: Lay the muslin lining (wrong side up) on a flat surface. Center the batting on top of it, smoothing out wrinkles. Then, place the pillow sham top (right side up) on the batting, aligning the layers evenly.
• Baste the Layers: Use safety pins or large basting stitches to secure all three layers together. This prevents shifting during quilting.
• Quilting: Quilt the layers together as desired. A simple and effective option is to “stitch in the ditch” along all the seam lines of the top, emphasizing the panel and flange sections. Alternatively, add decorative quilting for texture and design interest.
• Trim: After quilting, trim the edges square to the finished top size of 28″ × 21″, ensuring the edges are even and seam allowances are maintained.

4. Prepare the Back Pieces

• Hem the Back Panels: Take each 18″ × 21″ rectangle cut from Print No. 6. On one long edge of each, fold under 1″, press, then fold under another 1″ to create a clean double-fold hem. Stitch along the folded edge to secure. Repeat for both rectangles.
• Assemble the Back: Place the two hemmed rectangles right side up, overlapping the hemmed edges by about 4″ to form a full 28″ × 21″ back piece. Baste or pin along the overlap to hold the layers together.

5. Join the Top and Back

Position the quilted top and the overlapped back piece with wrong sides facing each other. Align all raw edges and pin or baste around the perimeter. 

This will form the basic pillow sham shape, with the overlapping back creating the opening for the pillow insert.

6. Make and Attach the Binding

• Prepare the Binding Strip: Join the short ends of the three 4″ × 42″ strips (Print No. 7) with diagonal seams to create one long continuous strip. 

Trim excess seam allowances and press seams open. Fold the entire strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press well.

• Attach the Binding: Align the raw edges of the folded binding with the raw edges of the pillow sham. Starting midway along one side, sew the binding to the sham using a ½” seam allowance, mitering the corners neatly as you go. 

When you reach the starting point, join the ends of the binding strip with a diagonal seam for a seamless finish.

• Finish the Binding: Fold the binding over to the back of the pillow sham, covering the stitching line, and hand-stitch or machine-stitch it in place for a clean, professional edge.

7. Final Finishing

Press the entire pillow sham lightly to remove any wrinkles and flatten the seams. Check the overlapping back opening to ensure it’s neat and functional. Insert your standard-size pillow into the sham to confirm a snug fit.

Your Quilted Pillow Sham (Pattern 44) is now complete- beautifully pieced, quilted, and bound, ready to complement your bedding set with handmade charm and texture.

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