Grab some jeans headed for the scrap pile and make yourself a plush pocket pillow! To celebrate National Sewing Month, I’m sharing my tutorial for making lightly quilted pocket pillows using upcycled denim. These three pillows are variations on the traditional log cabin quilt block and are strip pieced to minimize cutting. The envelope style of the pillow case makes it easy to remove the pillow cases for washing.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Materials for this post were provided by Fairfield World, Fiskars, and Martingale.
Back in 2005, I went on a quilting retreat with two of my now best friends (who I knew just a little bit at the time). We stayed at a bed and breakfast and learned to quilt using Eleanor Burns’s Quilt in a Day: Log Cabin Pattern. (Well, we actually learned to piece a quilt. Learning to bind and quilt was a whole ‘nother experience that came later.) Since then, I’ve been pretty enamored with strip quilting. There’s far less ironing (yay!) and cutting, and you end up with scraps that can be used in other strip quilts. I also recently read Learn to Quilt-as-you-go: 14 Projects You Can Finish Fast, so I’ve been thinking a lot about quilt-as-you-go lately, too.
When I saw that our pile of worn out jeans was stacking up again, I decided to make quilt-as-you-go pocket pillows using strips.
Let me tell you a bit about why upcycled denim is awesome for pocket pillows. There’s all the nice stuff like you’re keeping denim out of landfills. But, there’s also the incredible softness of worn out denim. To add to that cozy feeling, I quilted the pillow case tops with Fairfield Poly-Fil Low-Loft Quilt Batting and stuffed the pillow cases with Fairfield Decorator’s Choice Luxury Pillow Forms, super plush and squishy pillows. And, of course, you already have some pretty sturdy pockets to use as the foundation for your pillow design.
I made three variations on the classic log cabin quilt block using pieces from two pairs of jeans (and the back pocket from another pair).
The Log Cabin in the Corner,
and the Traditional Log Cabin (which can be found here).
I hope you enjoy this tutorial and it inspires you to put your old jeans to good use! You can find other ideas for upcycled denim projects here and here.
DIY Denim Log Cabin Pocket Pillows
Tutorial by Underground Crafter
Materials (for one pillow):
- Two pairs of jeans destined for the scrap pile. Designate one pair as “light” and one as “dark.” (Optional: The back pocket from a third pair of jeans in a slightly different color of denim.) I was able to make all three pillows from these two pairs of jeans, but, of course, the total amount of denim you can get from your jeans will vary based on the size, style, and condition of your jeans.
- Fiskars 45 mm Easy Change Ergo Control Rotary Cutter, Fiskars 18″ x 24″ Self-Healing Rotary Cutting Mat, and Fiskars 6″ x 24″ Acrylic Ruler.
- Cotton fabric for pillow back – ½ yard.
- Cotton fabric for pillow interior backing – ½ yard or fat quarter. This fabric will not be seen once your pillow is assembled, so you can use muslin, orphaned quilt blocks, or a pieced scraps instead.
- Fairfield Decorator’s Choice Luxury Pillow Form 16” x 16”.
- Fairfield Poly-Fil Low-Loft Quilt Batting.
- An iron and an ironing board or other heat-safe surface.
- Sewing machine with cotton thread.
- Basic sewing supplies (i.e., fabric scissors, seam ripper, pins, fabric pencil/marker, etc.). I used my Fiskars Amplify Mixed Media Shears since they cut through denim very easily.
- Optional: Denim needle for your sewing machine.
Instructions for all pillows:
Cut fabric and batting
- Cut one back pocket from your jeans for each pillow, leaving as large a border of denim as possible. Square the pocket piece.
- Cut the legs of your jeans into 2.5” (6.5 cm) strips. Depending on the size of your pocket piece, you will need up to 70” (178 cm) in strips in both “light” and “dark” for each pillow. (I was able to make three pillows from two pairs of jeans.)
- For each pillow, cut a 16.75″ (42.5 cm) square of Fairfield Poly-Fil Low-Loft Quilt Batting.
- For each pillow, cut the pillow interior backing to 16.75” (42.5 cm) square. Remember, this piece will not be seen, so feel free to use muslin, that ugly fabric someone gifted you, or pieced orphaned quilt blocks or fabric scraps.
- Cut two 16.5” (42 cm) x 11” (28 cm) pieces for the pillow back fabric of each pillow.
Assemble the back of the pillow case
- With the first piece of the pillow back fabric facing wrong side up, fold about ½” (1.5 cm) over at the long edge towards the wrong side.
- Fold over in half towards the wrong side.
- Pin in place.
- Topstitch the hem in place.
- Repeat for the other piece of pillow back fabric.
Assemble the pillow case
- See below for instructions for the three log cabin block variations for the front of the pillow.
- Once your front is finished and squared up, position the pillow front with the jeans side up.
- Place the back of the pillow fabric right side down over pillow front with pieces overlapping.
- Pin together.
- Sew around the outer edges on all sides with a ¼” seam allowance. For a snugger fitting pillow cover, use a ½” seam allowance.
- Turn the pillowcase inside out.
- Insert the Fairfield Decorator’s Choice Luxury Pillow Form and enjoy.
Assemble “quilt sandwich” for front of pillow case (all pillows)
- Position pillow interior backing fabric face down (wrong side up).
- Position Fairfield Poly-Fil Low-Loft Quilt Batting batting over pillow interior backing.
- Follow instructions for positioning denim pocket for the pattern of your choice. Follow the pattern until your front piece measures at least 16.5” (42 cm square).
- Square up your pillow front to 16.5” (42 cm square), trimming away any excess fabric or batting.
- Follow the instructions for assembling the pillow case.
Instructions for pillow case front: Cabin in the Corner block
Quilt the front of pillow case
- Position the pocket right side up in the lower left corner of the “quilt sandwich.”
- Attach the first “light” strip above the pocket with the wrong side up.
- Using a ¼” seam allowance, sew the strip to the pocket, working through all four layers.
- Finger press the sewn strip so it is right side up.
- Trim the strip.
- Attach the next “dark” strip to the right of the pocket with the wrong side up.
- Sew the strip to the pocket, working through all four layers. Trim the strip.
- Finger press the sewn strip so it is right side up.
- Continue attaching pieces in this manner, following the assembly diagram, until the front of your pillow measures at least 16.5” (42 cm) square.
- Square up the block to 16.5” (42 cm) square.
Instructions for pillow case front: Courthouse Steps block
Quilt the front of pillow case
- Position the pocket right side up in the center of the “quilt sandwich.”
- Attach the first “light” strips above and below the pocket with the wrong side up.
- Using a ¼” seam allowance, sew the strips to the pocket, working through all four layers.
- Finger press the sewn strips so they are right side up. Trim the strips.
- Attach the “dark” strips to the sides of the pocket with the wrong sides up.
- Sew the strips to the pocket, working through all four layers. Trim the strip.
- Finger press the sewn strips so they are right side up. Continue attaching pieces in this manner, following the assembly diagram, until the front of your pillow measures at least 16.5” (42 cm) square.
- Square up the block to 16.5” (42 cm) square.
Instructions for pillow case front: Traditional Log Cabin block
- Find the instructions here.
If you still have some jeans leftover after making these pillows, you can find other ideas for upcycled denim projects here and here.
© 2017 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: http://undergroundcrafter.com/2017/09/12/diy-denim-log-cabin-pocket-pillows/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!
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Love your pillows, thanks for the tutorial to make them.
These are really cool for a teen’s room or man caves..thank you for the inspiration!
Love the pillows …. will make them for my son …. have been looking around for some inspiration for pillows to go with the denim quilt I made for him