Cathedral Squares Pillow

So I've been trying to finish up that quilt. You know the one. That one I've been working on, on and off, for 3 years? Really that thing should be more impressive for three years' work but honestly, it's just the biggest quilt I've ever made and I'm super good at procrastinating on big projects. Anyway, this post is not about that quilt because I ran out of fabric for the sashing and backing and haven't been able to make it to the fabric store to get more. So instead, I procrastinated and did something else I've been wanting to try.

I finally tackled a cathedral quilt square, and made a rather beautiful pillow cover out of it. I discovered an antique unfinished cathedral quilt a year ago and wondered HOW on earth one would go about making such a fantastic looking thing. Luckily, a very talented lady posted a tutorial on her blog awhile ago, and shortly after that I noticed lots of bloggers tackling the cathedral square.

It's funny how stuff like that travels around the blogg-y ether. Generally I feel about a year or two behind the crafting trends when it comes to popular techniques and fabrics. The fabrics I used here are the same I'm using in that unfinished quilt, from the same Wonderland by MoMo collection of fabrics I used to decorate my craft room. It's still my favorite fabric collection even though it's 3 years old.

The process for making the cathedral square is actually deceptively simple. You just have to be SUPER careful and accurate with ironing sharp corners and creasing well. As long as you iron well, the rest is a piece of cake. And if you plan on making an entire quilt this way, you don't have to back it, which is a plus, because it takes A LOT of fabric.

I love how rich the results look with the combination of texture and contrasting fabrics, it makes for a very expensive looking piece. I bordered my pillow with some of the remaining strips of the Wonderland prints.

My husband contributed the button idea, which I think really gives it a finished look! I joked with him that he is so clever when it comes to buttons. When he asked what I meant by that I reminded him that he came up with the design for the buttons on the ring-bearer's pillow for our wedding, two concentric squares of buttons. He said he didn't remember that at all. Oh dear.

I'm linking up with November's Celebrate Color, as this project was inspired by November's challenge. The colors remind me of bright scarves and hats contrasting against a gray stormy day, very common in Northern California Novembers.

Be blessed!