Tutorial: How to Design a color block Circle Throw Pillow
This tutorial is meant to teach you how to create a cute round throw pillow using bits of fabric scraps. You can follow the design I used for my pillow, or use the steps in this tutorial to create your own color-blocked pattern for your pillow. If you want to use the pattern I made in steps 1-3 of the tutorial, you can download it here:
Supplies Needed:
Step 1

Create the design you want for your pillow
If you want to use my design, you can skip this step, but you can make any kind of pillow design you want pretty easily. Start by drawing a circle and drawing the design inside of it to decide where you want to color block it.
Step 2

cut out the pieces and add seam allowance
Next you want to cut the pieces apart and add seam allowance to all of your pieces.
Step 3

measure the edge for the side of the pillow
If you want a side to your round pillow, you can make a rectangle based on the circumference. You can either use the formula: Circumference = Ï€d (so that would be 3.14 multiplied by the diameter of the circle). Or you can simply measure the way around the circle if you don’t want to think about math.
Then make a rectangle with that length (or half the length and cut two)
Step 4

arrange your scraps and cut out your pattern pieces
After you make your pattern (or print it and cut out the pieces), arrange your fabric scraps and make sure the pattern pieces will fit. Cut out all the pattern pieces.
Step 5

stitch the inner corners to reinforce them, then clip to stitching
the stitching should be right at the seam line (so 1/2 inch seam)
Step 6

sew arrow pieces together and press toward the arrow point
To sew the points you need to spread the inner corner of the arrow fabric pieces and pin it in place. Then sew the seam and pivot exactly at the point where you clipped to in the previous step. Once sewn, press the seam toward the point of the fabric (as seen below)
Tip: If you’ve never sewn a corner like this before, I recommend practicing a couple of times to get the hang of it.

Step 7

clip off tabs that stick out
After sewing, you’ll end up with little tabs of fabric poking out of the sides (as seen in the image above). You can clip these off.
Step 8

sew center circle in place
Here comes the tricky part, you need to sew the center circle into the pillow. Because the seam allowance makes the circle bigger, you need to ease it around the seam, similar to the way sleeveheads need to be eased to fit properly. I hand-basted the circle before sewing it in with the machine to help it sit correctly and any accidental fabric tucks and puckers.
Once sewn, press the seam out so that the circle lays flat on the back of the pillow. You’ll need to clip the curves all the way around to prevent it from puckering on the front of the pillow.
Repeat the process for the second side of the pillow.

Step 9

sew outer edge into a loop
Sew the side pillow rectangles together at both ends to create a loop.
Step 10

sew the loop to the pillow face
Sew the loop to the pillow. Again, since this is a curve, you will have to ease the loop on slightly. However, since this is bigger than the center circle, the easing is not nearly as difficult.
Sew the second pillow face to the loop, but leave a small gap so you can turn the pillow right side out.
Step 11

turn pillow right side out
Step 12

stuff the pillow
I chose to use leftover fabric scraps for my stuffing, to reduce waste for my sewing hobby. However, you can use whatever kind of stuffing you want (it takes a lot of scraps to fill a pillow)
Step 13

sew up the gap
You can hand sew the gap with an invisible stitch if you want to. Or if you’re lazy like me, you can also machine sew it (It will be slightly visible, but not that bad)
Enjoy your new pillow!

