EZ Print Bunny Applique Pillow and Mini Quilt
Learn how to create a mini quilt or a sweet bunny pillow - both! - with this easy applique tutorial. See how you can print out your own custom appliques to create a mini quilt or a cozy pillow that's the perfect gift for a baby shower or a first birthday. Step by step photos are included for every step in the process, from printing and applying the applique to arranging the fabric strips for the quilt or pillow itself. Feel free to let your imagination run wild with this adorable tutorial!
Project TypeMake a Project
Materials List
- HeatnBond® EZ Print Lite sheets for bunny and butterfly applique
- SpraynBond® Basting Spray
- Applique pattern - Click HERE
- small pieces or scraps of fabric for applique and 2.5″ square patchwork border
- 1/4 yard white solid fabric
- 1/8 yard top and bottom borders
- 2/3 yard backing
- 1/4 yard binding
- 4″ x 20″ strip for zipper flap
- cotton batting
- zipper, optional
- 20″ pillow form
Pillow and Quilt Sewing Pattern
*follow these instructions for both the pillow and the quilt**
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Begin by printing the applique images on the HeatnBond® EZ print sheets. Simply put the sheets in your printer, select a higher quality of print and you’re done!
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Roughly cut around each image and using a hot dry iron press the images onto the wrong side of the fabric! Do this with each of the 5 applique pieces.
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Cut the fabrics according to the measurements below.
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(1/4″ seams throughout ) Sew the 2.5″ squares into 4 rows of 10 squares. Press seams in alternating directions for each row. Sew 2 rows together, matching at seam intersections - This will give you 2 pieced borders.
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Cut out each applique piece along the pattern line and peel off the backing paper. Position the rabbits and butterflies as desired. Fuse with a hot iron. Sew around each applique piece with accent thread. Sew antennas for each of the butterflies.
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Sew each of the strips together in the above order. Press seams.
Quilting Step
Time for quilting! Using Spray n Bond® Basting Spray, baste the quilt top to the cotton batting and then to a back. This method is the same for the quilt and the pillow. Quilt as desired.
Once the quilting is finished, square up any uneven sides. The quilt should measure between 20″ square and 20 1/2″ square. If you do a lot of quilting it will shrink slightly.
If you are making the mini quilt, simply bind and you are finished!
Instructions for the Pillow Back
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Cut the pillow back 20″ x 20″
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Sub cut this piece at 3″ (above).
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Cut the zipper flap 4″ x 20″ and press in half lengthwise.
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Lay each of the pieces out as pictured above, with the zipper flap and the 3″ strip aligned with the raw edges facing the zipper.
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Using a zipper foot, sew the larger piece of the pillow back to the zipper. Press.
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Lay the 3″ strip and the zipper flap right side on top of the zipper, aligning edges. Pin in place.
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This is how it should be layered (above). Sew with the zipper foot again. Press.
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Trim off the excess zipper. Treat this entire piece as the pillow back.
Pillow Binding
I choose to bind this pillow like you would a quilt. You could easily sew and turn the pillow and omit this step. You would position the pillow front and the pillow back right sides together and sew a 1/4″ seam around the entire pillow, making sure the zipper was partially open. Then turn right side out.
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Lay the pillow front and the pillow back wrong sides together, matching all edges. Pin all the way around. Make sure the zipper is partially open. Sew a narrow basting stitch all the way around the pillow.
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Make the binding as you would normally make for a quilt and sew it to the pillow just like you are sewing it onto a quilt. Then hand stitch in place.
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The back - complete with hidden zipper!
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The finished pillow
Would you make the pillow or the quilt, or both?