If you’re new to sewing or quilting, this beginner patchwork pillow tutorial is the perfect place to start. I love sharing simple-to-sew quilt projects that bring warmth and beauty to your home—just like the ones I use in mine.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make a patchwork pillow from start to finish. It comes together quickly with easy piecing and perfectly nested seams for a polished look. You’ll be proud to cozy up with it on your couch. It’s beginner-friendly, stash-friendly, and a lovely way to dip your toes into quilting.

Finished Size: 18″ x 18″

Finished beginner patchwork pillow on couch – how to make a patchwork pillow

Choose Your Fabric

For this tutorial, I used the Baltic Woodland collection by Cloud9 Fabrics. This fabric features: cranes soaring across soft blue skies, deer hiding among ferns, whimsical mushrooms, and a surprise pop orange that adds energy and contrast to the patchwork. It’s inspired by the sounds and textures of the Baltic coast—waves, wild herbs, and peaceful forest scene.

Want to make this exact pillow? I have a few bundles left in my shop—grab yours here.

Shop fabric

Baltic Woodland fabric for patchwork pillow project

One of the things I love most about this project is how little fabric it actually uses. Whether you pick up a fat quarter or a half-yard bundle, you’ll have more than enough fabric to make this pillow and have leftovers for other projects.

Materials

Makes one 18″pillow. Width of fabric (WOF) is assumed to be 44″.

1/4 yard total of various prints for the patchwork, Baltic Woodland Fat Quarter Bundle
1/8 yard border, Cirrus Solids in Pumice
3/8 yard for the pillow back
3/4 yard (20″ wide) lightweight fusible interfacing – Pellon® SF101 Shape-Flex® (optional)
22″ square of lining fabric (such as muslin)
22″ square of batting
18″ pillow insert
Basic quilting supplies

Cutting

From the various prints, cut:

(25) 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ squares

From the border fabric, cut:

(2) 2″ x width of fabric (WOF) strips, then sub-cut:
- (2) – 2″ x 15 1/2″ rectangles
- (2) – 2″ x 18 1/2″ rectangles

From the pillow back fabric, cut:

(2) – 13″ x 18 1/2″ rectangles for the pillow back

From the fusible interfacing (optional):

(2) 12 7/8″ x 18 3/8″

Sewing the Pillow Front

Arrange (25) squares into 5 rows, with 5 squares in each row.

Starting with the top row, sew 5 squares together with 1/4″ seam. Press seams to the right.

Continue sewing the remaining 4 rows, alternating the pressing direction in each row as illustrated below.

How to press quilt seams for perfectly nested patchwork

Tip:

Be sure to follow the pressing directions closely—learning to press your rows in opposite directions will help you create perfectly nested seams for this pillow. It’s one of the best skills a new quilter can learn, and it makes your patchwork lay nice and flat.

Pin and sew the rows right sides together, matching up the seams. If you pressed in the direction illustrated above your squares will nest perfectly.

Sewing squares together for beginner patchwork pillow tutorial

Here is the finished five patch block, it should measure 15 1/2″ x 15 1/2″ square.

Add borders

Next, arrange the (2) side borders as shown. Sew the pieces together and press toward borders. Then arrange the (2) top and bottom borders as shown. Sew the pieces together and press toward borders. The pillow top should measure 18 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ unfinished.

illustration showing how to sew side and top borders onto patchwork pillow front

Close-up of sewn patchwork squares with neatly nested seams – beginner patchwork pillow

Finishing

Layer the pillow front, batting, and lining fabric. Baste quilt layers together.

Basting patchwork pillow top with batting and backing using pins – beginner quilting tutorial

Quilt as desired. I quilted along a few of the vertical rows to hold it all together, I kept the quilting pretty minimal on my pillow this time around.
Trim the excess batting and lining so the pillow top measures 18 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ square.
Fuse lightweight interfacing to the the wrong side of the two pillow back pieces following manufacturers instructions.
Press under 1/2″ twice along the long edge of each of the two pillow back pieces. Sew along the long edges 1/8″ away from the double folded edge.

Finished patchwork pillow top with two backing pieces laid out beside it for envelope closure

With the pillow top facing up layer the two backing pieces right sides together facing down on top. Pin in place.

Illustration showing how to layer pillow backing pieces right sides together on top of the patchwork front

Sew a 1/2″ seam around the edge of the pillow top, backstitching at the beginning and end.
Cut off all the corners, being careful not to cut your sewn seam.
Turn your pillow right side out, and push out the corners. Pillow finishes at 17 1/2″ x 17 1/2″ square, slightly smaller than the 18″ pillow insert for a snug fit.

Fabric used in patchwork pillow shown with unstuffed pillow front – quilting for beginners — Here’s the pillow front before adding the insert, shown with the Baltic Woodland bundle I used. You can grab your own bundle here!

Place your pillow insert inside, and your pillow is complete!

Quilted pillow back with envelope closure – beginner sewing project

Beginner patchwork pillow on matching quilt made with Baltic Woodland fabric – how to make a patchwork pillow

Pillow Mock-ups

See how the Patchwork Pillow will look in another one of your favorite Cloud9 fabric collections. Click the link under the image to shop.

Want More Project Ideas?

If you love working with the Baltic Woodland fabric line, you might also use this fabric to make:

Thanks so much for sewing along with me. I hope this project brings a little handmade joy into your home—just like it has in mine. From my home to yours, happy stitching!