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Shannon Fraser Designs

Spreading quilty joy one stitch at a time!

Shattered Star Lumbar Pillow Hand-quilted with a metal zipper

November 26, 2020 by Shannon Leave a Comment

Shattered Star lumbar pillow

I’ve got a fun and quick sew project to share with you today!

With the holidays just around the corner, we’re all in need of one-of-a-kind holiday gift ideas and ways to spruce up our homes (especially if you’re still in COVID lockdown like we are here in Montreal).

Enter quilted pillows.

They’re quick to make.

They’re cute as a button.

They’re the perfect size to give hand quilting a try!

You can customize them to suit your own or your giftee’s taste/home.

They add cheer to any room they’re in!

Who wouldn’t want a quilted pillow made by YOU?

Let me tempt you with the new Shattered Star Lumbar Pillow – the pattern is now available in the shop! 

Shannon holding the Shattered Star lumbar pillow

*This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.


STORY BEHIND SHATTERED STAR PILLOW

When I was originally designing the Shattered Star quilt (read more about the quilt and table runner patterns), I knew I also wanted to include a pillow pattern. I just love having a design that coordinates but isn’t exactly the same as the quilt design. The concept was to offer a trio of designs featuring the Shattered Star motif, but each capturing their own unique twist.

Shattered Star quilted lumbar pillow hand quilted in 12 wt

SHATTERED STAR PILLOW PATTERN FEATURES

The Shattered Star pillow is such a quick and easy sew. And features the super friendly half square triangles. Which we’ve already tackled together before! 

The pattern also comes packed with all these features to make piecing your pillow at home an easy process:

  • Skill level: confident beginner.
  • Modern quilted pillow pattern.
  • Instant digital download (PDF).
  • Step-by-step graphics and detailed instructions for quilty success!
  • Includes instructions on how to insert a zipper.
  • Active hyperlinks to tutorials for additional tips and tricks.
  • Coloring page included with fabric swatches placeholders to design your own.
  • Additional colorways included to inspire you.
  • Includes labels to keep track of your quilt block pieces.
  • Pressing directions so your seams nest and you get perfect points!
  • Includes instructions for a lumbar pillow measuring 25″ x 15″.

Once you have her all pieced, I highly recommend considering adding even more quilty texture with some hand quilting detail. Here’s how this one came about.


WHY HAND QUILTING

This isn’t the first pillow I’ve hand quilted, but it’s been a while since the last time (it was 2016 in case you want specifics 😉) and, to be honest, I was also in need of a good hand quilting session. One that I could work on early in the morning while sipping my coffee watching the day wake up. Pips is right there with me enjoying the quiet and slow start to the day.

So, it was perfect timing that the Aurifil Artisan November challenge focused on all things hand-stitched!

Hand quilting back of the Shattered Star pillow in 12wt aurifil Thread | Shattered Star pillow pattern | Shannon Fraser Designs #handquilted

What’s nice about a pillow is that it only took me a few mornings to get through hand stitching both the front and back pillow panels. It’s a great project size to give big stitch hand quilting a go without committing to a full-on quilt.

When I originally was planning this project, I had visions of using 12wt Aurifil Thread in *white, but as I grabbed my box of hand quilting thread, I spotted this gorgeous pink in colour 2425 that I just adore (and the proof is that I have it in 50wt, 40wt, 28wt AND 12wt – clearly a fave of mine).

Shattered Star pillow top before hand quilting and after being hand quilted in 12wt Aurifil thread | Shannon Fraser Designs #modernpillow

This colour is beyond versatile and I’ve used it in several projects:

  • Cloud Surfing – baby quilt
  • Cloud Surfing Improv – wall hanging
  • Harvest Falls quilt and wall hanging
  • 100-day Mini Quilt

After ‘consulting’ the hubz for his opinion on white vs. pink, he chose pink. Well, I should say, he not only chose pink he had opinions about it. As in “there’s no other choice”. Ha – that totally made me laugh! Having seen the pink with the colourful solids, I was all in for the pink too.

The back-pillow panel got the 1” straight line quilting treatment, while the front is custom quilting to enhance the design of the Shattered Star pillow pattern.

Since she’s entirely hand quilted, it makes for a an ultra squishy and soft pillow.

Dare I say my all-time fave I’ve ever made.

Hand quilted details on the Shattered Star pillow | Modern cushion pattern | Shannon Fraser Designs #handquilting

METAL ZIPPER DETAIL

Normally I’m all about invisible zippers, but I’ve been wanting to play with some metal zippers and thought this could be a fun chance to do just that.

Instead of going zipper fully exposed, I opted for a partially concealed zipper.

In case you wanted to give it a try at home, I took some pictures along the way to share the process with you. You can read the How to Insert a Metal Zipper Tutorial here. 

Metal zipper detail in the Shattered Star pillow | Modern quilt pattern by Shannon Fraser Designs #modernquilt

MAKE YOUR OWN

To make your very own Shattered Star hand-quilted pillow at home, here’s all the materials and notions I used to create her:

  • Shattered Star lumbar pillow pattern
  • AGF Pure Solids in:*Hunter *Aurus *Sweet Pink *Very Berry *Purple Wine 
  • 24” zipper
  • *Batting 
  • *Muslin for lining 
  • *50wt Aurifil Thread #2000 Light Sand for piecing 
  • *40wt Aurifil Thread #2425 in Bright Pink for stitching the pillow 
  • 12wt Aurifil thread #2425 in Bright Pink for hand quilting 
  • *Zipper foot 
  • Walking foot
  • *Sewing Machine 
  • *Iron 
  • *Ironing board 
  • *Slim hera marker 
  • *Scissors 
  • *Washable marking pen 
  • *Seam ripper 
  • *Clips or *pins
Art Gallery Fabric pure solids featured in the Shattered Star quilted pillow | Shannon Fraser Designs #quiltingcotton
Half square triangles in Art Gallery fabrics pure solids for the Shattered Star pillow

STYLING IDEAS

What I love about the lumbar style is that it adds a nice dimension and variety to your cushion selection.

It’s not just another square pillow.

Plus, it adds a nice feature on a side chair or bed. Not to mention super comfy for your back.

This is hands down the squishiest, yummiest, coziest pillow I have ever made and I’m seriously digging the metal zipper. This may just spark a new pillow-making craze – I’m that in love.

Your turn! Grab the Shattered Star Pillow pattern and make one (or several) as a gift today!

Happy quilting!

xo

Shannon


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Filed Under: Quilting Tagged With: Home Décor, Pillows, Quilt Pattern

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Hi! I'm Shannon. A modern quilt pattern designer based in Montreal. My quilting journey started by stumbling upon a half square triangle tutorial and I've been hooked since. I'm now spreading that quilty joy to you! Read More…

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