What you need: 2 1/4 yard medium weight fabric, 24-inch zipper, fabric marker or chalk, yard stick, thread, and scissors
FOR DIAMOND PILLOW:
Cut your fabric to be 30"W x 60"L. With you fabric marker and ruler, make 6-inch marks along all edges of fabric. Connect top-right corner with 5th mark down from the top on left side (this makes a 45-degree angle). Connect top-left corner with 5th mark down from the top on right side. Connect other lines as necessary to make diamonds.
You're going to sew along your lines** by pinching your fabric so the line is on the edge.
Sew close to the edge, about 1/8-inch.
**Do all lines pointing in the same direction first, then the other lines.
After you sew all your lines, press your fabric.
TIP: it's easiest if you iron on the wrong side of your fabric.
Now fold your fabric in-half lengthwise and trim down to be 26" x 26".
IMPORTANT: don't trim along your fold!
Zig-zag along all your edges to keep from fraying.
Skip to steps for zipper.
FOR PLEATED PILLOW:
Cut your fabric to be 30"W x 76"L. With you fabric marker and ruler, make 2-inch marks along long edges of fabric and connect across.
You're going to sew along your lines by pinching your fabric so the line is on the edge.
Sew along the edges with a 1/4-inch seam.
Fold your fabric in-half lengthwise to find your middle pleat. Mark this. Iron all pleats TOWARDS the middle pleat.
With you fabric marker and ruler, make 6-inch marks along short edges of fabric and connect down (perpendicular to pleats).
Sew along perpendicular lines. These lines keep your pleats down.
Now, fold your fabric in-half lengthwise and trim down to be 26" x 26".
IMPORTANT: don't trim along your fold!
Zig-zag along all your edges to keep from fraying.
ZIPPER (for both pillows):
With right sides together, pin one edge of your zipper along top (short) end of your material.
With your zipper foot, sew along pinned edge. You want to be close to the teeth of the zipper but be sure not to sew on top of them.
With right sides together, pin other edge of your zipper along other top end of your material.
Sew along pinned edge just as before.
TIP: it's easiest to sew this edge with the zipper un-zipped.
With right sides facing up, stitch on material along one side of zipper.
On other side you'll sew on the WRONG side because it's easier to see. Have edge of material extend past zipper about 1/2-inch and sew along first stitched line - this makes a 'flap' and will hide the zipper once you're all finished.
Test your zipper out to make sure you can zip and un-zip it. It should look like the picture above.
With your zipper open about 6-inches, put the right-sides of your material together and pin.
IMPORTANT, you'll want the material with the 'flap' on the top side and the entire zipper up on this side as well. When you flip your material over you shouldn't see your zipper.
Stitch along open-pinned edges with a 5/8-inch seam.
TIP: Be sure not to sew over the teeth of the zipper or you'll probably break a needle!
Turn pillowcase right-side out and enjoy your work!
Fold your quilts and stuff them into your pillowcase!
