Cottage Window Tutorial + House of Versace Pillow

So The Fully Sick quilt may not exactly be a super star, but I couldn’t possibly give up on the block I created to make it. I’ve decided to call it the Cottage Window block, due to the original fabric choices of The Fully Sick quilt. It’s all sorts of small, floral, country-cottage kitsch. Well, that may be my home on the English country-side, but my normal digs look more like the House of Versace! I had to prove how versatile this block is! So read on for a glow up, and a free tutorial!

I knew the Cottage Window block needed a second chance to really shine. If it has to prove its way into gold lamé heaven, who better than me to give it some wings?! I promise you though, no Kylie hot pants were harmed in the making of this 18″ pillow! I simply created four Cottage Window blocks, in opposing fabric placements, to give it some modern-Studio-54-realness.

I found this Michael Miller gold tiles fat quarter at my LQS, The Remnant Warehouse. It was going to feature in this week’s Sunday Stash, but I got a tad ahead of myself. I combined it with Art Gallery Pure Elements in black in keeping with the luxe vibe. When all four blocks were finished, I added some straight line quilting along the edges of the block, and some concentric squares in the middle where the four blocks meet.

For the back I used Art Gallery Living Elements in gold yellow to make a giant statement. You know, because gold lamé is never enough. Seriously. Then I added my fave closure, a fully-exposed side-zip. Remember, I’m a gay man, I don’t wanna be messin’ with any flaps!

The Fully Sick Quilt versus The House of Versace Pillow: what a difference fabric selection makes! This was just what I needed y’all, time to start Bringin’ Blingin’ Back!

Cottage Window Block Tutorial

1. Fabric requirements for one block:

2. Assemble (2) – 5” squares of a coloured fabric.  Assemble (2) – 5” squares of a neutral fabric.

3.  Create (4) half square triangle units (HST) from these pieces.
– Place a coloured square and neutral square right sides together.
– Draw a line diagonally across the squares.
– Sew a 1/4” on either side of this line.
– Cut each square apart on the drawn diagonal line.
– Press open with the seam towards the coloured piece.

4.  Trim HSTs to 4.5” square.

5.  Assemble (4) – 3.25” squares of the coloured fabric.

6.  Draw a diagonal line on the back side of each 3.25” square.

7. Place one of the 3.25” squares right side together with each HST as per the diagram.  Sew along the drawn line.

8.  Cut a 1/4” from this sewn diagonal line, and discard these pieces. (Note: You can use these fabric scraps to create another HST.)

9. Press open with the seam towards the coloured piece. Repeat this process on all four HSTs.

10.  Arrange these units per the diagram below.

11.  Assemble (2) – 5” x 1.5” neutral pieces, and combine with adjacent units. These neutral pieces are intentionally longer to allow for any variation in block size.

12.  Trim the edges of the neutral pieces to create squared up rectangles.

13.  Assemble (1) 10” x 1.5” neutral piece, and combine with adjacent units. This neutral piece is intentionally longer to allow for any variation in block size.

14.  Trim back to square up block, and it is now complete at 9.5”.