My Own Tiny Cathedral (Window)

Cathedral Window is actually a quilt block, but there is often no quilting involved. To me it is more of an origami sewing project.

I first learned to make a Cathedral Window project when I was a young woman, living in Tucson. I was working at the University of Arizona, and I found out I could take college courses cheap or free ( I can't remember which). Looking through the offerings, I saw a non credit community class on quilting. I loved quilts then, as I do now. I wanted to learn, so I signed up. It was in the evenings, and I remember taking the bus from my home back to the university for the class.

Here are the notes I took during the class on how to make a Cathedral Window. As I look at this now, it really is not all that helpful. But somehow, I made a small blue and brown Cathedral Window pillow top. I gave it to my mom, and she kept it always.

I like the way seasonal pillows look around the house. You can buy nice holiday pillows at home stores. I like them so much. But, if you buy them, you have to store the whole pillow till next year, and it takes up a lot of room. Whereas, if you make only a pillow TOP, then it is easy to store, and hardly takes up any room at all.

I made a Christmas pillow top a few years ago, and I loved how cheerful it was during the holiday season. So, I recently decided to make a couple more pillow tops.

You can find a lot of ways to make Cathedral Window on line. In fact, use a good instruction book if you decide to make one. Many instructions use machine sewing. I like to make them by hand. When you do it by machine, you have to control that machine stitch so carefully, in order to sew a tiny curve. I am really not that good at that! And, it is nice to have some hand work, right?

So, to begin!

First, I cut out 9 white squares of fabric, seven inches square. I like to use bright white for the background; it sets off the "window" so well. Also cut 18 two inch squares of the pattern you wish to use in the "windows". I made two of these little decorative pillows at once - one for St Patrick's Day, and one for Easter.

I made a bunch of seasonal table runners about two years ago, so I had plenty of fabric on hand for these particular holidays.

The edges of the big white squares have to be pressed down, about 1/4 ". I used a piece of cardboard cut smaller than the fabric to help me do this.

More ironing - fold in half and then again, and press. This really just gives us some lines to use as a reference.

The next step is to whip stitch both short sides, with the folded down edges on the outside.

Turn it right side out, and make this little box, and stitch it all together.

Now, you need to slip stitch all nine tiny boxes together. This will be the size of the pillow top. For having started with nine 7" squares, it ends up kind of small!

Looks like this when you are done stitching it together.

Now the really fun part starts. You put the tiny squares of patterned fabric kind of

between the fabric boxes. To keep them in place, you turn the folded part over, and stitch it down. It makes a little "window".

I found this image on line, and it helps to show what is actually being done.

If you are using different patterns, and you only cut just enough to fit inside the little windows, you need to place them where you want early on. That way you will not get too many of the same kind all in one spot.

You need a stack of the 2 inch squares that you cut in half diagonally too. Then, you can place these around the edges to complete the pattern.

Since this is only to be a decorative pillow, I like to place buttons at the intersection of each little window.

Some people have button boxes. I have a button drawer! I put all the buttons in little plastic boxes, by color/type.

I am thinking... green! Of course!

Here is a nice selection!

Buttons make it so cute!

I have a pretty good stash of ric rac, and I thought I might add some to the pillow before I sew it all together.

I have a bunch of greens.

Some is pretty old because it used to be my mom's! How about three yards for 10 cents??

I tacked it around the pillow, hoping I can sew it well enough that it will kind of peek out the edges of the pillow.

I always sew pillow tops one way. After I make the top, I put two pieces of fabric, which have been hemmed, and which overlap a bit, on the back . Then, I sew all the way around, and turn it all inside out. That way the opening is on the back, and it is easy to slide the pillow in and out of the pillow top.

Don't you just love these little clips? Superior to pins in many situations!

After stitching all the way around, I clipped the corners, and turned it right side out.

In goes the tiny pillow, and now it is a festive addition to my living room!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!