The Quilting Kitty's Quilt History: My First Quillow, Tested and Approved

I've always wanted a quillow ever since I heard about them, which was clear back in Junior High. My Grandma Brown told me about them. What is a quillow? It's a quilt but then folded up and tucked into a pocket attached to the back it turns into a pillow. A quilt + Pillow = Quillow.

I didn't get my first quillow until I was well into my 30s. A friend of mine, Brian, his mom is a quilter and we chatted and for Christmas Brian had asked her to make me a quillow. She sent it and it is one of my favorites to curl up with. It's also Caesar the MinPin's and Bremley the Cat's favorite too.

I was in my favorite quilt shop, the one where I took my first quilting class, and I found a pattern to make a quillow. I could not leave the shop without that pattern. I got home as quickly as I could (safely, of course) and opened the pattern. WOW, words and words and more words. It was soo confusing.

I thought to myself, "It can't be this hard to make a quillow?" So I pulled out the quillow that was made for me and I studied it. Yes, I sat and studied a quilt, not a book, a quilt. I looked at all the seams, I looked at the pocket, I looked at the fabric that was used and how that was sewn together. Then, Whammo!!! It hit me. This is super easy.!!! I can make this without this very confusing pattern.

So I went and purchased 2 yards of the plaid fleece below for the back and 2 yards of the Autumn Leaf Fleece for the front. Now it's reversible minus the pocket.

For the pocket I purchased half yard of the plaid and half a yard of black. I did make a mistake with the black fleece. I should have purchased half a yard of the Autumn Leaf Fleece, but I was just teaching myself how to make this. I know now to match the pocket fabric with the main fabrics of the quilt.

What's next you ask? Well have a look for yourself!!! With the help of my dear assistants we made our first of many quillows. I even started to sell my quillows but that turned out to be too much work for very little amount of money. But it was another fun adventure in quilting.