How to make a quilt into a pillow for storage

When donating to the hospitals, crisis centers or homeless shelters, storing quilts can take up quite a bit of space and make a mess for the staff as quilts are pulled out for use.  Donating “quilts in a pillow” helps with storage and also provides a more useful multi use item.

The fastest way to make a’quilt in a pillow” is to first make a ‘pillowcase’ quilt.  Lay the front and back of the quilt down with the right sides together.  Put the batting on top of the front and back and cut all three layers together the same size.

Sew a 1/2 ” seam around all the edges, leaving a large enough opening in the center of one side to turn the quilt.  Turn and either sew closed by hand, or sew closed by machine.  Topstitch 1/4″ all around the edge to secure.  Tie, hand quilt or machine quilt the quilt.  If tying make sure that ties are at least 4″ apart or less for stability of the quilt. Double tie the knots.  Please do not just take a stitch and then another one in the same spot and keep going.  Quilts that are tied this way without making a knot come undone in hospital laundry. Make sure you tie a square knot using thread or yarn that does not slip.  Embroidery thread is not a good choice because it tends to work it’s way loose through wear.

Make a square mini quilt the same way you just made the quilt (omitting the tying or quilting)  that is approx. just larger than  1/3 the size of the narrowest width of the quilt. For example: if your quilt was 45″ x 72″, then make your mini quilt 18″ square. The mini quilt makes the pocket.

Lay the larger quilt down with one shorter side next to you like you are standing at the end of a bed.   Place the mini quilt on the edge of the short side nearest you and center it on the edge.  Sew down three sides, leaving the side open that faces the center of the quilt, making a pocket.  Reinforce the ends of your stitching so the pocket will not come unsewn from the quilt.

To make the quilt into a pillow, lay the quilt with the pocket side down .  Fold the quilt into thirds longways, overlapping long edge.  Turn the pocket over the end of the quilt.  Fold the remaining quilt into thirds and continue folding into the pocket forming a pillow.

Voila! Done   You can embroider a cute teddy bear face or heart on the front of the pocket if you want to make it fun for a child or adult.

Note – regarding quilt sizes: Baby quilts can be 36″ x 36″, 36″ x 45″ or 45″ x 60″.  Larger quilts can be 45″ x 60″ or larger, depending if it is going to be used for a child or adult, partial coverage such as a wheelchair quilt or full coverage for a bed.  The bottom line is pretty much any size is welcomed to keep the sick and needy comfortable and warm.  Twin size quilts are the most urgent size needed right now – approx 70″ x 90″.  You can make the quilts all the way up to 120 x 120 if you like, be creative and have fun making your donation of love for the sick and/or needy.  Feel free to sign the quilt and ask your church group or quilting group if they would like to get involved.

We love to receive volunteers items lovingly sewn for the sick and needy to distribute where the need is the greatest.  If you would like to donate quilts in a pillow or supplies to make them to Relief Share, please send donations to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd., Houston, MO 65483-2225.  All donations are gratefully accepted and acknowledged with a tax deductible receipt and thank you letter.

Patterns and ideas are happily accepted to share with others on our Relief Share website, blog and at work meetings.  Please send submissions to info@ReliefShare.org   Upon receipt, all submissions will be considered public domain for distribution for charitable purposes and will not be returned so if it’s your favorite pattern, please make sure you have a copy, too.  Thank you