Quilting Tutorial
How to Turn a Tumbling Blocks Pillow into a Full Quilt (No Y Seams!)
I originally set out to make a tumbling blocks quilt… but after losing the audio on my footage, I hit a wall trying to explain the process.
So I changed directions.
Instead of trying to fix the video, I made a pillow—and it turned out to be the best decision I could have made.
Because what I realized is this:
👉 The pillow is the quilt… just on a smaller scale.
And once you understand that, scaling it up becomes so much easier.
🧵 Before You Start: Watch the Block Tutorial First
This tutorial is focused on using tumbling blocks that are already made.
If you’re wondering how to:
- Cut the pieces
- Use the 60-degree ruler
- Or assemble the tumbling blocks (without Y seams)
I’ve already created a separate video that walks through that step-by-step.
👉 I highly recommend watching that first if you haven’t made these blocks yet.
Once you’ve got your blocks ready, come back here and I’ll show you exactly how to:
- Lay them out
- Turn them into a pillow
- And scale everything up into a full quilt
Why Start with a Pillow?
Starting with a pillow might feel like an extra step—but it actually makes everything easier.
Instead of jumping straight into a full quilt, the pillow lets you:
✔ Learn the construction method without it being overwhelming
✔ Test your fabric placement and color value
✔ Create a finished piece while planning your quilt
And the biggest benefit?
You end up with a real, physical reference that makes the quilt math so much clearer.
Tools to Assemble
Some of the tools and supplies I used are linked below.
- 36 tumbling blocks from my video referenced above
- Alphabitties or some kind of numbering system
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Design wall
- Pillow form (Mine was 22″ pillow form)
- Batting
- Backing fabric
- Zipper at least 4″ longer then your pillow front
- Rotary Cutter
- Pins or Clips
Organizing Your Quilt Blocks
Laying Out Your Blocks & Staying Organized
🧵 Start by Placing Your Blocks Freely
When I begin laying out my blocks, I don’t worry about perfect rows right away.
Instead, I:
- Start placing blocks in a general shape
- Work across and down at the same time
- Focus on getting a layout that looks right visually
You can work:
- Left to right
- Top to bottom
- Or even in a zigzag
There’s no wrong way here—the goal is to start seeing how your tumbling blocks interact.
