Free Tutorials: Halloween Pillows and a Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

As we near the end of #NationalSewingMonth and approach October, what better time to start thinking about Halloween?! Lydia Nelson is here today to share THREE free Halloween inspired pillow tutorials and a mouth-watering Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe to enjoy while snuggling on the couch against your new pillows! Take it away, Lydia!

Hello! My name is  Lydia Nelson and I have my first quilting book coming out with  Stash Books this upcoming Spring. I am super excited and cannot wait! I turned to quilting when my husband got into flight school with the Army and I had to abandon my pursuit of a master’s degree in apparel design. I found that quilting more than satisfied my craving for sewing and patterns and I was immediately hooked. I got into knitting all because of my mom. She owns a yarn store in Rogers, Arkansas called Mockingbird Moon and it is adorable. If you ever find yourself in Northwest Arkansas make sure you stop by even if you’re not a knitter. You’ll find all kinds of inspiration in that darling little shop (and lots of smiling faces).

September is National Sewing Month and to celebrate that, I am sharing three free pillow patterns here, and 50% off all my patterns in my  Etsy shop (code: DREAMYQUILTS). At the end of this post, I’ve also included my recipe for homemade pumpkin spice lattes (made with real pumpkin!).

Why Halloween pillows now?....

For me, September means Fall and the start of the holiday season. I’m from Michigan and that’s usually the month we get the first chill in the air and the apple orchards are prime for picking and warm cinnamon donuts at the cider mill. I love that first day when you need a sweatshirt to go outside. Fall and Halloween is my favorite time of year probably in part because I’ve always loved spooky movies and mysteries ever since I was a kid. My parents were always watching Hitchcock films and tuning in to Masterpiece Mystery on PBS. Sometimes I wonder if we’re part British due to our love of a good murder mystery! One day, when my sister and I got home from school, my mom had gone to Michael’s and bought a little dollhouse. She turned it into the neatest Halloween house complete with a cemetery in the front yard, a witch at the front door and even a corpse hanging out the window (yeah, that’s right). My mom passed this haunted house on to me and I LOVE it!! It brings back so many fun memories. So to celebrate Halloween next month, enjoy these throw pillows. The first one is for a 18’’ x 18’’ pillow insert and the second for a 12’’ x 12’’ pillow insert.

Click on the image below for large templates.

“Goblins” Pillow

Finished size: 18’’ x 18’’

Materials:Orange Fabric: 1/3 yard

Grey: 1/3 yard

1 white square 9 ½’’ x 9 ½’’

3/8 yard backing for pillow

Lay out the 6 flying Geese and 9 ½’’ white square as shown. Sew 3 rows then sew rows together to complete pillow top. Quilt as/if desired using the backing and batting fabric designated for the quilt sandwich.

On each of the 2 backing pieces 18 ½’’ x 12’’, fold under a long side ½’’ and press. Fold under ½’’ one more time and stitch close to edge to finish. Place the pillow top right side up and layer the 2 backing pieces atop the pillow top (right sides down). Position the backing pieces so they form a square. The finished edges will overlap. Sew along outside edge with a ¼’’ seam and trim the corners. Turn right side out and insert the pillow.

"Spooky" Pillow

Finished size: 12’’ x 12’’

Materials:

1 white square 12 ½’’ x 12 ½

Backing: ¼ yard

1 sheet Lesley Riley’s Transfer Artist Paper

*I don’t recommend quilting this one because the image is the main portion of the pillow top, and the stitches would pierce the image.

Repeat instructions above to adhere the “Spooky” image using the  Transfer Artist Paper (again, image is already mirrored so don’t worry about that!).

With the backing fabric, cut 2 pieces 12 ½’’ x 8’’ . Fold under a long side ½’’ and press. Fold under ½’’ one more time and stitch close to edge to finish. Place the pillow top right side up and layer the 2 backing pieces atop the pillow top (right sides down). Position the backing pieces so they form a square. The finished edges will overlap. Sew along outside edge with a ¼’’ seam and trim the corners. Turn right side out and insert the pillow.

Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Ingredients:

¼ cup pumpkin puree (I used Libby’s canned pumpkin)

1 cup milk (naturally, whole milk tastes the best but any milk will do)

½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 tablespoon sugar

Whipped cream

1 shot espresso (or 1 ounce super strong, fine ground coffee)

Mix the ¼ cup of pumpkin and 1 cup milk together. Steam until mixtures is hot and has a nice, frothy texture (if you don’t have an espresso machine, just scald the ingredients in a saucepan on the stove, mixing regularly). Pour 1 shot of espresso into a coffee cup and pour the milk/pumpkin mixture on top. Mix in ½ teaspoon of the pie spice and 1 tablespoon of sugar (sugar is optional). Mix well and top with whipped cream. The pumpkin will continually settle so keep a spoon handy. Relax and enjoy with your new Halloween pillow and a spooky show :o)

Below are the previews for my next pattern "feathers." Visit my  blog and Etsy shop for updates on new patterns and offers! 

Best,

Lydia