Just in time for Valentine’s Day or whenever someone you know could use a lift.

As in the “Hug” pillow, I used four reds and four creams for my pillow.  Maybe it is the unseasonably warm winter we’ve had so far, but I felt like a lighter, springier look than with the “Hug”.

The “Kiss” block finishes at 12″ and the pillow at 16″.  This is such a great scrap busting block, I’d love to see a whole quilt of them with lights and darks in place of the reds and creams.  Or what about a quilt combining the hugs and kisses!

If you make a pillow or a quilt, please add it to my Flickr group.  Have fun!
I’m linking up with Amanda Jean’s Finish it Up Friday.

Finished size:  16″ pillow

Block size:  12″

Fabric requirements:

Cream:
8 2 1/2″ squares,
8 3″ squares,
2 strips 2 1/2″ x 12 1/2″,
2 strips 2 1/2″ x 16 1/2″.

Red:
8 3″ squares,
12 2 1/2″ squares

Batting, lining, and backing:  16 1/2″ square

16″ zipper

Construction Steps:

This is an easy pillow to put together.  Just 16 half square triangle blocks, 20 squares and four “border” strips.  Let’s get started!

Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the 3″ cream squares.

Place each square right sides together with a red 3″ square.

Sew 1/4″ away from the drawn line on each side of the line.  Chain piecing these makes this go very quickly.

Press.  Cut along the line.  I use scissors at this point since you are cutting the seam allowance and it does not need to be an exact 1/4″.

Press the block open.  I usually press toward the darker fabric.

Lining your ruler up along the seam, trim the blocks to 2 1/2″ square.

Layout the blocks according to the picture and sew the blocks into rows, alternating the pressing direction of your seams.

Sew the rows together.  The “X” block should measure 12 1/2″.

Sew the cream 2 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ strips to the top and bottom of the block.

Sew the cream 2 1/2″ x 16 1/2″ strips to the sides of the block to complete the pillow top.

Layer the pillow top with the batting and lining and quilt as desired.  My pillow is quilted with a red “X” through the middle of the “X”.  I quilted double triangles in the spaces around the “X” and one line of quilting in a square around the border.

Using a 1/2″ seam, insert the zipper in the bottom of the pillow using your favorite method.  Lining up the raw edges of the backing and pillow front, sew the remaining three sides using a 1/2″ seam.

Turn the pillow cover right side out, insert the pillow form and enjoy giving someone a “kiss”!