Patchwork: “Windmill” and the pillow

The top layer of the pillow cover is assembled from “Windmill” blocks, and the back is a single-colour fabric. Two closely woven cotton fabrics of contrasting colour (for example plain and small-print) are taken and pre-shrunk first. Our plan: the finished square side is 5 cm, each square is sewn from two triangles of different colours, and 4 squares turned round a centre make one block (10×10 cm); 4 rows × 4 columns = 16 blocks give a 40×40 cm top. Order of work: 1) triangles are traced from the template on the back of the fabric and cut with seam allowance; 2) two triangles are sewn right sides together along the diagonal to make a square; 3) squares are joined into blocks and blocks into rows, making sure the seams meet exactly; 4) the seam allowances of neighbouring rows are pressed in opposite directions so the seams do not pile up; 5) top and back are sewn right sides together all round, leaving 10–12 cm open on one side for the filling; 6) the cover is turned right side out, the corners are pushed out, the filling is put in and the opening is closed by hand with a blind stitch. Safety: use the sewing machine and iron only under the teacher (rules of lessons 48 and 56); remove pins before machine sewing; wear a thimble for hand sewing; do not breathe synthetic filling dust and keep foam away from the mouth; make sure no needle or pin is left in the finished pillow – count them.