We had a milestone event here last week – my oldest lost her first tooth! It had been wiggly for a week or so and meanwhile I was planning this tooth fairy pillow. Of course on the day I set aside to work on it, she lost the tooth. And, of course I wasn’t able to finish the pillow before bedtime – so lucky for her she got to stay up a little! There’s a little pocket hidden behind the top of the tooth – did you spot it? It also has a hanging tab for a doorknob or bed frame. The final size of the pillow is roughly 8″x8″. I used small scraps from my Pink Chalk Fabrics Solids Club stash, quite a few years old now! LOVE these colours together! What do you think?

When her tooth got wiggly, I searched the web high and low for a paper pieced tooth pattern, but I didn’t find one. So instead of giving up like a sane person, I went off to my computer to design it. The first version had about 35 or 40 pieces (after 2 hours!) but thankfully after another hour or so I narrowed it down to just 19 – including the border strips. Crazy – but I wanted it to match what was in my head!

Right off – I have to apologize to any quilters, I am not a quilter and I am certain I do not use all of the proper terminology for the parts of a “quilted something” in this post! I also happen to love making things overly complex – thus the foray into paper piecing. Which I’m finding is not super complex, (once you get your head around it) and is very enjoyable. I also tried out some embroidery and found a few helpful tutorials on how to make a back stitch and a satin stitch.

My original intention was to provide a pattern piece for each section of the tooth and make a full tutorial so everyone unfamiliar with paper piecing could make this too. I have the pieces, but for some reason the measurements don’t work out – the final project is about 1/4″-1/2″ smaller all round, which slightly affected the shape of the tooth. I am not certain it is my seam allowance, because I have recently checked that it is 1/4″. I’d love to know if anyone has any other ideas for why it didn’t work out? I hope I can sort it out and make non-paper pieced instructions too.

I am including a quick tutorial here – since I will make a full one when I sort out the pattern piece issue. I am assuming that you are familiar with paper piecing and binding, so I am not providing very many details.

You will need:

  • Paper Pieced Tooth Fairy Pillow Pattern Pieces – click to download
  • Fabric Scraps – White for the Tooth + Background/Strips
  • Small fabric pieces for the pocket lining (See pattern piece pdf)
  • Quilt batting
  • Backing fabric
  • Binding – I used a piece 36″ long and 1/2″ wide (folded)
  • Hanging Tab – 1 piece 2″ x 10″
  • Stuffing
  • Embroidery Floss & Needle
  • Regular sewing gear

Here we go:

Step 1: Cut out your pockets as per the pattern pieces, make your binding and fold the hanging tab as if you are making bias tape. Top-stitch the hanging tab on both sides close to the edges. Set pieces aside.

Step 2: Cut the paper pattern out around the tooth portion (cut away the border strips).

Step 3: Cut the tooth pattern into 3 sections – pieces 1-3, pieces 4-6 and pieces 7-11

Step 4: Piece together each of the 3 sections individually, then stitch the three sections together to make the tooth.

Step 5:Attach border pieces 12 and 14 to each side. These are 1″ wide including the 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 6, Making the Pocket: (a) Centre the pocket lining backΒ on the bottom of piece 13 (also a 1″ strip) and the pocket lining front on the centre top of the tooth block as shown. (b) Stitch along the top/bottom of each lining piece. Follow the curve of the lining front. Use a 1/4″ seam. (c) Flip up each lining piece along the seam and press. (d) Place the pocket linings/block and strip right sides together. Pin all matching edges.

Step 6 continued: (e) Mark a dot 1/4″ in from each side of the pocket and 1/4″ down from the top of the tooth block. (f) Beginning at the left, stitch across the top of the strip/tooth block, pivot at the dot and stitch up and around the pocket, pivot at the dot again and stitch across to the right side of the tooth block. (g) Flip strip 13 up and the pocket down. Iron. What a cute pocket you have!

Step 7: Finish attaching all other border strips. First 15 (1″ wide), then 16-19 (1 1/4″ wide each).

Step 8: Trace the face and wand onto your block. Attach quilt batting and the block together (spray baste or pin). Embroider the face and wand.

Step 9: Cut your backing to fit the block. Place the block and the backing fabric wrong sides together. Baste on all sides leaving a 3″ space for stuffing.

Step 10: Baste/pin the hanging tab 1″ down from the top of the block on each side. Stuff the pillow lightly, baste the opening shut.

Step 11: Attach binding using your prefered method. Miter all corners. Done!

Don’t forget the “fairy dust” when you help make your little one’s tooth disappear! As usual, please use this project/pattern for personal use only and email me (sherri@threadridinghood.com) if you have any problems or questions!