Turn spare fabric into the throw pillows of your dreams in just minutes

There are many things about adulthood that likely shocked you when you came of age, like the fact that produce spoils so incredibly quickly and that throw pillows can cost upwards of $50. If you don't have a small fortune to spend on decorating your home, you've probably avoided the most stylish of these subtle decorative items.

Luckily, there's another solution: fat quarters. These small cuts of fabric are fun to collect for avid DIY crafters, and they happen to be the perfect size for creating the throw pillows you've been dreaming of for your living room, but simply haven't had the extra funds to purchase.

- Four individual fat quarters, either of different colors and patterns or the same
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Pen or pencil
- Pins
- Ironing board and iron

1. Start by unfolding fat quarters and placing two of them on top of one another with their fronts facing. These will comprise the front of the throw pillow.

2. Using your ruler, measure 10 5/8 inches from the bottom left corner in both directions, marking that point on the vertical and horizontal edge of the square. Repeat this step on the top right corner.

3. Again with your ruler, connect the two marks in the corners diagonally so each corner appears to be a triangle. The long edges of each of these triangles should measure 15 inches.

4. Place one side of the ruler at the 10 5/8-inch point from the bottom left corner on the horizontal side, and measure 14 inches to the long side of the top right triangle, connecting the two points via a straight line. Repeat this process with the top right corner's horizontal side. Now a diamond-like shape should be present in the middle of the square.

5. Using your shears, cut through both pieces of fabric along all of the lines that you've measured.

6. Once the fabric is cut, you should have four triangles (two from each fat quarter). Place their pointed ends together to form a square.

7. Consolidate the four triangles into two triangles by placing two of them on top of the other two, with the fronts of the fabric facing.

8. With your sewing machine, serge together the 10 5/8-inch sides of each triangle. Unfold the triangles — now sewn together on one side — and again serge the 10 5/8-inch sides so that all four triangles are connected to form a square.

9. Iron the square so the edges lay flat — you have now created the front of your throw pillow.

10. Next, to the two remaining fat quarters fold the front of the throw pillow into fourths so it becomes a smaller square. Measure 6 inches from the center of that square, and cut off edges beyond that point.

11. Unfold the trimmed square — and it should align with the edges of the two remaining fat quarters.

12. To create the back of the throw pillow, place the first of the remaining fat quarters facedown against the front of the pillow, and fold the inside edge 2 inches toward the outside. Repeat this step with the second fat quarter, which will sit on top of the first.

13. Serge the edges of both of the remaining fat quarters, then sew down that 2-inch fold on each piece of fabric.

14. Place the faces of the back fat quarters against the face of the front of the pillow, overlapping so they take up the same amount of space as the front. The sewn edges should be in the middle. Pin the perimeter of the fabric.

15. Serge the edges of the pillow so that you're essentially left with an inside-out pillow case.

16. Using the opening between the two back fat quarters' sewn 2-inch edges, fold the pillow case outward so the faces of the fabric are showing. Push the corners as you go, and fill the case with a pillow before displaying it in your living room or bedroom.