First we'll prepare the center panel of the pillow. Cut two pieces of the quilter's cotton a bit larger than the hoop that you'll be using.

We're embroidering the large 6" square Trapunto design, and using a 6" x 10" hoop.

Lay the hoop on the fabric and trace around it, leaving an inch or two on the sides. Repeat.

Cut the shapes from the fabric pieces.

Next, cut a piece of low-loft polyester batting to the size of the fabric. We're using two layers of low-loft batting to give the panel extra puffiness.

Make a "cotton and batting" sandwich. Spray the wrong side of a cotton piece with spray adhesive, and smooth the batting on top. Spray the second cotton piece's wrong side with adhesive, and smooth that on top of the batting.

Hoop the "sandwich" with one piece of tear-away stabilizer, and embroider the design.

After the embroidery has finished, unhoop and remove the excess tear-away stabilizer.

Measure, mark, and cut the embroidery to an 8" square.

Next, add a mitered corner border. This border will frame the center Trapunto panel. Measure and mark a 14 3/4" square on the paper.

Mark 3 3/8" in from each corner. Connect these marks inside the large square, which results in an 8" box. This box represents the center Trapunto panel.

Measure and mark a 3/8" seam allowance to the inside of the center box.

Mark diagonal lines in two corners, from the inner box to the outer box.

Mark a 1/4" seam allowance to the outer edge of the diagonal lines (shown in red).

Cut out the shape along the red (seam allowance) lines, and the top seam allowance.

Trace the pattern four times on the back of the companion fabric.

Cut the shapes from the fabric.

Attach the borders to the center panel. Lay the center panel right side up, and align the short side of the border piece, right side down, to the edge of the center piece. Pin in place.

Sew a 1/4" seam along the edge. Repeat this for all 4 edges of the panel.

Align the corners together and pin in place.

Sew a 1/4" seam, starting at the corner closest to the edge of the center panel, and sew down to the outer edge.

Cut a piece of companion fabric to the size of the front panel.

Place the front and back panels together, right sides together. Add trim to the sides and top; we'll add the bottom trim later.

Lay the trim, ribbon side facing out, in between the panels. Pin in place.

Cut the trim to size

Using a zipper foot on your machine, stitch along the side as close as you can to the inside edge of the trim. Keep the beads to the inside to prevent sewing over them. Repeat this for the side and top edges.

For the bottom edge, pin the trim along the inside edge of the fabric.

Sew the trim in place.

Add a zipper to the bottom. With the zipper open, lay one edge along the inside edge of the fabric. Keep the zipper pull facing to the inside. Pin in place.

Sew along the inside edge of the zipper, staying as close to the teeth as possible.

Pin the remaining edge of the zipper along the inside edge of the fabric, and pin in place. Sew the zipper in place.

Turn the cover right side out, insert the pillow. Zip, and enjoy!

Tip: To prevent beads or fragile trims from being damaged during laundering, turn the cover inside out before washing.