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Whether or not you’re a cushion collector, nothing says home sweet home like a DIY pillow. The truth is you really can’t have too many throw pillows (no matter what the Progressive commercial says about turning into your parents), so don’t underestimate these small statement staples. These cushiony additions to beds, chairs, and furniture can make all the difference in creating a cohesive space. The best part is that a DIY pillow is a way to tailor your room’s aesthetic, even if you can’t find what you need in stores. Necati Kutay Isci of Mudita Rug Studio was in this exact predicament when he was searching for a sofa pillow to no avail. So he made a punch needle pillow himself, and it was actually a bit like therapy.
Making a DIY pillow is simple, and you can even use pre-made pillowcases for these projects. Should you choose to make a pillow from scratch, it comes down to cutting the fabric to size, sewing it around an existing pillow, and adding the zipper closure or leaving a hole open for stuffing. The entire project shouldn’t take more than a few hours. Here, five DIY pillow ideas to get you crafting.
Clever punch needle pillow
Isci, based in Muğla, Turkey, has DIY pillow-making down to the letter. He even sells this humorous punch needle pillow cover on Etsy.
To make the punch needle pillow, you’ll need:
Pick out fabrics and threads based on the desired design. Make sure the punch needle and threads match, so check if they’re both the right size for each other. Isci uses a 3.5-millimeter needle and a 3- or 3.5-millimeter thread for his DIY pillows.
Turn the pillowcase inside out, then draw the pattern you want. (If you want to write on the pillow in this step, you need to use the mirroring method.)
Attach the hoop and start embroidering. If you’re not familiar, watch YouTube videos to learn the basics of punch needling. “This hobby is really good therapy,” Isci says. “It’s really nice that you don’t focus on anything else while punching, and it clears your mind. It is also a hobby that maximizes your desire for productivity because when you start punching, you want to punch all kinds of things.” Just don’t get too carried away. “The tip of the needle is sharp,” he adds. “When you work on the hoop, if you have a hand or leg under the hoop, the needle may prick.”
Boho macramé accent pillow
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Rachel Valente of Phoenix used an old throw pillow from her college days to recreate this boho accent pillow after a bout of inspiration from Drew Scott of Lone Fox. “This project works on almost any pillow or pillow cover, but is an especially great way to utilize a pillow you don’t love the original design of or one made from a cheaper material, since it’s used more aesthetically than functionally,” she says.
To make the boho accent pillow, you’ll need:
Cut the macramé cord to the desired length, and two more to this length, for a total of three cords. “Feel free to get creative with the project and use different colored macramé cords and create different patterns and shapes,” Valente says.
Tie the ends of all three cords together. Leave enough excess cord so you can fray later. Braid the three strands together. Tie off the end on the other side once you finish, and leave enough space for frayed edges.
Arrange the braided cord in any way you’d like onto the pillow. Use the hot glue gun to attach it to the pillow. Brush out the ends of the cord to complete the boho look.
Note: This design is not washable because of the hot glue. As it will be used as a decor pillow, it should stay clean. But if you anticipate that the pillow may get dirty, it’s better to sew on the cord so you can clean it. A gentle laundry detergent, like Dirty Labs Hand Wash & Delicates, will keep it in pristine shape.
Ink pattern pillow
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For a beginner friendly DIY pillow, creator Annika Hinds, based in Portland, taught herself the steps for this adorable ink-patterned pillow with the help of Cricut instruction recourses and tutorials.
To make the ink-patterned pillow, you’ll need:
Cut the design out of the ink transfer sheet. Hinds used a Cricut machine, but you can also use scissors if the design is simple enough.
Put the design face down on the pillow case, and make sure it’s exactly where you want it to be. Press down on the entire design with a hot iron and get all the edges. “Place even pressure on the iron and go over the entire design,” Hinds says. “Otherwise the design may be patchy.”
Once the ink completely transfers, peel the sheet off. “You’re left with an adorable design,” Hinds says.
Rainbow fringe pillow
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Mathew Boudreaux of Mx Domestic in Camas, Washington, puts the fun in DIY pillow designs with a joyful rainbow fringe pillow tutorial. “Before beginning the sewing, it’s best to cut all of the pieces and prep the fabric with interacting,” they say. “And also get ready to have fun because sewing with fringe is a party.”
To make the rainbow fringe pillow, you’ll need:
- Fringe (this tutorial uses red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and purple)
- Fabric (match the fringe colors)
- Pillow case
- Thread and needle
- Scissors
- Sewing tape
- Sewing machine
Cut three 20-inch lengths of fringe from each of the seven colors. Then, Boudreaux recommends cutting a 5-by-20-inch rectangle from each of the seven colors of fabric.
Place each fringe length one inch from the fold of the previous one, and use sewing tape to secure. Make sure the fringe is facing down onto the corresponding fabric color.
Sew the fringe in place. Put the right sides together, fold the fabric over the fringe and sew a quarter of an inch from the fold to secure the stitch. Fold back over and continue adding more fringe.
To add the next fabric color, align the raw edges along the existing length of the prior color. Stitch together using a quarter of an inch seam allowance. Fold back over and press. Repeat.
Placemat upcycled pillow
What to do with old placemats, especially those that no longer belong to a group of four? Sarah Teresinski of Redeux Style in Dallas upcycled the table setting staple into a cozy DIY pillow. “Start by shopping your own house, or ask your friends and family if they have any placemats they’re not using, or hit the thrift store,” she says. “You only need two placemats to make one pillow. The placemats don’t need to match they just need to be similar in size.” Have a little fun with colors and textures, especially if fringe and tassels are already part of the design. “Changing pillows out can be expensive,” she says. “This is a really cool way to create something new.”
For thrifted placemats, Teresinski recommends hand washing or machine washing on a delicate cycle. Lay flat to air dry.
To make the placemat upcycled pillow, you’ll need:
- Two fabric placemats (similar in size)
- Fabric glue or needle and thread
- Scissors
- Fiber fill stuffing
If the placemat has tassels or any extra designs you want to keep, pin them down on each placemat, about half an inch. “Don’t be intimidated, and don’t worry about messing something up,” Teresinski. “Most people don’t notice tiny little mistakes we make when we create.”
Place the two pinned sides of the placemats facing each other. This will form the inside of the pillow. Stitch the three sides of the pillow together, about half an inch in. You can also use fabric glue. Allot at least two hours to dry. Flip the pillow case right side out and take out the pins, if you used any.
Place fiber fill into the open pocket. You can also use an old towel or a sweater you don’t wear anymore, Teresinski recommends. Sew it shut or use fabric glue to close the opening.
