Give any room some oomph with these chic pillows that are simple to sew.
1 Just Sewed
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Great DIY pillows start with basic skills and a bit of creativity. Look at the following slides for creative embellishments and ideas. If you’re new to sewing pillows or need a reminder, start with the basics: Cut two pieces of fabric (include seam allowance), sew them together right sides together, and have a 2-inch opening. Flip the pillow right side out completely, fill with pillow stuffing or an insert, and close the opening with a hidden stitch or fabric adhesive. Use a colorful or printed fabric so your pillow stays hip for years.
2 Personality Plus
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Give simple pillow old-timey charm with the addition of lace or doilies. A crocheted detail adds texture and sweetness to the front. Old fabrics are fragile—treat them gently. Add a cursive monogram right on the front using a fabric pen for added flair.
3 Golden Touch
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Catch the metallics trend with this easy glam spin. Gather an assortment of antique buttons, paint them gold with spray paint, and then sew them onto a pillow in heart form—or any shape you desire. The embossed texture creates depth and sheen to solid-colored fabric.
4 Say It with Beads
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Let the pillow do the talking. Use beads in a variety of colors and finishes—glass, pearl, or iridescent. Mark a word on the fabric with a disappearing marker, iron-on stabilizer to give stability to the stitching, and sew the beads onto the marked line with invisible thread. Finish with piping to add a final touch.
5 From Print to Pillow
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This project converts paper crafting into fabric design. Start by creating a marbled paper effect to make a bold print. Scan the result and send it to a fabric-printing plant. After your personalized fabric arrives, sew it together into one-of-a-kind pillow.
6 Color Block Chic
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Create chic color-block pillows with a modern flair. Draw a design on kraft paper, use it to trace out the fabric pieces, and piece them. Add a solid-colored fabric back, stitch both pieces right sides together, turn, and fill. A crisp press and a whipstitch finish the project.
7 Botanical Stitches
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Make your pillow go from plain to pretty with a hand-embroidered botanical print. Sketch out your favorite plant shape—a sarsaparilla, say—onto fabric. Add the design with crewel embroidery in raised thread to complement or contrast your home decor.
8 Travel-Inspired
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Showcase your favorite city or travel experience with a vintage-looking map pillow. Print out on iron-on transfer paper a copy of a map or find one on the internet, flip the picture in computer editing software, and print. Iron the picture onto linen fabric, then attach to a pillow using heat-set tape.
9 Hidden Treasure
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Add a functional touch to your pillow in the shape of a built-in pocket. Perfect for books or a journal in a child’s room, this feature complements coordinating fabric for a streamlined look with practical benefits.
10 Rustic Remix
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Give new pieces an old-fashioned feel with a patchwork pillow made of vintage feed sacks. Dig through thrift shops for your materials, then join them together using a machine stitch. Pair with modern patterns to achieve a balanced, well-crafted aesthetic.
11 Felted Flair
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Work with felted wool to create textured letters that won’t unravel. Cut letter shapes from a retired sweater and stitch onto a pillow of wool-felt. Pair with a knit or cable sweater cover for a coordinating, cozy duo.
12 Monogram Magic
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Monograms add a personal touch in minutes. Use pliable fabric such as felt to cut out your letter or symbol. Glue or sew to the pillow front for a playful, personal accent.
13 Layered Circles
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For a trendy, modern appearance, layer and stitch felt disks to a pillow cover. Stitch every disk in the center and alternate direction with every layer in order to achieve depth and interest.
14 Style Swap
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Update your decor in a snap with material from old tees or thrift shops. Create a collection of colorful, vibrant pillow covers to match and swap out with your neutral sofa. It’s a cheap way of staying fresh.
15 Weatherproof Wonder
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Reuse an outgrown rain jacket to make a water-resistant outside pillow. Cut the jacket out to the desired size and sew the pieces together, keeping in mind original details like zippers or pockets for a whimsical, useful flair.
16 Made for Outdoors
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These soft, weather-resistant outside pillows are ready for sunshine and showers. Create covers in weatherproof or laminated fabric to slide standard-size inserts into. They’re easy to clean and use all season.
17 Fringe Benefits
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Add embellished store-bought pillows with ruffles or pleats. Make center ruffles on a plain throw, stack ruffles for a flower-like round pillow, or incorporate small ruffles to the edges for a hint of something special.
18 Scarf Swap
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Reuse an old favorite scarf as a lovely pillow. Line it with interfacing, then match it with a backing fabric cut slightly larger. Hem the two backing halves and sew everything together with the right sides facing. Turn it inside out, add a form, and topstitch a flange to finish.
