Pillows make the perfect finishing touch to any room and are easy to create. There is so much fabric and trim available that even a basic pillow can become an artistic statement piece. Simply use square fabric, basic sewing skills, and embellish with embellishments like pompoms, tassels, ric rac or pre-made piping piping to personalize it further for guests, family and friends. DIY pillows will surely make an impactful statement!
At the first stage of creating a pillow, deciding on a size should be your top priority. Once chosen, two squares of fabric that measure equal (plus seam allowances) need to be cut for its cover - you can either use a rotary cutter and cutting mat, straight pins and scissors or simply straight pins and scissors to do this step.
When ready to sew your pillow together, place the back piece of fabric facedown on one of the 23"x16" front pieces and stitch around all four edges with a 1/8 inch seam allowance, leaving about a 2-inch opening for stuffing at the bottom edge of fabric. When finished stitching the seams, clip all four corners at an angle to reduce bulk before turning right side out and pressing all edges with a hot iron. If using stretchy material like T-shirts as your pillow insert it's important that it is completely filled before closing its opening with stitchs.
Set the back fabric piece (23"x16") over the front piece pinned, and sew all three sides using an allowance of 1/8". Once finished with your pillow assembly, trim off corners at an angle to avoid thick bulky edges and use a serger or zigzag stitch for an elegant professional finish.
Make your pillow even more unique by creating it reversible! Fold under and stitch down each edge about 1/2" before flipping it over and tucking under any ends that protrude from under the edge - giving your cushion an attractive rounded shape and finished edge that complements any sofa or bed beautifully.
Felted textiles like wool sweaters or even t-shirts make great pillows due to their non-fraying nature and can easily be secured using needle and thread. You can use felted textiles as decorative accents on your pillows as monograms; cut initials from felted wool sweaters for easier sewing then attach them securely on front of pillow for beautiful custom accent. Adding monograms can help personalize any room and add an elegant personal touch - try monogramming plain, striped pillows for an easy personalization feature that gives it an added personal touch!
