I love to make pillow projects! Why? Probably because they are so fast and easy to do — plus it dresses up a room in no time at all! Personalized name pillows are my absolute favorite, but I also love creating fun and whimsical ones for the holidays, too.
I’m going to show you the easiest way to create a pillow from any design. The pillows shown here were done by using applique designs from www.YouCanMakeThis.com and www.SWAKembroidery.com, but whichever design you choose for the center, the final steps for making it into a cute pillow are the same.
I love to use these small pillows on a bench, a shelf next to a photograph, or even stuff them into my Christmas tree as if they were ornaments! It’s also the perfect little gift to say, “I’m thinking of you.”
Materials Needed:
- Design of your choosing
- Rick-Rack (optional)
- Buttons for embellishing (optional)
- Four, 2.5″ strips of fabric (borders)
- Polyfil stuffing
- Back panel of fabric
Step 1: After you have appliqued or hand-embroidered your design, cut your background fabric 1″ beyond all sides of the finished design.
Step 2: (optional) One side at a time, add rick-rack along the edge of pillow panel. Sew rick-rack onto panel with a straight stitch.
Step 3: Now is the time to embellish with buttons or ribbon if you’d like.
Step 4: Take one of your 2.5″ strips and place “right sides together” (RST) along the top of the tree. Using a 1/4″ seam, sew the first border strip to the top of the pillow. Press seam with iron.
Step 5: Repeat previous step for the right side of the pillow. Sew and press.
Step 6: Continue adding strips until all 4 sides have a sewn border. The diagram below will help you better visualize what is happening.
Step 7: Measure the length and width of your new pillow top. Cut a back panel of fabric the same length and width. Right sides together, sew a 1/4″ seam allowance around all 4 sides of the pillow. Be sure to leave an opening so that you can turn the pillow right side out.
Step 8: Turn right side out. Stuff pillow with batting and close with a needle and thread. Now how easy was that?!
{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
I never made a pillow before. But now I think I’ll make them for gifts.
I will make the pillow for my friends and my families.
not just gifts, I would make one for my home. I think I would quilt the front of it, but those are adorable.
I have made the personalized name pillows for birthday gifts
I have made a pillow! About 20 years ago in Home Ec class! These pillows are very fun…I would love a few for myself or even little teacher gifts!
Never made one before but they are sure cute!
I love to make pillows. I have made tons of the personalized pillows as gifts for my nephews and nieces. These Christmas pillows are adorable…one more thing I would like to make before Christmas.
I’ve made lots of pillows! Back when counted cross stitch was really popular, I had a little business (of sorts) making very nice pillows out of cross stitch pieces others had made. You can be so creative with pillows and they’re fast to make! (Wish I’d had a ruffler foot back then though. I love making ruffles for my pillows but HATE to do traditional gathering.)
Blessings–
Dana
Thank you for this tutorial! I have eyed the pillows on here but was unsure if I wanted to attempt making up my own pattern or not. This is great!
I would make one for myself, my family, and my friends! 
I have made a couple pillows before, but not since I was little and just learning how to sew. 
HeHe!
Merry Christmas!
I have made several pillows using this exact method! It works great and is a great last minute gift!
Yes, I’ve made pillows but none as cute as yours. I love the idea of making small ones for the tree.
I am making a personalized name pillow right now for a girl on my daughter’s cheerleading squad. She drew her name in the Christmas exchange and I thought it would be a great gift for her. These are very cute! I’m still looking for one to make for the head coach…maybe one with a megaphone that says “Coach Julie”????? That way she has a memento from the season. Thanks so much for the pics, they are really helpful.
Yes, I’ve made pillows and actually I have four I need to go back right now for my mom’s Christmas present.
Those pillows are really cute. I need to start crafting earlier next year and make some Christmas pillows for my house.
Well….I’ve made a pillow or two in my day. lol! They are some of my favorite things to create! They can transform a room for any holiday, add a splash of color, or display a meaningful sentiment. I currently have 3 tucked in the branches of my tree. Yours are darling as always!
Yes, I’ve made pillows before - they can be so fun and you can get so creative with them.
I’ve made a pillow before but it wasn’t a pretty sight! That was before I started really sewing. I think I could do this and would love to make one for my home…when I have time.
I made a pillow door hanger last year using directions similar to this. I love the wreath and Christmas tree pillows!
I am working on an elf embroidery pattern for my 9-year-old daughter, which I will finish into a pillow for Christmas. (Hopefully.) Your instructions couldn’t have come at a better time!
I’ve made a lot of hand embroidered pillows with sayings. I’m making one for our neighbors gift this year that says “special friends become our chosen family”, since they have no family and have sort of adopted us
Oh, I love making pillows of all sorts!
My first sewing project of my very own when I was about 6 years old was a set of tiny little sachet pillows with scented powder in them for my older sisters as Christmas gifts.
I love making pillows. You are right, they are really quick and great for decorating.
I love making these pillows! I have a so many in the last six months! The name pillows are definitely my favorite too!
I have made pillows before, and I gave them all as gifts!! They are fun to make and easy.
Thanks for the tutorial
SheilaC
I think my mom would like one of these. I have never tried to make a pillow before. Maybe it’s time?
I’ve never done my own pillow, but have great ambitions to do one soon!
I think they’d be cool teacher gifts!
Yes, I have made a pillow before, but it’s been a while. These would make great gifts!
I actually have made many pillows, but nothing as cool as the applique name pillow I made over the weekend (thanks to the packaged I downloaded from SWAK). It is for a friend’s baby and the first time I’ve ever used polyfill stuffing. It turned out so cute, I hope my friend likes it as much as I do.
I really like the Believe one. They’d make a great gift for my pastor’s family’s new house.
Very cute! I have only made 2 small pillows, but plan to make some personalized name pillows for my niece and nephews this year!!! I just love these!
I’ve never made a pillow but I have plans to make my daughter a personalized appliqued pillow since I can find nothing with her name on it. But the pillows are a great idea for gifts. I will have to remember those for next year.
I’ve never made a pillow before. Don’t know why. I always say that I will with leftover quilt blocks, but I haven’t yet. I guess I should make some for myself.
Hand sewing a pillow for my doll when I was a kid (6-8?) is the first sewing project I remember doing. I remember that the stuffing didn’t quite stay because of my too large stitches, but I was so proud that I made it. Itotally want to make some christmas throw pillows for the couch this year and I love the way you make the borders on your pillows.
Love the ric-rac trim idea! I have made pillows for my living room, but not as cute as these
No, but would be great for teacher gifts
I just made a pillow with the free home for the holidays design. Thank you!
Yes I’ve made a lot of pillows before. I usually use the pillow forms from the fabric store. I’ll have to try your instructions next time I make a pillow. And the personalized name pillow is next on my to do list.
Yes, I love to make pillows.
I love making pillows. They are quick, easy, and you can use your stash.
Yes I have made pillows before! These would be great Teacher’s gifts!!
I have made pillowcases but never a Pillow.
I am presently working with a neighbor who is from Germany, sew pillow cases for her European sized down pillows. (The european size pillowcases have proven to be impossible to find) She purchased a second holiday print flannel sheet set to use for fabric. (Target $14.99) We will have lots of extra fabric to make some extra items! YEAH! Stay tuned at my blog for the finished projects!!
I love making pillows. Thank you for showing me how easy it is to put a boarder on them.
I’ve made lots of pillows, in many styles … they’re a fun project. I really like your “joy” pillow!
My first pillow was made when I was a preteen. My Grandma still has it, I made it for my Grandpa and it was a golf pattern.
No, I have never made a pillow. I could try now because your instructionals made them look so pretty and simple. Thanks.
My first sewing project was a pillow in Home Ec. class during 9th grade. I have not made one since but i am going to.
I have made pillows out of placemats before and have also done a few envelope style slip covers for pillow forms, but never a strip work one. I love the ric rack trim and all the fabrics. This would be a great way to clear out some of my scraps stash. Thanks!
I’ve made the personalized name pillow for my daughter. It’s so easy and fun!
I made 14 name/initial pillows using the ycmt pattern for christmas gifts last year! This year I chose words like ‘brrr’ and ‘welcome’, ‘winter’ for gifts for aunts and uncles.
I’ve made pillows, but they’ve been much more simple than these adorable ones. You know… all out of one fabric. I will have to try making something like this soon!
I’ve made lots of pillows in the past but nothing as cute as these! I can’t wait to start on some next week while my children are at school. I see new throw pillows under our Christmas tree plus now I have a use for those scraps leftover from long ago pajamas.
Thanks!!
Very very nice this pillow!
I have made a personalized pillow
I want to make the name pillows for my kids but me and applique dont get along all that well yet. I do better with the embroidery file LOL. I will keep trying though…
I have made a pillow- just basic zip ones, but they are nice because I can switch them out when I need to.
I have made a few pillows, but never made one as cute and personable as these are. I’m thinking that I need to get my creative self busy making some adorable gifts for Christmas.
yes, and when I went to stuff it I realized I had forgotten to leave a whole and had sewn it shut!
I love the Believe pillow. Knitpurlgurl sent me here.!!!
I love all of the pillows. My grand daughters would love these. I know I want one.