I am so excited spring if finally here! I can open my windows and shout March is National Craft Month! Of course, I have been sewing and crafting all month to celebrate. How about you? Spring is a great time to update your decor too! Liven up your spaces with new pops of color like Pantone’s Radiant Orchid, geometric s and florals. Every season I love making little changes to my decor. I decided to make new throw pillows, along with re-purposing two old drab ones. Today I am sharing my diy and tutorials with you that I made to celebrate National Craft Month with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores! It is the perfect time to get crafty and sewing. The best part is this diy is easier than you think and bonus Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts Stores® gave me a coupon to share with you!
No patterns needed for this diy / sewing project! I’ll share how you can size your pillow shapes and add some flair with trims too!
I have to thank Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores® for sponsoring this post and asking me to participate in their National Craft Month Campaign. I received compensation for this review; however, this is my personal, 100% honest opinions based on my experience.”
First off decide how many pillows you want to make for your decor project. *If you aren’t sure how much fabric you’ll need you can always ask someone at Jo-Ann’s to help you figure it out but, you need to know the size of your pillows you will make. I re-purposed two 16″ x16″ standard square pillows and then purchased two pillow forms for the other accent pillows. I added trim to two making them special. One was 12″ x 16″ The other 16″ x 16″. It took about a half yard of fabric per pillow. Trim’s about one and a half yards each.
Here are the steps for making a basic pillow then I will share how to add the trims which is a bit trickier but, much easier than you think! If I can do it, you can. I had never tackled trims on a pillow before. Be brave and fearless with your crafting. It’s good to spread your wings. Click on to enlarge photo and let me take you through the steps.
Supplies Needed for your throw pillows:
Sewing machine, sewing scissors, needles, bobbins and straight pins (standard sewing supplies)
Approx. 1/2 yard of fabric for 16″ x 16″ pillow (* see notes above)
matching thread
pillow stuffing or pillow forms (I re-purposed filling from 2 drab, puppy torn pillows I took apart, I also used two store bought pillow forms from Jo-Ann Fabrics)
optional: Trim’s about one and three quarters yard each trim.
disappearing marking pen
ruler
Note: My fabric choices were dry clean only so I didn’t need to pre-wash fabrics! If using cottons be sure to do that prior to making or your pillows will shrink when washing. Unless you spot wash or cold water wash and hang dry. Either way you need to press your fabrics before marking and cutting.
Step by Step Directions for making a pillow:
Use your old pillow casing or empty pillow package as a pattern. Cut out the shape with fabric scissors. Make sure your fabric is cut square, I used a ruler and invisible marking pen.
With right sides together match up corners and pin in place
Tip: Do not start sewing from the corners edge! Stop and start (be sure to go forward and back at stops & starts to secure your threads) from in the middle of the pillow leaving a 3 inch or wider for pillow forms opening to turn and stuff pillow
When you reach the corner before the sewing foot hits the edge stop, lift foot and pivot to your new direction and keep sewing (do same at every corner)
When done trim corners diagonally, this helps you have pointed corners
Flip to the right side
Stuff your pillow or insert your pillow form, stitch closed by hand with matching thread and your done!
Now if you make one and want to add a pretty trim on it you can follow these steps. This was my first time so if you are more seasoned with trims just leave your tips in the comments section! I’m sure inquiring minds would love your tips!
Use the steps above for making the pillow pattern for the pillow form pillows.Press fabrics prior to cutting and placing pattern!
After cutting out fabric place your trim meeting fabric edges, hanging trims to inside of pillow. Go around the entire pillow pinning in place. I rounded my corners, not cutting trims at corners. Then you can either sew it onto fabric, but I decided to place the right side on top and sew trim and pillow all at once. Not, sure if that’s the proper way but, I went slowly around corners and carefully watched placement of fabrics as I sewed it together!
Make sure second layer of fabric is not near the opening hole when sewing the trim at this part! You have to do each side of opening separately, this way you still have the hole to add the stuffing into.
Now that you made sure the second layer of fabric isn’t near opening fold down and sew trim area to meet end of opening. As you go along be sure to check and flatten fabric, this is the part you want to sew slower at. It doesn’t take long! Do both opening sides. Flip right sides out and then stuff! Your done!
I love how my pillows turned out, enjoying the colors, florals and geometric patterns all together against my chocolate couch. Fabrics I used were on sale and from upholstery section. I also came across the end of a bolt. Did you know you can get a discount on purchasing the last of the bolt? Score 50% off the end piece.
Here is a small example of what they carrying right now.
I made this handy diy directions you can save, print to use! If you are new to sewing I hope it helps you.
“Jo-Ann makes spring crafting easy during National Craft Month with a $5 off $25 or more purchase
coupon and a spring crafting inspiration website.”
Jo-Ann’s coupon Print and enjoy making a National Craft Month Spring Project!
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What kinds of things do you like to craft and sew for spring?