Tutorial: How to Make Throw Pillows from a Bed Pillow

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I have been holding on to an old bed pillow {ok, so I have a couple -- but it's always good to have at least 1 extra one in case company spends the night!} One in particular has been staring at me every night when I go to bed... it had taken up permanent residence on my dresser... just waiting for a project to change it into something fabulous! Well... that day finally came! Ta da!!!


If you are looking for a super simple home decor project for next to nothing {$} then please... read on!

Grab an old-ish pillow -- if your own pillow is in need of replacing... this is a good excuse to go get a new one.


Next, grab your sewing scissors and cut that sucker in half!


There is a whole lot of extra stuffing in there that you won't need... so just pull some out and either trash it, or if you are like me, you save it for another future sewing project!


Next, cut off about 2" from each of the pillow halves -- I can't really think of a use for this piece, so I tossed it. If you can think of one... totally save it!


Then, grab your straight pins and pin the edge of your pillow shut. Since it's bulky there really isn't a way to iron it down and make it all perfect and neat. So... instead, just kinda eye-ball it. I folded my ends under about 1/4" and pinned them together.


When it comes to the end - depending on your pillow - you may have extra fabric from the side of your pillow. Here's what I did. I started by stretching it out.


Then I found the middle of the stretched part and folded it in towards the center of my pillow until the side seams lined up. Then I pinned it closed!


Ta da! All pinned!


Time to sew! Ya... it was about as easy as it looks to get that little stuffed pillow up there and under the foot of my sewing machine, but once I got it in place, it was super easy to stitch. Just a simple straight stitch with about a 1/4" seam allowance. All the way down making sure to back stitch at the start and finish.


I chose to add an extra reinforcing stitch to my pillow... heaven knows that pillows in my house get thrown around A LOT by my little ones, so these little guys need all the reinforcements they can get! My seam allowance was about 1/8" {as close to the edge of the pillow as I could get. Back stitch at the start and finish.


Repeat for the other half of your original pillow and you will have 2 cute rectangle pillows... perfect for covering!


I used my tutorial here to make my pillow slipcovers. I found this cute home decor fabric at Joann's on sale. These are the colors for my "to be completed" living room/dining room. What do you think!?! I am just waiting on some extra $ to get new slipcovers for my couch and to put up some new baseboards and it is done!


5 comments

  1. We replaced our pillows (4 each) with a new memory foam pillow each yesterday and I was planning to use the old ones to make throw pillows for the lounges and beds, so thanks for this tutorial.
    Once they're done I shall link back to your fab tute.

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  2. Love the fabric!

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  3. Really great toutorial. Never thought of cutting the pillow and turning it into 2. Great idea. Really need to try this!
    Greatings from Germany, Nicky

    www.schlitzies.blogspot.com

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  4. Wonderful idea! Thank you for sharing!
    Catherine
    www.completelycatherine.com

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  5. Dear Katy,

    Thank you so much for this clever idea! I have two pillows that are perfect for this project. I will absolutely try it.
    Bye, Lara (from Holland)

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