DIY Pillow Tutorial

DIY Pillow

DIY pillow with tassels and trim
T​he Spruce / Lovely Indeed

Throw pillows are a great way to add some fun decor and personality to your space! They're also a perfect opportunity for a DIY. You can customize a simple, plain throw pillow in so many different ways with this fun and easy tutorial. Grab an old pillow that you might have laying around and get it ready for a total refresh.

Gather Materials

Materials for making a custom pillow
T​he Spruce / Lovely Indeed

As you are gathering your materials, start to make a plan for how you'd like to transform your pillow. The sky is really the limit—think: pom-poms, tassels, trims, iron-on patches, embroidery, and so much more. We chose a fun pompom trim and hand-made tassels, to get you on your way. As you choose your materials, also keep in mind the color palette of your existing pillow, and grab items to add that will be complementary.

Supplies

  • Plain throw pillow
  • Thread
  • Yarn
  • Pom-pom trim

Tools

  • Needle
  • Scissors
  • Glue gun
  • Pom-pom makers (optional)

Make Tassels

Wrapped yarn for tassel making
T​he Spruce / Lovely Indeed 

Start by making your tassels. Wrap yarn around your fingers, leaving space between your fingers to make sure the yarn doesn't get too tight. Wrap about 30 times around, and then check whether the tassel has your desired fullness. If not, wrap another 10-15 rounds and check again.

Add Thread to Tassels

Threaded tassel
T​he Spruce / Lovely Indeed 

Once the yarn wrapping has your desired thickness, slip the loops of yarn off of your hand, being sure to hold on through the middle so that the loops stay separated. Cut a 12 inch piece of thread and insert it through the middle of the loops. This is what you'll use to sew your tassels to the corners of your pillows.

Tie Off Tassels

Tied-off tassel
T​he Spruce / Lovely Indeed 

Next, cut a 12-inch piece of yarn. Bringing all of the yarn from the loops together, tie the 12-inch piece around the top of your tassel, toward the end with the thread. Pull tight and double knot. Then use your scissors to trim the opposite ends of the tassel until they're all tidy and even.

Follow these steps to create as many tassels as you would like for your pillow.

Glue Trim

Glueing trim on a pillow
T​he Spruce / Lovely Indeed 

Use your glue gun to place a clean, thin line of glue around the outer seams or edges of your pillow. Press your pom-pom trim into the line of glue. You'll want to work in four or five-inch sections so that the glue doesn't cool or dry by the time you place the pom-pom trim over it.

Finish Trim

Finished trim edges on a pillow
T​he Spruce / Lovely Indeed 

Continue working your way around the pillow with the trim. When you make your way back to your beginning section, trim the pom-poms so that they meet in a tidy way.

Sew on Tassels

Sewing tassels on a pillow
T​he Spruce / Lovely Indeed 

Next, sew the tassels onto the corners of your pillow. Use the thread that you placed through the tassels; thread the loose end through the eye of your needle, leaving it looped through the tassels. Sew this through the corner of your pillow and back through the top of your tassel a few times, hiding your stitches. Tie off with a knot on the back side of the pillow.

Repeat this process for all of the tassels that you created.

Enjoy!

DIY tassel and pompom trim pillow
T​he Spruce / Lovely Indeed 

Fluff your pillow, trim any remaining threads, and add that masterpiece to your comfy couch!