Easy DIY Christmas Pillows Three Ways
Create a pile of easy-to-sew pillows that will transform your holiday decorations in an instant.

Making a simple pillow cover is a quick, gratifying sewing project that can take any room in your home from everyday to holiday-friendly in just one easy sewing session.

Available at your local craft supply store or independent fabric store, basic pillow forms are great to have on hand to add instant coziness to any room. By making your own pillow cases, you can easily switch out pillow designs according to trends and holidays. They’re easier to store, easy to wash and an all-around easy accessory any way you look at it.
My go-to pillow size is a 14-inch square. It works well on many standard sofas or armchairs. You’ll find that pillow forms come in so many sizes, from large squares to rectangles and even circles. The goal when making a pillow cover is to make sure it’s not too loose but not snug. Prewashing your fabrics is always a good idea with a project like this.

But your pillow designing doesn’t have to stop with a well-made cover. You can experiment with quilt piecing and even creating your own shapes. If you’re ready to add some snuggle-worthy pieces to this year’s holiday decorating, take a look at these three approaches for creating your own DIY pillows.
1. The Basic Cover
For projects like these DIY pillow covers, pre-cut fabrics from your favorite quilt shop are excellent to use. You can pull just a few pieces from a bundle to put to work. For this collection of pillows, you’ll see Tula Pink’s Holiday Homies collection, a line that’s equal parts cozy and whimsical.

Materials Needed
- quilting cottons
- 14" square pillow forms
- sewing machine
- coordinating thread
- rotary cutter
- iron
- ruler
- cutting mat
- tape measure
- pins

To get your DIY pillow started, cut a piece of patterned fabric for the front of the pillow that’s 15 inches square. Cut two pieces of solid fabric that are 15 inches wide and 11 inches tall.

With your pillow back pieces, press one 15-inch raw edge over by 1/2 inch with your iron. Once cool, fold again by another 1/2 inch. Top stitch with a coordinating color thread. Repeat for the second piece.

Place your pillow front right side up. Place one pillow back piece on top, right sides together and finished edge in the middle of the pillow front. Place the remaining piece on top of the first pillow back piece, and pin into place. Place your sewing machine presser foot so that it’s flush with the raw edges of the pillow, and sew along all four sides of the “pillow sandwich.” Clip each corner, and turn right sides out. Insert your pillow form.
2. The Patchwork Pillow
If you’re curious about quilting or are a seasoned quilt pro, a quick patchwork project is sure to impress your guests or gift recipient. For a 24-inch square pillow, you’ll need 25 5-inch fabric squares.

Materials Needed
- 5" quilting cotton squares in a variety of patterns and colors
- 24" square pillow form
- sewing machine
- coordinating thread
- rotary cutter
- ruler
- cutting mat
- iron
- pins

This pillow is a 5x5 grid comprised of 5-inch squares. You can utilize a pack of pre-cut fabrics, or you can make your own.

Begin sewing each row by sewing squares together with a 1/4-inch seam. Press the seams on your first row to the right, and then press to the left for your second row, continuing this pattern for all of your row. Once they're complete, pin the rows together, matching the seams on each square, and sew with a 1/4-inch seam to create the pillow front. Once finished, press the large square with your iron. Your finished front should measure 23 inches square.
3. Free Form Pillows
Do you have a favorite Christmas stocking that you love the look and shape of? Are you a fan of Christmas trees? Go beyond the traditional pillow form shape and make your own!

Using a piece of kraft paper, create your own shape that you’ll use to trace as a pattern. For this set of winter forest trees, several strips of fabric from a pre-cut fabric roll were sewn together to create one larger piece. Trace your pattern onto your fabric and coordinating back fabric, and cut out. Pin the pieces right sides together and sew around all sides with your presser foot flush to the raw edges. This time, however, leave an opening at the bottom of your shape for adding the polyester stuffing. Turn the shape out, and press.
Materials Needed
- quilting cottons
- fiberfill
- kraft paper
- pencil
- sewing machine
- coordinating thread
- hand sewing needle
- rotary cutter
- scissors
- ruler
- cutting mat
- iron

Once pressed, add your fill to your pillow, working from the top of the shape down to the bottom. The firmness of the pillow is up to you. Once done stuffing, sew the opening closed with a blind stitch.
