How to Make a Pillow from a Placemat
Looking for holiday pillows but they are all sold out? Get creative. Here’s how to make a pillow from placemats in ten minutes.
Ok, so is it me or are all the Christmas decor items selling out faster this year than normal? A lot of people put out Christmas decor very early this year which is no surprise. Thank you 2020. I needed another Christmas pillow and finding them was getting tough.
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By the time I went to purchase two matching pillows at Target I could only get one. UGH! But…while passing the other Christmas decor I saw the matching placemats and thought – “Lumbar Pillow.” Score!
Get out the sewing machine and get ready for a quick, easy sew lumbar pillow cover. If I can do it so you can you! This project is even easier than my envelope pillow tutorial.
Select placemats
Select any placemats you like. I grabbed these two placemats at Target for $4.99 each. The great thing about placemats is there’s no cutting. The fabric is cut, finished and ready to just put together.
Gather Materials
- Sewing Machine
- Scissors
- 2 Placemats (for one finished pillow)
- Thread
- Ribbon for closure
- Pillow insert
Pin Them together
Grab the placemats and pin 3 three sides together. I wanted the border that was naturally on the placemat to also be around the pillow so I pinned my placemats together further in from the edge.
Because of this border I also pinned them together right sides out. When sewing you would want to pin and sew right sides together. This would not work for these placemats and what I was wanting to accomplish.
Leave one side of your placemat open; do not pin it together as you will need an opening for the pillow insert.
Sew them together
Once you have them pinned now it’s time to stitch them up on your sewing machine. This is super easy and like I’ve said before, “if I can do this so can you.” I am NOT a seamstress in any way.
Sew up all three sides leaving one side open for the insert.
Add a closure for the pillow
Since I am not a seamstress I’ve never sewn on a zipper; so, I opted for a ribbon closure. I also didn’t want this to be a costly project or complicated.
I had some canvas type ribbon I’d saved off a package and found it in my drawer. This was perfect and free.
On one of the short ends of the placemat pin your ribbon to the middle of the opening. Once again head to your machine and sew the ribbon to the end of the placemat. You will do this for both sides of the placemat for a tie closure.
Add the insert for the pillow
Now you have a completed pillow in about 10minutes. Give yourself a pat on the back. Add your pillow insert and tie the pillow closed.
I like to use ribbon because it gives it a little something extra, but you can also add a zipper if you are more agile at the sewing machine than I am. Zippers scare me so I avoid them and have no desire to learn how to sew one to a pillow or garment. Maybe someday I will change my mind but for now I’m good.
Mix with other pillows
Now you are done and you can tell all your friends how creative you are. Literally a $10 lumbar pillow in 10minutes…now that’s something to brag about. Just kidding.
Add this to your sofa pillows using my guide on how to mix throw pillows.
Look around and get creative on items you might be able to find to create what you need. Hope that inspired you to create something new this week!
RELATED Pillow POSTS:
- How to Mix and Match Throw Pillows
- Envelope Pillow Cover Tutorial
- Linen and Slipcovered Sofas under $2K
- Our Cozy Christmas Home Tour
