Pillows Archives - Fabricated Closet

Tutorial: Comfy Seat Pillow Using Fabric Scraps

AJ Pratt — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:29:19 +0000

This tutorial will walk you through how to make a seat pillow that fits your chair specifically. I’ll also show you how to make it using leftover scraps of fabric so you can make it both unique and sustainable.

Supplies Needed:

scraps of fabric
some kind of string (you can also cut up old shoelaces)
Something for stuffing your pillow
optional: interfacing

Step 1

Measure your chair

To make sure your pillow will fit your chair, you’ll first need to measure your chair. Use a ruler to measure the length and width of your chair. Then you want to add 1 inch to both measurements to sew with 1/2″ seam allowance.

So in my case, the chair measured 14″ by 15″. So my pillow pattern will be 15″ by 16″

When making a chair cushion, it’s useful to add ties to the corners to make sure the pillow will stay in place. But, if you see in the photos, the front legs of my chair actually connect to the back. Because of this, I decided to make a strap that goes around the seat of the chair in front, and only have the ties in the back. If you have a chair with 4 normal legs, you can ignore this part and just add ties to all 4 corners.

Optional: For the strap, I needed to take the depth of the chair into account, which measured 1.5 inches. The length of the strap will be the width of your chair plus the depth on both sides (and then add seam allowance). The width of the strap can be whatever you want it to be (I chose 5 inches)

The final measurements of my strap are 15″ (width of the chair) +1.5″+1.5 (depth of the chair)+1″(seam allowance). Which make the final strap dimensions 19″ by 6″

Step 2

arrange your scraps into a collage and sew them together

Start by laying out your fabric scraps in a collage. I recommend cutting your fabric pieces into squares and rectangles, especially if this is your first time making a scrap project. They are easier to work with than curved edges. The collage should be big enough to cut out your pattern pieces (2 sides of the pillow, and optional 2 strap pieces)

After you’re happy with the collage, sew all of the pieces together. It’s easiest to sew together smaller chunks, and then sew each chunk together to create the whole collage.

Step 3

cut out your pillow pieces

Overlay your pillow pattern piece on your collage and cut it out twice. If you are adding a strap to the bottom of the pillow, you also want to cut out two of the rectangle strap pieces.

Step 4

optional: sew your chair strap

If your chair does not have legs at the front of the seat, like mine, you’ll want to add the strap. start by adding interfacing to one strap piece. Then sew them along the length with right sides together, leave the short sides open.

After sewing, turn the strap to the right side and press it flat.

Step 5

Baste your string and strap

Baste the strap to the front of the pillow and baste the string to the back of the pillow. Or just baste string to all four corners of the pillow.

Step 6

sew the pillow front and back

With right sides together, sew the front and back of the pillow sandwiching the strap and string on the inside. Make sure to leave a gap in the stitches somewhere.

Step 7

Turn the pillow to the right side

Turn the pillow to the right side through the gap. The string and strap should now be outside of the pillow.

Step 8

stuff the pillow

You can use anything you want to stuff the pillow. I like to use my leftover scraps for pillow stuffing, but poly-fill or other types of stuffing will make a softer pillow.

Step 9

sew the gap

All that’s left to do is sew up the gap. Hand stitch this closed and attach you new seat pillow to your chair.

Finished!

The post Tutorial: Comfy Seat Pillow Using Fabric Scraps appeared first on Fabricated Closet.

Tutorial: Basic Envelope Pillow Using Fabric Scraps

AJ Pratt — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:47:29 +0000

I’ll walk you through how to make an envelope pillow using leftover scraps and remnants of fabric. This is an easy tutorial that is great for beginners or for anyone who want to use up those scraps of fabric you have leftover from other projects. Print out the free pdf pattern below and get started with the step-by-step instructions

Supplies Needed:

Lots of scraps of fabric

Sewing Pattern PDF

(all of my patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance)

Step 1

arrange your scraps

Lay out your fabric scraps and start organizing them into a collage. Make sure the scrap collage is big enough for your pillow pattern to fit. Remember to overlap the fabric pieces to account for seam allowance.

I recommend cutting your fabric pieces into squares and rectangles, especially if this is your first time making a scrap project. They are easier to work with than curved edges. The collage should be big enough to cut out your pattern pieces

Step 2

sew your scraps together

One by one sew your scrap pieces together. I usually start by sewing smaller pieces into chunks, and then add on the bigger pieces.

Step 3

cut out your pattern pieces

Place your pillow pattern pieces on top of your scrap layout and cut them all out.

Step 3

hem the back pieces

Hem the inside edge of both back pieces, there is a 1″ hem allowance.

Step 4

overlap and baste the back pieces

Place the back pieces so that they overlap 3 inches. Then baste them together on the sides.

Step 5

sew front and back of the pillow

With right sides together, sew the front and back of the pillow all the way around the perimeter.

Step 6

turn pillow to right side

Turn the pillow to the right side through the envelop hole in the back.

Finished!

The post Tutorial: Basic Envelope Pillow Using Fabric Scraps appeared first on Fabricated Closet.

Tutorial: Upcycled Jeans Butt Pillow

AJ Pratt — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:29:25 +0000

This tutorial will show you how to turn your old worn out pair of jeans into a silly butt pillow to decorate your home. This is a great way to upcycle an old pair of pants and give them a new life. Simply follow along with the step-by-step instructions, and have a new whimsical pillow in no time.

Note: when sewing with denim, I recommend using a jeans or denim needle with your sewing machine. A standard needle may snap if you try to sew through too many layers of denim.

Supplies Needed:

1 Old pair of jeans
Something for stuffing (I use leftover fabric scraps)

Step 1

Cut the top of your jeans so that they are straight along the bottom

Step 2

Turn the jeans inside out and sew along the bottom edge

Step 3

Turn the jeans back to the right side

Step 4

Topstitch or hand stitch through the top of the jeans

Line up the front and back waistband and sew through all layers (or handstitch if your machine can’t handle so much denim). Leave a gap in the middle for stuffing the pillow.

Step 5

Stuff the pillow

You can use what you want to stuff your pillow. I like to use leftover fabric scraps, but this does make the final pillow a little more lumpy than it otherwise would be. So, if you don’t like that, you can always use poly-fill or another type of pillow stuffing material.

Step 6

sew up the gap in the top of the waistband

You can hand-sew or topstitch through all layers.

Finished!

The post Tutorial: Upcycled Jeans Butt Pillow appeared first on Fabricated Closet.

Tutorial: Make a Cute Penguin Pillow

AJ Pratt — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 19:31:34 +0000

Learn how to make an adorable penguin pillow with a cute little penguin face. This project is great for using leftover remnants and scraps of fabric you have from other projects and is sure to be a much-loved and festive piece of home decor. Simply check out the free pattern below and get started following the step-by-step tutorial.

Supplies Needed:

1/2 yard of black fabric
scrap of white fabric
small scrap of orange fabric
Something for stuffing

sewing Pattern pDF

(all of my patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance)

Step 1

reinforce the upper corner of the front white piece

Stitch along the seam line at the top corner of the white piece to reinforce it.

Step 2

Clip to the stitching

Step 3

Sew the front white to the front black piece

With right sides together, flip the front pieces around to sew them together. For the upper point, you will need to spread the slashed corner on the white piece. You will also need to ease the fabric pieces together around the curve at the top, being careful not to create puckers in the fabric.

Step 4

prep the eye pieces

Fold over the edges of the eye pieces and baste them in place.

Step 5

prep the beak

Fold over the seam allowance on the orange beak piece and baste it in place. After basting, you will need to clip off the overhanging fabric.

Step 6

sew the face on the penguin

Use the pattern as a guide to place the eyes and beak of the penguin face. Then edgestitch the pieces in place. After sewing, you can remove the basting stitches from the previous steps.

Step 7

sew the front and back of the pillow together

With right sides together, sew the front and back of the pillow. Be sure to leave a gap in the bottom so you can turn the pillow to the right side.

Step 8

trim the seam and turn to the right side

Clipping the seam with pinking shears can help get a more rounded edge. Then turn the pillow right-side out.

Step 9

stuff the pillow

You can use what you want to stuff your pillow. I like to use leftover fabric scraps that are too small to use for anything else as my pillow stuffing, but this does make the final pillow a little more lumpy than it otherwise would be. So, if you don’t like that, you can always use poly-fill or another type of pillow stuffing material.

Step 10

sew up the gap

Once you’re finished stuffing, be sure to sew up the gap by hand sewing.

Finished!

The post Tutorial: Make a Cute Penguin Pillow appeared first on Fabricated Closet.

Tutorial: Easy Peppermint Candy Festive Pillow

AJ Pratt — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 19:29:09 +0000

Make your own DIY festive decorations this year with this easy Peppermint Pillow. I included the pattern I used below if you want to check it out, but really all you need to get started is 5 strips of red fabric and 5 strips of white fabric along with some rope or string for tying off the ends.

Supplies Needed:

1/2 yard of red fabric (or long scraps)
1/2 yard of white fabric (or long scraps)
string or rope for tying both ends
Something for stuffing

sewing Pattern pDF

(all of my patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance)

Step 1

sew the strips together alternating colors

Sew the red and white strips of fabric together with right sides together.

Step 2

fold over 3 inches on both side of the pillow and sew them in place

With wrong sides together, fold over 3 inches (one and a half stripes) and sew along the top, bottom and inner edge. You can ditch stitch for a more “invisible” finish.

Step 3

fold in half and sew

With right side together, fold the pillow in half and sew along the long side.

Step 4

turn the pillow to the right side

Step 5

tie one side of the pillow

using string or rope, tie of one side of the pillow.

Step 6

stuff the pillow

Step 7

tie off the other side of the pillow

Once you’ve finished stuffing, just use another piece of rope to tie of the other side of the peppermint candy pillow

Finished!

The post Tutorial: Easy Peppermint Candy Festive Pillow appeared first on Fabricated Closet.

Tutorial: Spiderweb Throw Pillow

AJ Pratt — Thu, 22 May 2025 15:59:03 +0000

Check out this creative way to sew your own Halloween-themed throw pillows by making a spiderweb pillow. This is a simple and easy way to add a little spooky aesthetic to your living area or porch while also practicing your sewing skills with trim and piping. Check out the free pattern and follow along with the step-by-step instructions to get started.

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. That being said, I encourage you to use your local sewing shop whenever possible, or to look for supplies second hand.

Supplies Needed:

1/2 yard black scrap fabric
2 yards of white piping
white lace, ric-rac, string, ribbon or other decoration
Little scraps or some kind of stuffing

sewing Pattern pDF

(all of my patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance)

Step 1

Sew your ric-rac, ribbon, or lace along the stitch lines

Sew what ever you want to use for your spiderweb all along the stitch lines of the pattern.

Step 2

Cut out 6 triangles

Alternate the triangles with one pointed up, then down, and so on so that you have enough fabric. This also keeps the white trim from lining up on all the pieces, giving it a more spiderweb-like effect.

Step 3

line up the triangles in groups of 3 and add white piping between the layers

Separate the triangles into groups of 3 and sew them together with white piping between the layers.

Step 4

sew the two sides of the hexagon together adding piping to the center

Lay out the piping in the center and sew the two groups of triangles together to for a spiderweb hexagon.

Step 5

Repeat steps 1-4 for the other side of the pillow

Step 6

sew the front and back of the pillow together

With right sides together, sew your two pillow faces around the edge. Be sure to leave a gap on the bottom of the pillow so that you can turn it right side out.

Step 7

Clip the corners and turn to the right side

Step 8

stuff the pillow

You can use what ever you want to stuff your pillow. I like to use leftover fabric scraps that are too small to use for anything else as my pillow stuffing, but this does make the final pillow a little more lumpy than it otherwise would be. So, if you don’t like that, you can always use polyfill or another type of traditional pillow stuffing material.

Step 9

sew up the gap

Hand sew the gap closed to finish up the pillow.

Finished!

The post Tutorial: Spiderweb Throw Pillow appeared first on Fabricated Closet.

Tutorial: Pumpkin Pillow with Scraps

AJ Pratt — Thu, 22 May 2025 15:55:07 +0000

Do you like finding ways to use up some scraps of fabric in creative and festive ways? Try making this cute pumpkin pillow that you can make using a variety of orange fabric scraps or remnants. It’s pretty simple and only requires using piping between the pumpkin layers. Get started by accessing the free pattern and following along with the step-by-step instructions.

Supplies Needed:

Orange scraps of fabric
2 yards of black piping
Little scraps or some kind of stuffing

sewing Pattern pDF

(all of my patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance)

Step 1

baste the black piping to the side pumpkin pieces

Add the black piping to all of the far-side and center-side pumpkin pieces along the inner curves.

Step 2

sew the pumpkin pieces together, sandwiching the piping

Do this for the front and back of the pillow.

Step 3

Sew the pumpkin stem

with right sides together, sew the stem pieces.

Step 4

turn the stem right side out

Trim the seam, clip the curves and turn the stem to the right side.

Step 5

Baste the stem to the top of the pumpkin pillow

Step 6

sew the front and back of the pillow together

With right sides together, sew your two pillow faces around the edge. Be sure to leave a gap on the bottom of the pillow so that you can turn it right side out.

Step 7

Trim the seam allowance and turn the pillow to the right side

Trimming the seam allowance with pinking shears can help to get a smoother curve around the sides of the pumpkin.

Step 8

stuff the pillow

Step 9

sew up the gap

Hand sew the gap closed to finish up the pillow.

Finished!

The post Tutorial: Pumpkin Pillow with Scraps appeared first on Fabricated Closet.

Tutorial: Round Rainbow Throw Pillow

AJ Pratt — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 12:57:27 +0000

This tutorial will teach you how to make a cute scrap throw pillow with a rainbow of colors. All you need are some small scraps of fabric that feature the different colors of the rainbow. You can use scraps from previous sewing projects, or cut out the pieces from old clothes that you won’t wear anymore. This tutorial is quite simple and is great for beginners who want to start learning how to sew.

Supplies Needed:

Small fabric scraps in rainbow colors

(all of my patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance)

sewing Pattern pDF

Step 1

Sew the pillow slices together in groups of three

For the front and back of the pillow, sew the slices together in groups of 3 (so you’ll have 4 groups of 3 slices). Press the seams and trim off the inner point that sticks out after the trios are sewn together.

Make sure you pay attention to the order of your colored slices. I recommend laying it out in order before sewing (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)

Step 2

sew the groups of three together

Sew two groups of three together along the long straight edge for the front of the pillow, and then repeat for the back. On the back, leave a small gap along the seam. This will be used for turning the pillow to the right side later.

Step 3

Sew the front and back of the pillow together

Line up the slices for the front and back and sew them together all the way around the perimeter.

Step 4

Turn the pillow to the right side

Trim the seam and then turn the pillow to the right side through the gap in the back seam.

Step 5

stuff the pillow

Step 6

sew up the gap

Hand sew the gap closed for a nice finish.

Finished!

The post Tutorial: Round Rainbow Throw Pillow appeared first on Fabricated Closet.

Tutorial: The Perfect Scrappy Rainbow Pillow (it’s easier than you think!)

AJ Pratt — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:57:27 +0000

Learn how to make a cool scrap rainbow pillow. It may look complicated, but this is actually a very simple pillow and an easy way to use up fabric scraps from other sewing projects (or you can upcycle old pieces of clothing you never wear anymore). I’ll teach you how to put together your scrappy pillow step-by-step, so that you can decorate with your rainbow pillow while still being sustainable. Check out the free pattern below and get started.

Supplies Needed:

Fabric scraps in a rainbow of colors

(all of my patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance)

sewing Pattern pDF

Step 1

Arrange the scraps for the red colored section of your pillow

Collect your red fabric scraps. Start playing around with the scraps and lay them out in a collage. The overall shape of the scrap layout doesn’t matter right now, but it should be long enough for your pillow pattern to to fit on top of.
It’s a good idea to cut straight edges between the fabric pieces to make it easier to sew them together. Also, be sure to keep in mind that there will be some overlap of the pieces due to seam allowance.

Step 2

sew the scraps together

One by one sew your scrap pieces together. I usually start with smaller pieces and then add on any larger pieces.

Step 3

cut out your pattern piece from the scraps

Place your pattern piece on top of your scrap layout and cut it out. Here’s where things get interesting. Instead of keeping those straight lines, you can rotate your pattern piece to make some cool-looking diagonals. This is what makes the final pillow look so complex, even though you’re just cutting out a wonky rectangle.

Step 4

repeat the process for the rest of the colors

Repeat steps 1-3 for each of the colors (orange, yellow, green, blue, purple). Make your scrap collage, sew it together, and then cut out the pattern.

Step 5

Sew the slices of colors together

Line up your slices in order (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) and sew each of them together along the long side.

Step 6

fold the pillow in half and sew the sides and bottom

With right sides together fold the pillow in half according to the fold line on the pattern (so that all the colors are showing on both sides). Then sew the sides and bottom leaving a small gap for turning the pillow.

Step 7

turn the pillow to the right side

clip the corners and turn the pillow to the right side.

Step 8

stuff the pillow

Step 9

sew up the gap

Hand sew the gap closed.

Finished!

The post Tutorial: The Perfect Scrappy Rainbow Pillow (it’s easier than you think!) appeared first on Fabricated Closet.

Tutorial: Scrappy Cat Face Pillow

AJ Pratt — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:57:28 +0000

This tutorial will walk you through how to make a cute cat pillow using only leftover scraps of fabric. This cat-face pillow is honestly really simple. You’ll be able to accomplish it in no time and have you own truly unique throw pillow! Check out the free pattern I drew below to get the cat shape right. That way all you have to focus on is the sewing.

Supplies Needed:

black fabric scraps

(all of my patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance)

sewing Pattern pDF

Step 1

Arrange the scraps for your pillow

Lay out your fabric scraps and start organizing them into a collage. Make sure the scrap collage is big enough for your pillow pattern to fit. Also, remember to overlap the fabric pieces to account for seam allowance.

Note: This is significantly easier with straight edges, so I recommend cutting straight lines and right corners on your scraps.

Step 2

sew the scraps together

One by one sew your scrap pieces together. I usually start with smaller pieces and then add on the bigger pieces.

Step 3

cut out your pattern from the scraps

Place your cat pattern on top of your scrap layout and cut it out. Now you have a cat face that you can use for one side of your pillow.

Step 4

repeat the process for the second side of the pillow

Repeat steps 1-3 for the other side of the pillow.

Step 5

sew the front and back of the pillow together

With right sides together, sew your two pillow faces around the edge. Be sure to leave a small gap on the bottom of the pillow so that you can turn it right side out.

Step 6

clip the corners and curves

Clip the corners and curves and trim the seams around the ears. This will give you a smoother curve to your pillow when your turn it out.

Step 7

turn the pillow to the right side

Use a long point tool (like a loop turner or chop stick) to poke out the ears and seam.

Step 8

stuff the pillow

Step 9

sew up the gap

Hand sew the gap closed to finish up the pillow.

Finished!

The post Tutorial: Scrappy Cat Face Pillow appeared first on Fabricated Closet.