Refresh the Sofa: 5 Best Pillow Sewing Patterns for Every Room

Sometimes a room just feels tired, and new furniture is not in the budget. A few new pillows change the look in an evening, and store-bought covers rarely come in exactly the color you want. Most pillow sewing patterns are good beginner projects, and the shaped and patchwork ones let you try new skills on a small scale.

My shortlist has five patterns, and each one makes a different kind of pillow: a nine patch quilted cover, a 15 inch appliqué pillow with a matching runner, a lily-shaped cushion, an owl for a nursery and a U-shaped travel pillow. After the shortlist, I cover what to decide before you cut (insert size, closure, fabric) and the small steps that make a homemade throw pillow look finished.

Five Pillow Sewing Patterns, from Patchwork to Travel

Knitted and crochet cushion covers stayed off the list, and so did printable fabric graphics: each pick here is a sewing pattern with written steps.

TL;DR: Five different pillows: a nine patch autumn cover, a 15 inch appliqué pillow with a matching table runner, a lily cushion with its own inner cushion, an owl for a baby's room and a travel pillow in three sizes.

• Quilt Pillow Cover Pattern – Best patchwork pillow
• Table Runner & Pillow Applique Quilt PDF – Best appliqué pillow
• Lily Cushion Cover Sewing PDF – Best shaped cushion
• Owl Pillow Sewing Pattern – Best nursery pillow
• DIY Travel Pillow and Headrest Sewing – Best travel pillow

Quick Comparison

Choose the Pillow Insert Before the Pattern

Most throw pillows are sewn around a ready-made insert (also sold as a pillow form), so start with the insert you have or plan to buy. Common sizes are 16, 18 and 20 inch squares, 12 x 20 inch lumbar pillows and round forms. Cut the cover the same size as the insert, or 1 inch smaller if you like a plump, full look. These are finished-cover measurements: with the common 1/2 inch seam allowance, the front for an 18 inch insert is cut at 19 x 19 inches (or 18 x 18 for the plump look). Check the allowance your pattern uses before you cut.

Shaped pillows skip that step: the lily comes with steps for its own inner cushion, and the owl uses loose stuffing rather than a ready-made insert. A pillowcase for a bed pillow is a different project again: an open-ended tube with no insert to measure.

Envelope, Zipper or Stuffed Shape?

• Envelope back: two back panels that overlap, about 4 to 5 inches on an 18 inch cover, no zipper. The easiest closure and a good first project.
• Zipper: neater, and the insert never peeks out. Put it in the bottom seam or across the back; a zipper foot makes it much easier.
• Buttons: an envelope back with buttonholes, when the buttons are part of the look.
• Stuffed shape: an animal, a flower or a softie-style pillow closed by hand with a ladder stitch.

Fabric for Throw Pillows and Seat Cushions

Cotton canvas and twill hold up to everyday use on a living room sofa, and a cotton and linen blend gives a relaxed look. Quilting cotton is right for patchwork and appliqué fronts like the nine patch. Velvet and faux fur feel cozy but shift as you sew, so pin often, choose a simple construction and baste slippery layers. For a seat cushion, choose a heavier canvas. Prewash washable fabrics before cutting so the cover keeps its size.

How much to buy: for one 18 inch cover with an envelope back, plan on about 1 yard of 44 inch fabric.

Small Steps That Make a Homemade Pillow Look Finished

For most of these, ordinary sewing tools, a sewing machine and an iron are enough; check each pattern’s supply list before cutting.

• Press each seam with an iron before you sew the next one.
• Taper the seam slightly toward each corner, so the corners do not stick out as points.
• Clip the corners before turning, then push them out with a chopstick or a point turner.
• Finish raw edges with a zigzag or a serger, so the cover survives the washing machine.
• Use a straight stitch of about 2.5 mm, and a shorter one around the curves of a shaped pillow.

Pillow Sewing Questions

What size are throw pillows?

An 18 inch square is a very common size. Sofas also use 16, 20 and 22 inch squares, and lumbar pillows are usually 12 x 20 or 14 x 24 inches.

Can I sew a pillow by hand?

Yes. An envelope cover is small enough to sew by hand with a backstitch. It takes longer, but the seams hold, and stuffed shapes are often closed by hand anyway.

What is the 2-2-1 pillow rule?

A decorating idea for a sofa: two large pillows, two medium pillows and one smaller accent pillow in front. It helps with arranging, not with sewing.

Which Pillow to Sew First

For a first pillow, start with the owl, which has instructions written for beginners, or the travel pillow, described as quick and easy. The nine patch cover adds a little patchwork, and the appliqué pillow and the lily add templates and shaping. Whichever of these pillow sewing patterns you pick, measure your insert first. For more home projects, see the table runner patterns.

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