When I first got married ten years ago, I started collecting Christmas decorations.  Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I’d always dreamed of having my own home filled with the sights, sounds, and scents of the season.  Every year, I like to add something new to my growing collection.

This year I was inspired to create some decorative pillows with felt. The nice thing about felt is that it is inexpensive, it doesn’t fray, and it adds just the right amount of coziness for those upcoming winter months.  I wanted to create something bold, something stylish, but nothing too busy.  Poinsettias were my inspiration. 

Here’s what I came up with:  

Red version, up close:

If you want to create your own version of these simple sew poinsettia pillows, here’s the step-by-step.

Simple Sew Poinsettia Pillows

Supplies for a 14 to 18” pillow:  pillow insert, 2/3 yard of felt for the pillow form; 1/2 yard of felt for the petals and button; button cover kit or color coordinated button, zipper and thread to match. 

Step One: Cut a single petal out of felt, then use it as your template to create 12 large petals.  Repeat to create 8 to 12 medium petals. 

Step Two:  On one side of your pillow form, start by centering two petals, and sewing them to your pillow front two at a time.  Sew only halfway up each petal to allow the edges to pop off the pillow form. 

Step Three:  Work your way around in sets of two petals, slowly layering the flower pattern with the addition of each set of petals.  Start with the large petals, then add the medium petals on top.  Again, only sew halfway to allow the petals to curl up off the pillow. 

The nicest part about sewing your petals only halfway is it forms a crease in the petal which helps it curl, and then pop right off the pillow form to make a bold statement, even from across the room.

Step Four:  Use your button kit to create a felt covered button for the center of your flower.  Attach your button with a needle and thread.   

Step Five:  Turn your poinsettia inside out, and sew all three sides together to fit your pillow form, whether it’s 18” or 14” or anything in between.  Sew just the corners of the fourth side to prep for installing your zipper. 

Step Six:  Attach zipper foot to machine.  With your pillow form inside out, turn your zipper upside down, and sew each side to the pillow. 

That’s it, easy peasy !  The greatest part about using a zipper is you can take the pillow cover right off and use the pillow insert the rest of the year. 

Another alternative, rather than sewing your poinsettia onto a pillow cover, is to simply create the flower as described in steps 1-4, and attach to an ordinary pillow with a piece of velcro. 

For the holidays, these look like little presents embellished with a bold botanical. 

For the green version, I used cozy corduroy. 

This version sits in my family room, and adds a fresh seasonal touch to the existing green tones in the space. 

I’m definitely keeping the green one.  However, the two below are for sale in my Etsy shop ! I’m offering just these two, so if you really want one, be sure to pick it up quick !  

More great pillow designs with felt for this season:

From top, left to right:  Bobby Berk pillow; Alexandra Ferguson pillow; Crate+Barrel pillows; Classics and Country snowflake pillow. 

If pillows are not your thing, take a glance at this poinsettia themed decor:

Rugs from Frontgate and Ballard Designs

 Poinsettia candle; Swarovski ornament; flocked ribbon at Target; Tea for Two; glass ball ornaments. 

Are you creating anything new for your home this holiday season ? 

Tags: Christmas, holiday, pillows, poinsettia, simple sew

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at and is filed under DIY, Decorating, Gift Ideas, Holiday Decor, Sew Easy, etsy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.