A Dash of Panache: Poinsettia Pillows
November 18, 2009
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
I don’t know how to sew, but I WOULD make these if I did. I love them. A lot! So pretty
Wow, these are simply stunning! Thanks so much for doing a tutorial! :)
Gorgeous!!! :) Red on a white pillow is my favorite! Great project…these should go in your store!!
I love the red one. I like that they are Christmasey but they don’t scream gaudy. They are gorgeous Kate. Yum.
Kate, these are simply gorgeous! They look like a million bucks~
Hi CG!
Thanks for entering the party, but could you please link to the party in this post? Else the word doesn’t spray…
Those pillows are gorgeous! I adore the red one. One day I’ll find a button cover kit somewhere! Hasn’t happen yet.
WOW! These are so pretty!! Best DIY job ever!
I love the pillows!! What a great idea…I want to try these!
Those are amazing!! I am not a huge fan of holiday pillows, but these are so cute!
I love these. I will be bookmarking this.
This is very cute! I haven’t seen this before. Of course, I’d want to try it before Christmas (fat chance.) I’ve posted a link on childmade.com. Thanks for the great tutorial!
Your pillows are gorgeous!! I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-pillow-covers-with-large-poinsettia-blooms/2009/12/01/
–Anne
Adorable.
Do you quilt? I didn’t see any postings.
THANKS
I love this! I posted a link to this from my blog for Tutorial Tuesday (or Tutesday, as I like to call it :)
http://www.lisaashby.com/2009/12/tutesday-handmade-holiday-goodies/
Hey Kate!
I made my own version! Check it out! http://littlebignest.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-pillows-part-2.html
Thanks again for your awesome ideas!
I made one too! This was a great tutorial and I am so excited because I was looking for a present for my Grandma and this is perfect! Check it out! http://hugsheidik.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-pillow.html
Thank you for th great tut!!!! I’ve made two of the pillows and love how they turned out.
Thank you again!!!!
I made a wall hanging with a few modifications from your pillows…Love all of your ideas & it was so fun to try and make one :) Thanks for the tutorial!
-Heather
http://luckystarlane.blogspot.com/2009/12/wall-flower.html
Omigosh, I love these pillows. When I first saw the photo I immediately thought “beautiful, but too hard for me to make *sigh*” but after reading the entire post and seeing how easy it was to make I was so happy! I just so happen to have a huge pile of red felt sitting in my crafty-craft closet and now I finally have a use for it! Thanks so much for sharing. :O)
~ http://www.billiemonster.com ~
I was trying to find a poinsettia pattern to make with felt and I came across yours, of course I can’t sew =)) but I wanted to let you know these are just gorgeous.
I just made this pillow tonight as a gift for my grandmother (she specifically requested a handmade gift!) I’m definitely going to have to make one for me too! It’s such an easy project if you can sew a nearly straight line. The hardest part for me was the button covers! Do you use a special cover for thicker fabrics like felt? Thanks so much for sharing this (and all those that have come before) tutorial!!
…and how did I not know you have an Etsy shop??
Just wanted to pop in and let you know that I really DID make one of these last month and I FINALLY wrote up a little post about it on Billie Monster yesterday. Thanks so much for the awesome tutorial Kate!
~ http://www.billiemonster.com ~
Great tutorial! I Love it, thanks for sharing.