Poinsettia Pillow Tutorial (and Pattern)

A few weeks back I got to create (and share how to make) fun Poinsettia Pillows with my church group and today I’m going to share those same Poinsettia Pillows here on the blog.

These pillows are super easy to make and were inspired by a photo that a friend showed me of a poinsettia pillow from Pottery Barn…and while mine may not be from Pottery Barn I still think they turned out pretty cute!  (And they only cost a fraction of the price to make!)

Here is what you will need to make them:

*1/2 yard of quilting cotton (I used red or grey…but I am going to make mustard and green colored ones as well.)

*1/2 yard of felt (I used cream or red…white was a little too see through for my taste…but it would totally work to.)

*Matching Thread (for both your fabric and felt)

*7 Jingle Bells (gold or silver)

*16″ Pillow Form

*Glue Stick OR Basting Spray

*Hand Needle

*Sewing Machine, Scissors, Rotary Cutter, etc. (the usual sewing suspects….)

NOTE:  After many requests we have turned this tutorial into a printable PDF pattern that only costs $3.95  The pattern comes with all the instructions as well as the template needed to make the poinsettia petals.  The PDF Pattern can be found HERE. 

We also have kits for sale to make these pillow covers in our shop.  You can find the listing for the cream and red one HERE and you can find the listing for the grey and red one HERE.  They only cost $15…which includes shipping to anywhere in the continental United States  )

Once you have your supplies gathered it’s time to get to work…and if you are quick these pillows will take you less than an hour to complete!

Lets get started!

#1.  From your quilting cotton cut one square to be 16.5″ x 16.5″ and then two rectangles that each measure 16.5″ x 10.5″

#2.  Next print out the template found HERE: poinsettia-pillow

Using it cut out 8 large petals and 8 small petals from your felt.

#3.  Place the 8 large petals in the center of your 16.5″ square of fabric (as shown in the picture below) and then glue stick them into place.

That’s right…I said glue stick them into place.  (That’s what I do…I just run a little line of glue stick down the middle and stick them on.  The glue dries fast, doesn’t gum up my sewing needle, and I just need them to be held in place long enough for me to sew them down.)

But….if the glue stick make you nervous you can always use basting spray or pin them in place.

#4.  Next use your sewing machine to stitch each petal to the fabric.  Start about 2.5″ down from the top of each petal.  From there run your stitch directly down the center of each petal clear down to the bottom of each petal.

(As shown in the picture below.)

#5.  Now place your remaining 8 small petals on top of the large petals as shown in the picture below.

And glue stick them into place.  (Or baste….or pin…or duct tape…just kidding, no duct tape.)

#6.  Again you are going to use your sewing machine to stitch these petals into place.  Start about 2″ from the top of each petal.  Run your stitching line straight down the center from that point (about 2″ from the top) down to the bottom of each petal.

Here is what you pillow should begin to look like now that the petals are in place and stitched to the fabric:

#7.  All you have left to do to complete the front of the pillow is to hand stitch on your jingle b

For my pillows I used 7 bells…placing one in the middle and surrounding that one with 6 others.

#8.  Now that our front is done we need to create the back of the pillow.  Take one of your rectangles.  Turn one of the 16.5″ sides back towards the wrong side a generous quarter inch and sew.  Fold it back one more quarter inch towards the wrong side and top stitch.

This is done to give your pillow a nice finished pocket opening in the back for inserting your pillow form.

#9.  Place your newly made back pillow flaps right sides together on top of your pillow front and pin into place.

Your flaps will over lap each other.  That is good!  They should over lap each other!

#10.  Using a quarter to a half inch seam allowance sew around the entire circumference of your pillow.

Clip your corners.

#11.  Turn your pillow right side out.

Using the opening in the back, insert your pillow form.

And you are done!

Like I said…simple!

And once you make one you will end up making a small army of them….

I’m up to a half dozen with no signs of stopping.

But on the bright side I have a pile of hostess gifts to give out this holiday season!

Happy Sewing!

-liZ