Handmade Pillow from Fabric Scraps and Buttons

In an effort to scale down my fabric scrap stash so I will not feel guilty about buying more, I have been creating lots of fabric scrap projects. I got the idea for this pillow after seeing a similar one being sold for $100 from a pricey boutique.

I immediately knew I had all the materials I needed to make a similar one, including a cloudy and rainy but open Sunday afternoon that would allow me the time I needed to make the pillow from start to finish.

I started by deciding how large my circles needed to be, then making some card stock patterns that I could use over and over again to trace the circles from the fabric and felt. This part is easy, either grab some food cans, use the bottom of cups and glasses from your kitchen, etc. and trace them on card stock with a pencil. If you are more technical by nature, use your computer to draw circles to your exact needed size and then print them out on card stock. Trim them out with a pair of scissors.

Next, use an iron and pressing surface to fuse Lite Steam a Seam by The Warm Company to your fabric scraps.

Trace the circles on your felt and fabric scraps with a pencil and a fabric marking pen. I opted for felt for my larger circles and fabric for the center of each felt circle since felt has finished edges.

I like to use wool felt by National Nonwovens. For this project I used whatever bright cheerful felt scraps I had leftover from previous projects. Peel off the paper backing from the fused fabric scraps, and use the iron to fuse the fabric to the felt circle.

As you can see, I opted for a cheerful colorful palette, but you can change up the scraps you use and match your own individual taste and decor. I had a blast using my sewing machine to free form stitch the felt and fabric scrap circles. There are several stitch options I have not tried before on my machine. Experimenting with the different types of stitches was fun.

If your machine is more basic, as my last one previously was, a straight stitch and zigzag used alternately will still produce a fun look.

Next, use a rotary cutter and self healing cutting pad to cut two pieces of felt for the pillow front and back. To do this, add a 1/2" seam allowance to the dimensions of your pillow. So, I used Fairfield Processing Corporation's Home Elegance pillow form in a 12" x 16" size. I cut my two 13"x 17" felt rectangles, using National Nonwovens "Haybale" colored felt.

Next, grab some colorful buttons and sew them to the center of each of the circles. I used Laura Kelly's Hand dyed Buttons from Buttons Galore and More in Candy Apple, Sunshine Yellow and Outrageous Orange.

I considered using a fabric glue to attach the sewn buttoned circles to the pillow front but decided to take the extra time and sew them on using a hand sewing needle and black sewing thread. Arrange your felt and fabric scrap circles to the pillow cover first, noting how many rows will cover the pillow from left to right, then top to bottom. (remember your 1/2" seam allowance). I needed about eight circles across and five circles down for mine.

This pillow was so much fun to make, I am going to make one for Mother's Day and another for my neices birthday to match her room.

Happy Scraping!

Live Life Creatively,

11 Comments

The pillow is so cute! I am trying to fashion a pink one for my granddaughters. They love pink.

Posted by: Beanie | June 5, 2013 at 10:44 AM

The pillow is really pretty & very creative, but it looks more decorative than practical.

Posted by: Jerry Beavers | June 2, 2013 at 12:54 PM

What a wonderful project! All those buttons and bright colors have got me smiling from ear to ear!

Posted by: Carmen | May 7, 2013 at 10:19 PM

Melody what a creative idea!! I love it thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Mary Kay Lyons-McDonnell | May 7, 2013 at 10:03 PM

I love it! Another colorful and cute project!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog the other day and for your kind comment. I love looking at all your creativeness! :)

Posted by: Laurie Star | May 1, 2013 at 12:44 PM