How to make a large no-sew pillow using a dishtowel.
I don’t use a lot of throw pillows around my house since they usually end up taking up valuable seating and end up on the floor when someone wants to sit down. I do however like pillows on the banquette in my kitchen. It has L-shaped seating with bed size pillows along the wall that act as a backrest.
No Sew Pillow Made Using a Pretty Dishtowel
Recently on a stroll through Pottery Barn, I saw pretty pillow covers designed for 18″ square pillows. I really liked them, but not the price tag. Later in the week while I was strolling the aisles at Target I saw purple and white oak leaf dishtowels on clearance. I loved the color and knew immediately that they were going home with me to be made into a seasonal no-sew pillow for the banquette.
What I like about using dishtowels or cloth napkins to create decorative stuff is that they come with finished edges which makes decorating the no-sew way even easier.
The pre-finished edges allow you to easily add a strip of Velcro along the inside edge so that you can easily take off the cover to wash or to change the pillow for the current season (keeps things fresh looking and makes it easy to change out seasonally).
Finding seasonal dishtowels is easy at stores like Target, HomeGoods, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx since they all carry many colors and styles all the time.
How to Make a No-Sew Removable Pillow Cover
supplies needed:
- 2 dishtowels
- bed pillow
- Speed Sew or fabric glue
- 18-inches of Velcro. I used adhesive Velcro since I had it on hand, but no need for only this kind as the sew-on type will bond to the fabric with fabric glue
- clips or clothespins
- toothpick
- scissors
1. Wash and dry dishtowels to allow for shrinkage.
2. Lay one dishtowel on work surface with right side out.
3. Open tube of Speed Sew or fabric glue and run a bead of it along one short edge (hem) of dishtowel and two long sides. Use a toothpick to spread out glue over entire hem on these sides.
4. Line up top and bottom dishtowel and press the seams together.
5. Cut the 18-inch long adhesive Velcro in half lengthwise. You don’t need the full 1-inch width. Pull the loop side away from the furry side of the Velcro. Apply a line of fabric glue along unglued short side in the same way you did the other 3 sides. Lay the loop side along the glued edge.
6. Repeat the process on the top dishtowel’s edge using the furry side of the Velcro.
7. Place the top and bottom edges of the dishtowels together and use your finger to press the two sides of the Velcro together. You will hear it snap and click as you go along.
8. Clip edges together until glue dries. It will take a few hours.
9. Remove clips and place pillow into the opening of the dishtowel cover.
10. Close the cover by snapping the two sides of the Velcro together.
All done.
Now I have a new pillow to snuggle up against in the afternoon when the autumn chill in the house propels me to the kitchen for some hot tea and cookies. :-)
If you liked this no sew pillow to add to your home decor, you may also like to make one of these:
Carole says
01/17/2019 at 12:39 pmDiane, I use the same inserts season after season by just changing out the pillow covers. I especially like the fact that the pillow covers don’t take up much space to store in your linen closet, etc. It’s a win, win.
Norma Rolader says
10/13/2017 at 9:43 pmDiane I love the no sew pillow and thank you for all the instructions God bless
Anna says
09/28/2016 at 1:33 amCan Gorilla glue be used in place of fabric glue?? I want to make these for Christmas gifts.
Diane Henkler says
09/28/2016 at 11:51 amHi Anna – I do not think Gorilla Glue would be a good replacement for fabric glue. Gorilla glue foams up as it dries and will create a very hard line that you would feel under the fabric. Fabric glue dries clear and flat.
Lora says
07/04/2016 at 2:35 pmgreat share. tahnks
Becky says
03/23/2016 at 2:28 pmI love that purple pillow. I’m going out right now to find the dish towel for my dream pillow. thanks for the inspiration.
Lisa Rosales says
11/04/2015 at 3:26 pmHi there! I just leased myself an iohone6 Apple cell phone& in exploring new sites I never ever thought about until today,right now& in loving the fact that I came across the “IKEA” website & I’m reading along & as I’m reading along I came across ur pillow no sew idea!! Boy does that give me ideas for gift giving being that the Holidays are coming up I LOVE ur idea about these no sew pillows now I need to go & get me these inexpensive items & start creating my “GIFT” giving ideas with plenty of time for the Holidays& with many birthdays also coming up I’m “LOVING” ur idea Soo much more!! Thanks for ur idea!!? Ms. L.R. Of Chula Vista,California
[email protected] says
10/14/2015 at 9:14 amThat’s such a great idea and I love how it looks. I have to try Speed Sew.
Diane Henkler says
10/15/2015 at 9:06 amThanks Julia – I have used many no sew glues and think Speed Sew is the best. It goes on easy, dries fast and the bond is almost instant.
Lillian Sauve says
10/13/2015 at 7:46 pmHi. I would like to make large pillows for the floor for my great grandchildren. Would I use towels and a kind of stuffing.
Thankyou Lillian S.
Diane Henkler says
10/14/2015 at 8:16 amHi Lillian – Large towels would make great covers for floor pillows. For the stuffing you could use old towels, cloths, linens, etc. Cut them up into small pieces. You could also purchase pillow stuffing, batting, or fiberfill. It is sold at Walmart and or sewing and craft stores.
Jenna says
10/13/2015 at 8:00 amI’ve used dish towels to make curtains and seasonal pillows but never thought about making a bigger one. Love this fabric and how these turned out. Too perfect! I’d love it if you would like this project up at our Best of the Weekend Party. It’s open from Friday until Wednesday!
Diane Henkler says
10/14/2015 at 8:20 amSounds like you think like me when it comes to looking at items to use in new and decorative ways.:-) Thanks for the invite to your Best of the Weekend party.
Sharon H says
10/12/2015 at 9:46 pmI really like this idea, but for me personally……lol, this is more trouble than sewing the edges together, including the velcro….but that’s probably because I have a sewing room where my machine is set up and ready to use, 24/7. If I had to drag it out of a closet, etc, I’d probably never sew anything! Thank you for sharing this great idea, Diane. I feel like I need to go to Target now.
Diane Henkler says
10/14/2015 at 8:33 amHi Sharon – I agree that if you sew and have a machine, using it to make something is easier than no-sew methods. When I worked in display, I didn’t have the luxury of having a machine to use and had to come up with no-sew ways to make decorative stuff. This pillow is geared for the many who do not own a machine and still would like affordable custom made pillows. I will admit, though that no-sew products have come a long way since the Stitch Witchery days.
Sharon H says
10/14/2015 at 8:40 amOh absolutely, and I love the idea! That’s what’s so great about following your blog….you have awesome ideas and simple ways to do it, no matter the skill level. And, I like to figure out how I can make something work for ME. Thanks again and keep those ideas coming!
Linda says
10/12/2015 at 8:18 pmLooks so much easier that stitch witchery! Thanks for the instructions and tips on fabric and cheaper options.
Diane Henkler says
10/14/2015 at 8:57 amHi Linda – It is. Using fabric glue is so much easier than using Stitch Witchery and bonds 100 times better, too.
Susan Krauss says
10/12/2015 at 5:45 pmomgosh, Diane! This is amazing! I definitely have to try this. Pillows can be so expensive, pre-made. Is that a standard size bed pillow that you’ve used?
Laurie Tuttle says
10/12/2015 at 3:29 pmGreat idea! Thanks, I’ll use your technique soon. Love the colors you chose!
Sheryll $ Critters. says
10/12/2015 at 1:57 pmI love the color, technique and your wonderful window seat…. that you built yourself. Did you gunk up your scissors cutting the sticky back Velcro? Even if it did that tip to cut it narrower is a big money saver for me $ others too.
Diane Henkler says
10/12/2015 at 3:02 pmHi Sheryll – The adhesive on the Velcro was not very sticky so no residue on my scissors. In the past though my scissors have gotten gunked up with other types of adhesives. I use Gunk-Off or citrus based cleaners to remove it. They work great.
Marilyn says
10/12/2015 at 12:56 pmHi Diane, I think I missed something, although I read it 2 or 3 times. Did you just glue the other three sides together? I assumed so, but you didn’t say, that I could see. I love your pillow, and think your ideas are brilliant! I hope your house sells soon. I’m looking forward to reading about your next “chapter” in your new home. Have a great week!
Diane Henkler says
10/12/2015 at 1:23 pmHi Marilyn – You are right. Thanks for telling me. :-) I assume when I was editing I somehow deleted a few sentences. It have added them back into the post.
Susanne says
10/12/2015 at 11:54 amGreat idea for a lot of reasons: the no-sew option, the idea of using a bed pillow outside the bedroom, and a great resource for fabric: kitchen linens! No excuses not to pursue this idea and bring it home!! Thanks so much!
Diane Henkler says
10/12/2015 at 12:32 pmHi Susanne – I like the fact that the price of a bed pillow is much cheaper than buying a smaller pillow form, too. Way cheaper!
Diane says
10/12/2015 at 10:18 pmHi Diane! Just an idea – I buy throw pillows at the second hand stores for $2 or $3 and take the covers off. I then sew an envelope style pillow case, which is easy peasy to do, and push the pillow in. Voila! I live in Canada and velcro here can be fairly expensive, so it is much cheaper and less time for me to just sew a few seams and make the envelope pillow case. But your idea is great for someone who doesn’t want to sew!
Diane Henkler says
10/14/2015 at 8:27 amHi Diane – Thanks for sharing your idea about buying pillows at the thrift store for their forms. I agree that Velcro can be expensive. I usually wait to buy it when I have a 40% – 50% coupon from the crafts store.
Donnamae says
10/12/2015 at 11:24 amToo cute…and I love that color! Thanks for those easy directions! ;)
Diane Henkler says
10/12/2015 at 12:33 pmThanks Donnamae – The color is what grabbed my attention when I saw them at Target. It is one of my fave colors.
Jann from Newton Custom Interiors says
10/12/2015 at 11:16 amCute! I love the fabric!
Diane Henkler says
10/12/2015 at 12:35 pmHi Jan – Target is the best place to find decorative stuff on clearance. They hide it on the back end caps of the aisles. I have learned to look there first to find marked down goodies. :-)