Do you ever want to add more interesting throw pillows to your space but need more than your budget would allow? Do you have the itch to sew your own but get sad over the fabric selections available in local chain stores? Enter the mini pom pom. I was inspired by these pillows at Anthropologie and got pretty swoony over that particular shade of yellow on a cream background! I decided to make something similar in the plum and pink tonal pillow and then decided to get experimental with patterned fabrics. The end result is three unique pillows that will surely go the distance in more than one room in our house.
I experimented with attaching my pom poms with felt glue as well as with individually stitched knots and both got a good shake to make sure things weren’t going to go flying off. I’m happy to report the felt glue seems to have worked better than I imagined as I literally tried to rip a pom pom off of a pillow and finally gave up. Using the correct adhesive can make or break your project, so don’t skimp and adhere these with that decade old bottle of Elmer’s glue in the back of your craft bin. I’m watching you!
Supplies:
-1/2 yard cotton fabric per pillow
-90-125 pom poms of one color per pillow for larger pillows and 25 small pom poms in a variety of colors for the abstract pom pom pillow
–Poly-Fil stuffing
-12″ embroidery hoop
–felt glue
-white cotton thread
-needle and thread
-straight pins
-scissors
Step One: Cut two of the same cuts of fabric down to the size pillow you’d like. I cut my plum fabric to 14″ x 14″. Measure out how far apart you want to space your poms and mark a grid with chalk on one of the cuts of fabric. It’ll dust off easily as you work and after you’re done. The larger your poms, the further apart you may want to space them.
Step Two: To attach your pom poms to your fabric with stitches, place your marked fabric in your embroidery hoop and pull until it’s taut. This will keep your fabric steady while you stitch your pom poms on.
Step Three: When stitching your pom poms, stitch through the thick center of the pom pom, not the fluffy edge. Tie the loose ends on the back side in a double knot.
Another option for adhering your pom poms to your fabric is by using felt glue. Add a generous amount to the back side of each pom pom and set it down on your grid. Allow to dry for 3-4 hours before handling it and stitching your pillow together. These will stay on well if the pillow isn’t getting tons of rough use. However, if your pillow is going in a child’s room, I suggest stitching your pom poms on to be safe.
To make an abstract pillow, start with a cotton fabric with a subtle pattern in a soft color. This will give a layered look without being so busy that you can’t see the pom poms. I used the second smallest sized pom poms that were available for most of these. They were about 1/4″, or the size of a large pea. Play around with your composition before gluing things on, and then let it rest for the designated drying time.
Step Four: Place your two cuts of the same fabric (top and bottom of pillow) together with right sides facing each other and pin around the perimeter. Leave a blank space that is about the width of your hand so you can stuff your pillow.
Step Five: Stitch around the perimeter of your pillow about 1/4″ from the edge. Start your stitching on one side of the blank space and end it on the other so that you can still fit your hand through. Remove your pins and trim off the corners of your pillow without getting too close to the stitch line.
Step Six: Turn your pillowcase right side out and poke your corners out so they’re sharp. Stuff with Poly-Fil and stitch closed with a blindstitch. Toss it on your couch and see how much more fun you are now!
Abstract pillows are just begging for a little experimentation. Maybe you can create a heart-shape out of black poms or spell out a short sentiment such as ‘Love You’ or ‘Holla’.
I love how the emerald pom poms add so much more depth to this simple polka-dot fabric.
This one is my favorite, though. Mostly, I love how the plum helps tone down the hot pink but they are a great pair for adding some color and texture to any corner.
As much as I can lean to the minimalist side of things these days, I do think pillows should feel individually special. I love how these pom poms provide just the right amount of interest and elevate these chain store fabrics to a whole new level. What pom pom colors would you use? –Rachel
Credits//Author and Photography: Rachel Denbow. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
31 Comments
Great project! O love pom poms. I would put them everywhere and wear them everyday in my scarfs, shoes or dresses! I wish I could do this without seem the crazy lady of the pom poms. ;D
xo, Deborah
http://www.loveandeverythingblog.com
These are freakin adorable! Love!
-Jen
http://www.asipofbliss.com
These are freakin adorable! Love!
-Jen
http://www.asipofbliss.com
These are so cute! I love the abstract pillow. So pretty!
Laura
http://laurelandfern.com/
Love the three of them but the abstract one is my fave <3
http://soldenochedecocrochet.blogspot.com.ar/
I love this project, the colours are wonderfully combined (especially the abstract one is cool) and they are too cute!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
These are AMAZING and came out SO super cute!!! “I’m watching you” Ha!!!
I love these and I was kind of discouraged at first, until I saw that you can use glue!!!! That’s brilliant!!! Felt glue? Do you think fabric glue would work? NO ELMER’s glue I got that 🙂 Thanks for the idea!!
These are gorgeous! I have been wanting to do a pillow DIY for a while now, and was thinking of doing a similar experiment with faux leather or leather circles- now I have the motivation. Love it!
-Stefanie
http://www.thestylesafari.com
So in love with this adorable project! Especially love the pom poms on the patterned background for double the texture look. So cute and downright fun!
-Molly
http://www.modcircus.com/
These pillows are so cute! I love them!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Seriously how freaking cute are these pillows?! I’m a sucker for texture.
my cat would go bananas over these pillows. interested to see how they hold up to yours!
Yes I love these! Now I know what I will be doing tomorrow 🙂 Hopefully this is doable with a 2 year old 😉
AH! I love these! They are the perfect way to add a bit of personality to your space. Thanks for sharing how to make them!!
XO – Sarah
http://beautyandblooms.com/
Such a cute project, and it would be perfect for a spring break project with my girls!
They look awesome! If I could I would cover most of my possessions in pom-poms 🙂
Great tutorial thank you 🙂
Rachelle x
http://inspiredbytheretired.blogspot.co.uk/
This is adorable!
http://alexinwanderlust.blogspot.com.au/
I love this idea, I am pinning it now for a future product!
http://www.shopthecoconutroom.com
My favorite part about this is how affordable it could be! Especially if you already have pillows you want to jazz up, or leftover fabric to make covers. Pom poms are just so affordable at the craft store!
http://danielleandco.com/blog/2016/design-around-bold-sheets
This is super cute! I have to do this. 🙂
This is super cute! I have to do this. 🙂
These are adorable!! They also look fairly simple 🙂
I really have to try this, awesome!!
http://mylivingspree.blogspot.de/
I absolutely adore these!! They’re so beautifully bright and eyecatching. I love statement cushions so much ☺
Hannah x
http://crafternooncabaretclub.com
These are great! They remind me of the old candlewick embroidery pillows and comforters- only colorful and beautifully modern. Thank you for a great tutorial. I bet my teenage niece would love some of these.
As a new reader, I just wanted to compliment you two not only on creating this beautiful and informative site but more importantly for creating a life in which you obviously love…filled with beauty and inspiration…so thank you for sharing! I also wanted to thank you for the jewelry storage info I found this morning. I have been searching for months for a simple method for a “not-so-handy” person (me!) to build a jewelry storage unit for a niche I had our contractor build in our closet. All tutorials I found were far too complex for me to even consider undertaking and I was intimidated into non-action lol until I found your’s this morning. Perhaps it’s your amazing ability to explain your instructions in a clear, concise and very understandable manner. So as I raise my morning cup of caffeine to toast your success, I am pumped and prepared to head off to the hardware store to obtain what I need to FINALLY build my jewelry storage ….thanks to you!
Ah! These are so much fun! I want to make some!
Love these!!
Love your couch also !!!
These are so cute.
I love pom poms on everything! I’ve just recently added a pom pom trim to my window blind and it looks fantastic, this pillow would go perfectly. My next project has been officially decided!