How to sew a pillow with your own hands - patterns, step-by-step descriptions, types of models, cool photos of your work

We invite you to master another type of needlework and learn how to sew beautiful and practical pillows for different purposes. There are pillows for sleeping and special pillows for pregnant women, there are pillows for a crib, and various types of decorative interior pillows - all of them will bring coziness and comfort to your home , especially if you make them with your own hands.

Maternity pillows

Pregnancy in the second half of the term can cause a girl severe discomfort. Women often suffer from back pain, swollen legs and other ailments. Therefore, a DIY maternity pillow is a valuable item for expectant mothers, with which you can get a good night’s sleep and rest properly.

Almost all pillows for pregnant women are shaped like a horseshoe or a long boomerang. The advantages of these forms are as follows:

• firstly, the pillow product can be unfolded and “bent” as desired;
• secondly, these pillows perfectly relieve the feet of pregnant women;
• thirdly, due to giving the body the most comfortable position, there is no feeling of fatigue in the back area.

Making a maternity pillow is a great way to keep yourself occupied during maternity leave. Perhaps in the future this will turn into a hobby or additional income for someone.

Sewing a pillow at home is an easy task. After watching several video tutorials on the Internet and reading a couple of articles about this process, even a novice needlewoman will be able to make simple pillows for sleeping or decorative items for sofas.

Uncover

I determined the pillow size that would be most comfortable for me. Since I had a piece of foam rubber available, I took it as a basis.

I cut out a square of foam and started taking other measurements. I decided to make the edges outer, so I needed to cut two squares of fabric larger than the foam itself. I took enough batting to cover the workpiece on both sides.

A little history and magic

But it was not always so. Initially, pillows were large stones that were placed under heads to maintain hairstyles while sleeping.

The first soft pillows first appeared in Ancient Greece, where local sybarites basked in bed almost 24 hours a day.

A little later, pillows began to be considered magical objects. Until now, girls tell fortunes about their betrothed with the help of this simple object. And small bags of fragrant herbs, hidden in the pillow, are designed to ward off evil spirits and attract the most pleasant dreams, reduce headaches and speed up recovery on days of illness.

WHAT HERBS TO CHOOSE

The stuffing can be just one plant or consist of a whole collection of medicinal herbs. It is useful to know their properties, especially when sewing them yourself. Combinations must be selected so that they enhance or complement each other.

Lavender will give peace and serenity. Its aroma relieves headaches, reduces nervous excitability, and makes you sleep soundly. For colds, respiratory diseases, and hoarseness, it is also useful to inhale the lavender aroma. It has an antiseptic effect and will be a good prevention of respiratory diseases. A soft, unobtrusive smell will refresh the room. The plant repels insects, especially mosquitoes with moths. The durability of the fragrance is its notable feature. If you have intense mental work ahead, place a lavender sachet nearby. Essential oils will activate brain activity.

Oregano (otherwise known as common oregano and winter marjoram) has a floral-spicy aroma with woody notes. It helps in the fight against neuroses, relieves fatigue after physical activity and gives sweet dreams. In the morning you will wake up cheerful, full of energy. Its ability to resist colds has been known since ancient times. Essential oils have antiseptic properties, facilitate expectoration during cold coughs and have an anti-inflammatory effect. In Egypt, oregano was considered a feminine herb; with its aroma it reduced menstrual pain and menopausal disorders. The smell of the plant reduces libido and increases the tone of the uterus, therefore it is contraindicated for pregnant women.

Peppermint has a pleasant aroma with a slight chill. It relieves asthenic disorders (weakness, dizziness, nausea), reduces the effects of stress. A mint pad is especially useful for hypertensive patients to reduce blood pressure and normalize blood circulation. It can also soften a cough during bronchitis, alleviate the symptoms of acute respiratory infections, and reduce toothache! However, it will not relieve insomnia, because it has a tonic effect. Men should not exceed the duration of the “course of treatment” - the aroma of mint can reduce potency. Mint aromatherapy is contraindicated for pregnant women and children under 6 years of age.

Sage has a pleasant scent. A herbal pillow with sage is indispensable during colds and will prevent any respiratory diseases. Strengthening the immune system, improving memory and mental activity, relieving fatigue, returning to a good mood are not all the possibilities of this plant. Its essential oil has an antiseptic, analgesic and antispasmodic effect, and normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The aromatic properties are better expressed not in medicinal, but in clary sage (also cultivated everywhere). This herb is contraindicated for nursing mothers, pregnant women and those suffering from epilepsy.

Heather gives off a pleasant honey smell during flowering. Since ancient times, the plant has been known as magical, protecting against terrible dreams, as well as against any evil. Its subtle aroma will relieve fatigue, increased nervous excitability and help you fall into a sound sleep. It also promotes recovery from respiratory infections and relieves cough. A pillow with heather does not require any extraneous filler; it itself holds its shape perfectly (for this purpose it is added to other “phyto-fillings”). The plant is believed to bring good luck.

Hops have a strong aroma that not everyone enjoys. It can relieve headaches, snoring and restore healthy sleep. It will calm the nerves, relax after a hard day and reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients. The pillow itself with hops is not suitable for sleeping - it is impossible to sleep on the hops. Usually they use a small fragrant bag, or combine it with another filler. In its pure form, the plant is contraindicated for bronchial asthma, a tendency to low blood pressure, pregnant women and young children. In men, the intoxicating aroma can reduce potency. You should not use this phyto-pillow for more than three weeks per course.

Yarrow does not have a strong aroma. However, its smell activates the immune system and protects against respiratory diseases. It is popularly known as a “natural antibiotic” due to its bactericidal activity. Yarrow has antiallergic, analgesic and antispasmodic effects. It normalizes the emotional sphere, eliminates irritability and helps to fall asleep. A pillow with yarrow also promotes recovery after a serious illness. The plant is contraindicated for pregnant women, nursing mothers, those suffering from epilepsy, hypertension, and infants. According to some data, the herb reduces the risk of developing cancer of the lungs, intestines and mammary glands. For women, the aroma will help make it easier to endure their critical days.

Chamomile has a bright, specific smell. The aroma relaxes, relieves stress, calms and helps you fall asleep faster. A natural remedy to combat depression. When you have a cold, a chamomile pillow helps relieve inflammation, makes breathing easier, and reduces sore throat. It is suitable for children and allergy sufferers. Chamomile essential oil cleanses the air well. It is better if the pillow lies next to the bed and not under your head. Aromatherapy is contraindicated in mental disorders and pregnancy. The plant has several varieties, but only chamomile or fragrant chamomile is suitable as a filler.

Thyme has a pleasant spicy aroma. Another name is common thyme. For centuries, it was placed in children's cribs to help them calm down and fall asleep faster. It was believed that it restores health. A pillow with thyme will help cope with depression, normalize sleep, and reduce snoring. Thanks to the antiseptic properties of the essential oil, the plant helps to cope with colds and stops the inflammatory process in the upper respiratory tract. It is a good immunostimulant, analgesic and antispasmodic. People suffering from peptic ulcers should avoid the plant, as it stimulates digestion.

St. John's wort has a specific floral smell. In the old days, it was believed that grass protected a child from fright during sleep. They stuffed children's mattresses with it or put it in straw so that the baby would sleep soundly. The aroma of St. John's wort helps cope with depression, has a sedative effect, reduces fear and improves immunity. Its bactericidal properties contribute to rapid recovery from colds. The essential oil of this plant is highly valued. It has an analgesic, antispasmodic effect, facilitates the discharge of sputum when coughing and increases blood pressure. Contraindications include: pregnancy, breastfeeding, hypertension, children under 12 years of age. People call the herb “the miracle of 99 ailments”; its benefits are great.

Preparing patterns

Today, on various web resources and practical needlework magazines, you can find a wide variety of patterns for sewing pillows of all sizes and shapes. But if desired, the master can independently think through the future design of the accessory.

In this case, the drawing must show the dimensions, main details of the future cover, and the presence of auxiliary elements (inserts, modules).

Types of filler

You can fill sofa products with any materials. However, not all of them will meet the criteria of practicality and ergonomics. Below are the most popular options:

1. Cotton wool. Plus - low cost. Disadvantages: significant weight, uneven distribution, formation of lumps.
2. Sintepon. Pros: low cost and availability. Disadvantage: deformation during long-term use.
3. Down and feathers. Disadvantages: difficulty of care, risk of allergies.
4. Holofiber. Advantages: versatility, easy accessibility, practicality.
5. Silicone granules. Pros: hypoallergenic and easy to care for.
6. Fragrant herbs. Used in the manufacture of sachets.
7. Comforel. Plus - the ability to take any form.
8. Buckwheat husk. Plus – high environmental friendliness.

Foam rubber is suitable exclusively for creating accessories. It is not recommended to use it as a pillow for every day.

Step-by-step instructions for making a pillow

Sewing a pillow product is divided into the following main stages:

• drawing up a pattern;
• connecting elements of the finished sketch by stitching;
• stuffing with filler;
• final suturing;
• making a pillowcase or cover.

Pattern

It is recommended to start sewing with a pattern. A pattern is a kind of “template” according to which further work is carried out. It will not be easy to draw a pillow with a complex shape, such as an animal or a letter, on your own, but making a pattern for ordinary bolsters is a real task for beginners. The main thing is to leave allowances (“reserves” of fabric).

70x50 cm is the standard size of a regular pillow. After measurements are taken, markings are applied to the material. It should be marked on the reverse side. The pattern is then cut out. If the pillow has a complex shape, then it is better to use a prepared sketch. This template is pinned onto the fabric and then cut out too.

Sewing

After the prepared patterns, you should sew the parts together from the wrong side. The seam should be made along a pre-marked line. If you have a sewing machine, it is better to use it, then the stitching will be much neater. If the work is done manually, the stitch should be smaller. Three sides of the pillow are sewn completely, the fourth needs to be sewn halfway. Through the hole, you must first turn the pillow inside out, then fill it with filling.

The edges of the fabric must be processed in advance using an overlocker. The unstitched hole should be closed with a blind stitch.

Padding

Filling a pillow with synthetic filling is much easier than filling it with natural stuffing. The fluff is very light, so at the slightest movement it begins to fly throughout the room. Simply taking and transferring the fluff will not work. Therefore, it is better to follow this method:

• make a small hole in the old cover and sew it to the new pillow;
• “Turn” a little and knead the fluff;
• move the stuffing with your hands from the old cover.

If the fluff is purchased in a store, then you should follow the same principle. This process takes several hours, so this is an activity for patient people.

Making a pillowcase

How to sew a pillowcase for a pillow? Many needlewomen ask this question after sewing a product.

First you need to choose a design so that it matches the style of the room. If this need is not available, then any fabric can be used.

The pillowcase is sewn using the same pattern as the pillow. For example, if the size of a pillow product is 70x50 cm, then the size of the pillowcase should be made 72x52 cm, and you should also leave a few centimeters for allowances.

If you don’t plan to make a pillowcase, you can easily buy one in the store. Today there is a ready-made case for any size.

Filling

The foam pillow seemed very hard to me, so I decided to fill it with batting on both sides. To do this, you need to evenly distribute the batting or padding polyester on both sides. I started by covering the foam rubber. I cut out two squares according to the dimensions of the workpiece (plus seam allowances), as well as a strip of fabric, the length of which is equal to the length of the perimeter, and the width is equal to the height of the foam (plus also seam allowances).

First, I pinned the fabric together (directly on the foam), and then removed the “pillowcase,” machine stitched three sides, put it on again, and closed the fourth side. After this, I ended up with a covered foam rubber onto which layers of batting or padding polyester can be attached.

I spread it over both surfaces and carefully sewed it on by hand using a needle and thread (if you do this, the filler will not roll and form lumps).

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