Make: Small Needlepoint Pillow

This adorable squirrel needlepoint pillow was put together by Online Store Associate, Lori, using less than $2 of materials from ACR! Have your own needlepoint that you’ve yet to frame and/or don’t know what to do with? Follow the steps below to make it into a pillow!

Materials:

• Needlepoint of your choice

• Two fabric remnants

• Thread and needle

• Rickrack or other trim

• Polyfil

• Tools: fabric shears and/or rotary cutter, fabric marker, straight pins/clips, cutting mat (optional), iron (optional)

Instructions:

1. Frame and cut the centerpiece for your pillow, in this case a squirrel needlepoint. Include at least 1/4" extra fabric for the seam.

2. Cut side panels for the centerpiece, including at least 1/4" extra fabric at the top and bottom of both panels.

3. Sew sides together, reinforcing the seams at all corners.

4. Press seams. Use your fingers if you cannot iron them flat.

5. Repeat previous steps to add top and bottom fabric panels.

6. Trim and press all inner seams.

7. Trim the front piece to the size of the pillow you want. Remember to include 1/4" extra fabric for the seam all the way around.

8. Add any surface decorations at this point. In this case, I framed the needlepoint with chunky gold rickrack.

9. Cut a piece of fabric for the back side of the pillow, making it the exact same size as the front.

10. Sew right sides together, but make sure to leave a section open so you can fill the pillow.

11. Trim the corners, then turn the pillow by gently turning the inside out through the opening.

12. Use something pointy but blunt, like a chopstick, to poke out the corners from the inside of the pillow.

13. Fill the pillow, giving it shape and desired firmness as you go.

14. Using the Ladder stitch, sew the opening shut. The goal is hidden stitches. If you’re unfamiliar with ladder stitches, online video tutorials can be very helpful for this step.

That’s it! You’ve completed the project and all that’s left is to enjoy your handmade pillow!