Christmas Pillow DIY: Hand Lettered Joy to the World
Christmas Hand Lettered “Joy to the World” Pillow Cover DIY.
Easy to follow directions and free pattern download.
I know it’s almost Christmas, but I wanted to squeeze in one more post: a Christmas pillow DIY.
I’ve been having fun making this Joy to the World Pillow to give away (and keep). They’re fast and super easy, and take very little sewing. (Come on, pull out your mom’s dusty old Singer you don’t know why you kept! This is really fun!)
No hand sewing unless you add the red yarn border!
OKAY OKAY! Use glue if you have to. That works, also, they say.
YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE THIS PILLOW!!!
Joy to the World Lettered Christmas Pillow DIY
Here’s a list of the supplies you’ll need:
- 36″ x 17″ piece of fabric, such as canvas drop cloth or unbleached muslin.
- Sewing machine, thread, scissors.
- Iron
- Black permanent fabric marker, fine point
- Red chenille chunky yarn
- If you use the yarn, you’ll need a hand sewing needle and red thread
- 16″ down pillow insert
1. Prepare the Christmas Pillow Pattern
Download the pattern, and print it onto 12″ x 12″ lightweight white cardstock. If you don’t have access to a wide printer, use the divided pattern and print on two sheets of regular paper. Then tape it together to make a 12″ x 12″ pattern.
2. Transfer the Pattern
Prepare the fabric.
Cut a piece of fabric 17″ wide by 36″ long.
Serge each end of the 36″ length, then fold over 1/2″ to make a hem. Stitch down. Option: Fold over and use hemming tape or glue to finish the edges. No serging necessary for this method.
Fold the fabric in half the long way, inside out, and mark the fold on each side of the 17″. Open the fabric.
Still on the wrong side of the fabric, line up the center marks on the pattern with the center marks of the fabric, allowing 2 1/2″ on each side of the pattern to the edge of the fabric. Pin or tape into place.
3. Letter the Fabric
Flip the fabric-and-pattern over carefully.
Draw over the lettering with the black permanent marker. The slower you draw, the better the ink coverage will be.
4. Sewing the Christmas Pillow DIY
With the lettering on the inside, fold the fabric the long way, overlapping the hems to form a 16″ length between the folds. The hems should be centered over the lettering, overlapping about 3″.
Pin the open edges of the 16″ x 17″ pillow.
Sew a 1/2″ seam on each side.
Turn right side out, and you have a finished 16″ square pillow slipcover!
Steam press the cover, making crisp folds along the edges. Pull the edges of the seams apart so the seam is right along the pressed edge.
5. Finish the Edges
If you decide to decorate the edges you can do this one of two ways.
- Hand stitch the yarn along the edges. Thread a needle with 36″ of double thread. (You’ll be working with 18″ of thread.) Knot the end. Slip the needle inside the slip cover and pull it through along the crease. Pick up the yarn by wrapping the thread around the “core” of the chunky yarn. Place your needle into the crease, and bring it out again 1/8″ to 1/4″ further along the crease. Pull tight. Grab the yarn core again, and place the needle into the crease for another hidden stitch. Be sure to keep the stitches pulled tight and the chunky yarn will hug the edges of the pillow like a bear.
- Use fabric glue or hot glue to attach the yarn. I have no experience with this, so you’re on your own with this one. If you’re not a sewist, chances are you are more familiar with gluing trim than I am.
Press the pillow cover again to get the creases out. Smooth the work creases out of your brow while you’re at it. If you’re like me, that pillow cover gets crunched close up to my eyes so I can see what my needle is doing. (What to do if your thread gets tangled.)
Curious minds want to know…
Do you use a thimble to hand sew? My MIL thinks I’m silly for not using one. And every time I prick myself in her presence, she just grins smugly as I suck blood.
6. Stuff the Christmas Pillow
Punch, poke and prod the pillow insert into the Christmas cover you just finished.
Smooth it out, place it among the other holiday pillows on your couch.
Step back and say “Ah!!”
Snuggle into the recliner with a cup of hot cocoa, look at your made with your own hands craft and sip, and then take a Christmas nap.
**You do know there’s a difference between any day of the year naps and Christmas naps, right?
More Christmas craft ideas on the blog:
Cozy Christmas Sweater and Buffalo Plaid Wall Hanging
Make a Macramé Christmas Angel
Delicious Christmas Coffee Recipe
Hot Cocoa Shelf-Sitters Christmas Prints DIY
How To Print Digital Christmas Cards
