DIY Vintage Tea Towel Throw Pillow

Hi guys! As many of you know, vintage linens are like my favorite thing on the planet! I purchased the most adorable tea towel from one of my favorite shops, NeatoKeen a while back. The moment I saw this little towel, I knew I had to have it! The kitty looks like a cross between my two angel kitties, Roux and Sophie. I have been saving it for something special. Recently I had the opportunity to review a pillow form from PillowCubes.com and immediately knew the little towel I had would be amazing throw pillows for my couch!

Here’s What You Need:

*Vintage Tea Towel

*Scrap Fabric

*Backing Fabric

*Trim (optional)

*Zipper

Sewing Machine

*Thread

*Zipper Foot

*Zipper

*Pillow Form (Mine is a 14×14 from Here)

Instructions:

First you need to measure your tea towel. You will need to decide where you want to cut your towel and if you will need to patch it in with some extra fabric. My tea towel was wide enough for a fourteen inch pillow form but it was not tall enough since I wanted to make two pillows, so I needed to add fabric to the top and bottom to make it square. I needed an extra inch and a half added to the top and bottom. So I made my extra pieces 2″ tall by 15″. My towel piece was 12″ tall by 15″ wide. Then I cut a back piece to be 15×15″.

Begin by sewing the top patch to the top of the towel with right sides together. Press seam to the top. Stitch the bottom patch to the bottom of the towel, right sides together. Press seam allowance towards the bottom. Now you should have a front pillow piece that is 15×15″.

Stitch the trim around the front of your pillow around the edges.

Now you are ready to sew your zipper. Put the front and back pillow pieces together right sides facing. Baste stitch across the bottom of the pillow. Press the seam open.

Lay the zipper centered in the middle of the seam you pressed open. Pin the zipper with the top of the zipper about an inch and a half in from the side then pin it down from there making sure it is centered in that seam all the way.

Put your zipper foot on your machine. Stitch a regular straight seam down one side and then across at about 1.5″ from the side seam then back up the other side, moving the zipper pull as needed with the needle down in the fabric. Now rip open the basted seam exposing the zipper.

Now fold to make the back and front pieces even with right sides together. Pin all the way around. Start stitching 1.5″ in from the side where your zipper tape starts, then pivot and stitch up the side, then across the top, then back down the other side and then across the bottom 1.5″ in to the other side of the zipper. Clip corners and threads. Open up the zipper and pull the pillow right side out through the bottom. Insert your pillow form.

I LOVE my pillow! It looks fantastic in my living room and every time I see it I am reminded of my little Roux! Pillow Cubes is a company out of Tennessee that offers all kinds of pillow forms in traditional sizes and custom sizes. You can buy singles or in wholesale quantities. They also carry a variety of types of pillow forms in fiber fill and feather blends. I chose a fourteen inch square woven covered fiber fill pillow. I was impressed by the quality of my pillow form. And I really love that they are made here in the US! I would definitely recommend giving Pillow Cubes a try next time you are looking for some pillow inserts. My friends at Pillow Cubes have given me a coupon code to share with my readers. Use code CraftyLife10 at checkout to receive 10% of your order! I hope you have enjoyed my pillow tutorial! Next time you see that awesome vintage tea towel, snatch it up and make a pillow for your favorite space. Vintage linens make the best throw pillow! These pillows would make a great gift too! I’ll be back soon with more DIY fun. Until then…

Happy Crafting!