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April 29, 2013

How To Make A Pillow With Glue


You guys know I have never been able to master my sewing machine. And not for lack of trying. (Okay, fine, I didn't try very hard and pretty much gave up at the first sign of difficulty.) But, since I know I'm not alone in this struggle, I decided to share how I make most of my pillows...without a sewing machine. 
It's a beautiful thing.

How to make a pillow with glue! A really easy no-sew pillow tutorial!


A little while ago, I came across some fabric glue called Unique Stitch and decided to give it a try, figuring nothing could be worse than fumbling around with a bobbin for an hour.

How To Make a Pillow With Glue - a really easy no-sew pillow tutorial


And as it turns out, this stuff is great. I've tried fabric glue before, but it never delivered and usually left me wanting my $5 back. This stuff is different. It totally delivered. You can even wash your pillow covers after using this stuff on them, and it still holds strong. It takes a little longer to dry than some of the other fabric glues, but the end result is much better. You can find Unique Stitch at most craft stores or online here (amazon affiliate link).

I ended up making a bunch of different pillows, some for the guest bedroom I'll share next week, and some for the living room. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out.
Cost me about $3 a pillow.
One million dollars saved.

How to make a pillow with glue! A really easy no-sew pillow tutorial!




So, here's a quick pillow tutorial.

How To Make a Pillow With Glue - a really easy no-sew pillow tutorial

You need fabric. I was able to get 2 pillows out of 1 yard of fabric, so buy accordingly.
You also need scissors and of course, the fabric glue.

To make an envelope pillow, you need to cut 3 pieces of fabric. I cut one 20x20 inch piece and two 20x15 inch pieces.
The two 20x15 inch panels combine to make the backside of the pillow, overlapping slightly in the center, with an opening in the center (where the green arrows are) that the pillow goes into. 

Here's a diagram to show you how it works.


How To Make a Pillow With Glue - a really easy no-sew pillow tutorial


To assemble your pillow, place the two 20x15 panels on top of the 20x20, matching up the numbers in the diagram. 
The black arrows show you where to glue the fabric to attach the panels to one another. 
I chose to run a strip of glue along the edge on the two 20x15 panels where the green arrows are and fold the fabric over so that they look finished and so that I didn't have any raw edges of my fabric showing. Also, since you are assembling this pillow inside out, lay the fabric with the print facing inward.

When the pillow is assembled, the two 20x15 panels end up where the pillow opens in the back, slightly overlapping.  This is what the back of your pillow will look like. 

How To Make a Pillow With Glue - a really easy no-sew pillow tutorial

(It functions just like a standard sham pillowcase, and you can remove it to wash it.)

Once you've glued your pillow cover together, allow it to dry overnight. Once it's dry, you can turn your pillow cover right-side-out and stuff your pillow in the opening. I like to use down alternative pillow inserts because they fill the covers out really nicely.

How To Make a Pillow With Glue - a really easy no-sew pillow tutorial

And that's all there is to it!
Thanks for being here!
'Til next time,








Want more? For more budget decorating ideas, check out my top 50 here.

64 comments:

  1. Love your pillows and your no sew tutorial. I do sew, but this is really fantastic for those who don't. Hugs, Marty

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    1. Thanks so much Marty!! I will conquer my sewing machine one day!! :)

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  2. Um, why didn't you tell me about this fabric glue like ten YEARS ago?!!

    Kelly @ View Along the Way
    www.viewalongtheway.com

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    1. hahahah!! No joke, I started thinking about it after our talk about sewing machines and pillow obsession. And then I went out hunting for something and FOUND IT!! :)

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  3. I can't wait to try this! Can you tell me where you got that ikat fabric or what it is called?

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    1. Hi Lisa! I'm not sure what it was called, but it was from Joann's fabric! I'll find out today and try to include it in tomorrow's blog post about fabric tips!

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  4. A girl after my own heart. I love no-sew projects. And, your pillows turned out great!!

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    1. Thanks so much Denyse! So glad you like it! Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. COLOR! Cute stuff from such a neutral girl. Love the ikat print. And the pillows look so professional....better than ones I have tried to sew with an actual machine!

    Britt @ Creating Space for Five

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    1. Thanks Britt!!! I know...isn't it CRAZY that I'm using color!??! ha! All of a sudden I'm obsessed with color! I don't know what happened! :)

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  6. YES! I can make a bed, work a saw, drill screws, but sewing...nope.
    AND I hate spending $20 + on pillows. THANK YOU so much for sharing!!! Can I ask did you what you used for filling? I hope not a stupid question. :)

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    1. You're so welcome! Glad it helped! And not a silly question at all! I used down pillow inserts. I actually bought a few really affordable pillows at Ross (about $10 each) that were down pillows and I removed the pillow covers. I've been using those same pillows all over my house with different colors for years now. Down pillow inserts are usually way more than $10, so I thought that was a good idea! :)

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  7. LOVE! I may have to go and get some of this magical glue. No, I do not sniff glue. Just excited about using it instead of sewing. lol Your pillows look lovely! :)

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    1. I'm kinda obsessed with it and have gone through 2 tubes already! I'm a pillow makin' machine this week! :)

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  8. Thanks sharing. I will definitely be bookmarking this tutorial. I hate sewing. Well, mainly because I dont know how, lol.

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    1. You're so welcome Erin! So glad I could give you a way around the no-sewing thing! I feel ya!! :)

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  9. The pillows turned out wonderful...especially for using glue! I have a love/hate relationship with my sewing machine so I like the idea of not even turning it on. I love your fabric choices :)

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  10. Yay! The dimensions make much more sense now - I'm going to be trying this over the weekend! Thank you!

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  11. PS - did you use 18" pillows or 19" ones? :) Thank you!

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    1. Yes! I was about to type the same question... and how far in did you place the strip of glue? about an inch or so?

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    2. I used 18 inch pillows and the glue strip was about an inch in. Leaving that extra inch allows them to not look too overstuffed! :)

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  12. Virginia, I love this....maybe I should return the sewing machine I got for my birthday that I don't know how to use??? Thanks SO much for sharing this! ~Cindy@littlemisscelebration.com

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    1. Cindy, I am determined to learn to use mine! Determined! I just keep messing up the bobbin!! But in the meantime....I have glue! :)

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  13. I love the pillows....and even more so, the fabric choices! Adorable!

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  14. Thank you so much for revising and adding the diagrams and new pics- now I totally get it! Love, love, love your blog! Can't wait to make these!

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    1. Thanks so much Dana! I'm glad the diagram helped! :)

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  15. If you have different patterns with your pillows on the sofa what do you do about curtains? Do you need to have a solid curtain, or is it ok to have a print there as well?

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  16. I LOVE your fabric choices. The finished pillows are striking!

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  17. Hilarious@ I LOVE the fabrics you used... like serious hardcore fabric fabric kinda love. Great tips... I have been thinking about trying a no-sew pillow with heatbond, but just ended up sewing mine again. Had a huge fight with my machine and a mini panic attack when my bobbin ran out. But I did survive. Great tips here, can't believe how totally fabulous your pillow covers look with glue!! Unreal! Glad I found your funny fun blog:)
    Krista @thehappyhousie

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  18. first time visiting from a link I stumbled upon on FB. I didn't even know this "no-sew-glue" product existed. Great post and I love the way your pillows look. Your fabric choice is stunning!

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  20. I actually laughed out loud when I saw the "supplies" pic. I cannot believe I haven't found this glue yet. I am still in awe of the tape stitching. This is beyond! Thank you for the easy tutorial on making the pillows too. I thought I already had an easy pillow kinda way, but this it really great. Thanks again!

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  21. I pass up so many crafts because i can't sew and now I am inspired to make sooo many pillows. Thanks for sharing. What siza down pillows did you buy to fit these fabric measurements?

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  22. Where do you get your pillow inserts? Good feather inserts can be expensive.

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  23. Oh nice ! I always sew my pillows and it took me forever ! Now I can save time ^^

    Melanie ♥ ~ www.shabby-memories.blogspot.fr

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  24. I really like the outdoor canvas material at Joann's. Will the "Unique Stitch" work on that material too? Or what materials are best? (only cotton or what?) Sorry- I am such a newbie at this!

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    1. It sure will! Two of my fabrics were the cotton canvas and the other two were outdoor fabrics from Joann's. And they are holding up great! :)

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  25. Dear Virginia...... you did it again...! Since I found your blog I've attempted (and sometimes achieved...!) many of your great budget decorating ideas. My mother was a dressmaker, but for some reason she never managed to teach me how to "Dressmake" but I've managed to teach myself the most basic of sewing in my old age....(73)..!
    You're my favourite blogger and I LOVE the idea of actually GLUING fabric together.... why didn't I know about this before...? Is that glue machine washable? I'm going to look for it and definitely going to give it a try. Nadia in Perth

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  26. Dear Virginia...... you did it again...! Since I found your blog I've attempted (and sometimes achieved...!) many of your great budget decorating ideas. My mother was a dressmaker, but for some reason she never managed to teach me how to "Dressmake" but I've managed to teach myself the most basic of sewing in my old age....(73)..!
    You're my favourite blogger and I LOVE the idea of actually GLUING fabric together.... why didn't I know about this before...? Is that glue machine washable? I'm going to look for it and definitely going to give it a try. Nadia in Perth

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  27. These are awesome. Have a question: If I use 22 or 24 inch inserts, What would the dimensions of the pillow pieces be? Thanks!!

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  28. i love this so if my pillows are 29 by 29 i should cut a 29 by 29 front piece and 2 29 by 15 oieces for the back?

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  29. i love this so if my pillows are 29 by 29 i should cut a 29 by 29 front piece and 2 29 by 15 oieces for the back?

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  30. I'm having a hard time with the raw edges. Do you think it's my scissors or the fabric? Any suggestions?

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  31. Thank you so much for this! I can't wait to peruse more of your blog!
    I'm glad I'm not alone in my misery. I've killed at least four sewing machines. I mean KILLED them. I also hate the word bobbin and I'm sure if they could talk they would tell you they hate me even more.

    My mother also made beautiful clothes for me growing up but I have neither the patience or skill. I keep thinking of taking a sewing class and maybe I should, just to show those sewing machines who is the boss. Ha!

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  32. Unique stich is awesome! I used it to adhere lace all along the edge of my wedding veil. It would have been a disaster trying to use the machine. Oh, and I seem to have just lost a good hour or so perusing your blog. So many great tips in one place! Thanks!

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  33. Hi Virginia
    I was just giving myself a pep talk about getting my sewing machine out and figuring out how to use it again when i found your no sew pillow. thank you thank you thank you!!!

    question: can I use this technique with rayon silk velvet? i just bought some small pieces on ebay. thanks!
    cori

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  34. Wow, this is fabulous! I don't know how to sew and hate spending money on pillows. I need to update or sofa pillows, though, and was planning on using the fabric tape that you iron on. This gives me a GREAT new idea! Thanks for sharing.

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  35. So cute! I'm actually excited to make some pillow covers now! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  36. HI! I, by some force of God/fate/magic came across your blog tonight and I can't stop reading it! It gets me so excited. I get so frustrated by blogs that show off amazing DIY things and redecorating ideas that are still too, too expensive for a newlywed couple. And I really really can't sew, even though my mother also made many of my clothes when I was growing up (as the only daughter, I was her doll, haha). So your blog is a lifesaver and your cushion tutorial is amazing because I've been dying to buy more cushions for our sofa and they're just TOO PRICY! Anyway, I've probably drooled enough so to my point! I followed your link to the velvet throw pillows and WOW, so I was wondering if you have any links/tips for buying/making inserts for throw pillows. Thanks so much!!

    xoxo

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  37. Like Saosan above, I too just found your blog through Pinterest and have been pinning away & reading your blog for the past hour! Your tutorials are amazing & I love your style! I commend you for keeping things truly low cost and I am so excited to paint my ugly maroon shower tiles & my 80's fruit tiled kitchen backsplash after seeing how great your tile countertop in your kitchen turned out. I was also wondering about tips or links for buying or making inserts for throw pillows. I know you said in your tutorial you like to use down alternative, but do you have a certain store you buy them inexpensively?
    thanks again,
    Kate

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  38. omg you are brilliant! I was thisclose to buying pillow covers for $20 each to update my sofa. I can't sew worth a darn, but I can glue. Thank you for this! :)

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  39. I stumbled on your website the other day after googling furniture painting tips and then I found this gem! I was so excited to try it that I took a trip to Hobby Lobby and Joann's today after work and am now sitting next to a very glued no sew envelope pillow of my own! Thank you so much for this tutorial because I too have an aversion to the sewing machine-despite both of my parents being proficient in it's mastery! I will definitely let you know how it turned out once it dries completely! :)

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  40. Thank u so much for this awesome tutorial!!!

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  41. So.. I have a question, couldn't I just use one piece of fabric, fold it over so it overlaps in the back, then glue (GENIUS btw) the open ends together?

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  42. Where do you get your fabrics as seen in this pillow tutorial? I am looking to find fabrics that look just as nice... and because I know you are a frugal fanny I know it didn't cost you an arm and a leg... hope to hear from you soon!!! This is an awesomely easy project, can't wait to do it.

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  43. Hi Virginia! I love this idea! My boyfriend and I would like to update an old couch by adding new pillows (we don't want to buy a new one just yet). Would I be able to use the old pillows as my inserts? They are 24x24, so new inserts would be pricey. The current fabric is a little dark, so I'm worried the old colors may show through the new fabric. Any ideas? Thank you for your help and your wonderful blog!

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  44. What a great tutorial! Just made a pillow using your tutorial (although I used fusible web instead of glue) and I llove how it turned out!! About to make soooo many pillows :)

    I will be sharing my pillow on the Goodwill of Akron blog (I used thrifted fabrics to make it) and made sure to mention your blog and link. It won't be live 'til next week, but I'll stop by again and give you the link to it if you want to check it out!

    Thanks!!

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  45. Hi again! Here's the link to the pillow I made inspired by your tutorial: http://www.somethingtobefound.com/2014/09/no-sew-pillow-cover-goodwill-project-22.html

    Thanks!!!!

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  46. They look very pretty and perfect! Thanks for the great tutorial..I ended up making 3 of those.. super easy!! (http://stylemyabode.weebly.com/blog/no-sew-cushion-covers) Now I don't have to keep searching for my dream pillows... :)) I used Iron on hem tape instead of glue..I even had one of them machine washed and dried with no issues..

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  47. Great Tutorial!!!!!! Would you happen to know the measurment of your pillows before you added the case?

    Thanks!!!!!!

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  48. I love this tutorial - so clear and well written, thanks so much for sharing. I had to laugh while reading your post as I feel the same way - mum made all my clothes as a kid but I hate sewing. But, I have to wonder at the price of the glue you used- seems very expensive for a small tube. I think I will test and try to find something less expensive.

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