Needlepoint Pillow

From LoveToKnow Crafts

There’s just something about needlepoint pillows. Though quite traditional in style, they can look good in all sorts of situations, from bedrooms to offices to living rooms. And they are a lot of fun to make yourself. Here are some ideas for making your own needlepoint pillows.

Needlepoint pillow kits

The great variety of motifs available in needlepoint kits of all kinds these days is quite impressive. They don’t all look like they belong in your grandmother’s house, and many are simply beautiful.

Kits are great because they usually include almost everything you need to complete a project, from the needlepoint fabric to the thread, instructions and photographs. I say “almost” everything because a needlepoint pillow kit likely comes with all the materials for the front of the pillow but does not include the fabric for the back or the stuffing or pillow form you will need.

Here are some resources for needlepoint pillow kits:

Beth Russell offers a wide variety of needlepoint pillow kits (as well as rugs and other kits). Most of them are based on or inspired by William Morris designs.
Needlepoint Fun has Egyptian, Asian, floral and photographic designs. Some of the most beautiful ones look like Persian rugs designed small.
Discounted Needlework has good prices on closeouts from manufacturers and stores. There’s always something different here.
Elaine Magnin also offers discounts on in-stock items, which can be browsed by manufacturer or searched for a particular motif.
Primavera Needlepoint has a variety of all-floral designs that are very striking, and a few other pillow designs in different categories.

Making your own needlepoint pillow

If you don’t like any of the kits out there or simply want to customize a design, you have a lot of options. You can search the web and embroidery books for designs including a particular motif you are interested in, or you can make your own design from scratch.

For more information on designing your own needlework patterns, read Cross Stitch Design. The same process applies to needlework.

Alternatively, you may find that you have finished a needlework project that might look good as a pillow. There’s no rule that says a design has to start its life as a pillow. Maybe you have a piece you wanted to frame but you could instead make into a pillow.

Making your needlework pillow

Making a pillow out of a needlework design is relatively simple. First you will need something to stuff the pillow with: either a pillow form if your needlepoint piece is a standard size, or some batting if it is not.

Since needlepoint has holes, it might be a good idea to make your own pillow form out of stuffing. Just create a plain cotton pillow that’s a little bit smaller than the embroidery piece, fill it with stuffing and stitch by machine.

Second, you will need a piece of fabric that will coordinate with the needlepoint. How much fabric you need will depend on how big your pillow is. You might also consider a second fabric to make a border around the needlepoint. This will make it a little more formal looking, but it is a matter of taste.

Once you have assembled all your pieces, stitch on the border if you’re using one. Try to use a stitch length on your machine that allows you to catch as many of the holes in the needlepoint fabric as possible.

Then place your needlepoint and your fabric wrong sides together and stitch three sides, again trying to stitch through the holes in the needlepoint fabric. Trim any excess fabric and turn the pillow right side out.

Slide the pillow form into the case and close up the fourth side stitching by hand, taking care to make the stitches as invisible as possible.

Once you discover how fun and easy it is to display your needlepoint projects as pillows, you will have these beauties all over your house.

Needlepoint

Needlepoint Canvas

Needlepoint Christmas Stocking

Cross Stitch Design

Cross Stitch Frame

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