Have you ever sewn a pillow before? It’s easier than you think!
Learn how to make a really easy and trendy DIY BURLAP POM POM CUSHION with this simple step-by-step tutorial.
Now I have been wanting to re-do this since last Christmas when I had my first attempt at cushion making.
I have the tendency to ‘wing it’ a bit and jump in feet first without properly consulting tutorials or really knowing what I am doing.
Sometimes this works great but other times I end up with something I’m not completely happy with.
Last year I just plopped a cushion on top of the material and roughly cut out the front and two back pieces, I then went on to just sew it up without pinning or tacking.
Whilst the result was a little amateurish (the seams were a bit wonky and the back gaped a little), once I had stencilled it with a deer head it did actually look pretty effective.
But…..as I looked at it over the Christmas period I thought to myself yes not bad but I can do much better than this and I decided to have another go at it. This time taking a little more care and including white pom-poms to it to jazz it up a bit.
I think it turned out great!
(my daughter even went as far as to say that it looked shop-bought!)
Burlap Pom-Pom Cushion Tutorial
Materials Needed To Make Cushion
- 1 x 40 x 40 pillow
- 1 x 44cm x 44cm (or 17″ x 17″) piece of Red Burlap Fabric
- 2 x 44cm x 31cm (or 17″ x 12″) pieces of red burlap fabric
- 1 x approx 2 mtrs of White Pom Pom Trim (optional)
- 1 x reel of red cotton
- 1 x reel of white cotton
- Scissors
- Tailor’s chalk (optional)
- Dressmaker’s pins
- Steam iron
Instructions – How To Make Cushion
1. Cut Out Pattern Pieces
Cut your 3 pieces of material as neatly as possible to the sizes shown above.
2. Iron Pieces
If required press your material pieces with a hot iron (mine were pretty creased from being stored).
3. Mark Out Pom-Pom Trim Placement
On the front of the largest square, allow a 1cm distance from the edge and draw straight lines (with tailors’ chalk) all the way around – giving you a 43 cm box (this bit is optional but I did it to ensure that the trim runs straight).
4. Pin Pom-Pom Trim (optional)
On the right side of the largest piece of material (using the chalk line as a guide) pin the Pom Pom Trim
around the outside of the square leaving a 1cm gap from the edge.
Make sure the pom-poms are facing inwards (see pic).
5. Sew Trim On
Now sew the pom-pom trim all the way around removing the pins as you go.
6. Fold Over Raw Edge
Take the 2 smaller rectangles, on both pieces fold over 1 cm on one of the long sides, and press flat.
7. Fold Raw Edge Again
Then fold the material on the 2 smaller pieces over again on the same side (another 1 cm) and press flat (the raw edges will now be hidden). Now sew down to secure.
8. Pin Pieces Together
Lay the large square front piece right side up on the table and ensure the pom-poms are all facing inwards towards the middle.
Then place the smaller back pieces on top, right side down, overlapping in the middle. Now pin this all the way around the edges.
9. Sew Together
Next, sew all the way around leaving a 1 cm seam allowance (make sure the pom-poms don’t pop the wrong way as you are sewing).
10. Turn The Right Way
You can now turn the cover on the right side out, you can use something pointed but not sharp (like a chopstick) to push the corners out.
Finished Pom Pom Cushion
Now you should have a pretty good-looking pom-pom cushion!
If you would like to take it a step further and stencil the cushion you can follow the next set of instructions.
How to stencil on Burlap / Jute
If you would like to find out how I added the deer head then head over to the How to Stencil on Burlap (Jute) Tutorial
