DIY Owl Pillow Tutorial

Fashion your pillow using real owl colors, or go with abstract prints.

Owl pillows bring a whimsical touch of the outdoors to an indoor space. You will create a sense of pride to your decor with your handcrafted feathered friend, whether you toss a pair of these pillows on your sitting room sofa or your child's bed. If you are in need of a creative gift for someone's birthday or a holiday, the recipient will love the thought and energy used to make his own owl pillow.

Things You'll Need

• 1 yard thick cloth, such as fleece or printed heavyweight cotton
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing needle and thread
• 1 lb. fill, such as cotton, polyester or wool
• 2 1-inch-wide buttons
• Craft felt, assorted colors
• Yarn
• Embroidery needle and floss

Instructions

1. Cut two 9-by-12-by-12-inch triangles from one yard of thick fleece or printed heavyweight cotton cloth. Stack the triangles so the sides are flush. Face the front sides of the cloth inward. Pin the edges of the triangles together 1 inch from the edges.

2. Sew around the triangle using a needle and thread; make a 1/2-inch seam. Leave 4 inches of one side unsewn. Remove the straight pins.

3. Turn the pillow inside out. Stuff the pillow with fill that is made from materials such as polyester, cotton or wool, until the pillow has reached your desired firmness. Sew the open edge of the pillow using a whipstitch.

4. Position the pillow with the front side facing up and the 9-inch long side running horizontally across the top. Sew two 1-inch wide buttons 2 inches from the top of the pillow for the owl’s eyes.

5. Cut two 4-inch wide equilateral triangles from craft felt. Turn the pillow on its right side. Place one of the triangles with a corner facing up and positioned in the middle of the side of the pillow. Sew one side of the triangle on the seam of the pillow so the triangle flaps out from the side seam. Turn the pillow over to the left side. Sew the other triangle in the same way to the side of the pillow to complete the two wings of the owl.

6. Cut a 1-by-2-by-2-inch triangle from a sheet of felt. Place the triangle with the 1-inch long side positioned horizontally across the top in the center of the pillow. Sew all sides of the triangle to the pillow for the owl’s beak.

7. Using yellow felt, fashion a pair of feet by cutting out two Y shapes that are 2 inches long; add three forking branches on the end instead of only two. Sew the feet to the seam on the bottom edge of the pillow. Attach the fork shapes so the three forking branches are pointing down.

8. Cut two pieces of yarn, 6 and a half inches each. Form a circle around the buttons with each piece of yarn. Sew the yarn to the pillow fabric using embroidery floss and an embroidery needle; use a whipstitch.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use the yarn and embroidery floss to stitch an inspirational word -- such as love or peace, or someone's name if the pillow is a gift -- to the front of the pillow beneath the beak.

References

• Flower Girl Design Collection: Owl Pillow
• Robert Kaufman Fabrics: Owl Pillows Pattern