How to Attach Fringe to a Toss Pillow

Embellish a plain throw pillow with a decorative fringe edging.

After a few months or years on the living room sofa, your throw pillows may start losing their flair in your eyes. Instead of replacing them, bring them back to life by adding a simple fringe trim around the outer edges. The trim is simple to add, and you can customize it to the length and color of your choice for a complementary-colored embellishment that blends in or a bright, contrast-colored fringe that stands out.

Things You'll Need

• Seam ripper
• Sewing tape measure
• Fringe trim
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Pillow stuffing

Instructions

1. Lay the pillow on your work surface and use a seam ripper to open the stitches that join the two layers. Rip open the stitches all the way around to separate the front and back fabrics.

2. Lay the front fabric on your work surface with the good side facing upward. Measure around the perimeter of the pillow.

3. Cut a piece of fringe trim to 1/2 inch longer than the length obtained above.

4. Lay the fringe trim on top of the front fabric. The edge of the fringe should be aligned with the edge of the front fabric with the fringe laying on the fabric, not over the edge. Pin the fringe in place.

5. Lay the back pillow fabric on top with the good side facing downward. Sew a straight or zigzag stitch around the perimeter of the pillow with a 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch seam allowance. Leave a gap of about 3 to 4 inches in size in the stitching.

6. Pull the good side of the pillow fabric out through the gap. Fill the pillow up with the cotton batting or other stuffing material.

7. Fold over 1/4 inch of fabric along the gap and sew to close the open edge and attach the remaining fringe trim.

References

• "Pillows, Cushions and Tuffets"; Carol Zentgraf; 2004

Resources

• Fiber Images: Hand Sewing Stitches